Lineage:Bastarnae

The name refers to a Wagon or covered Litter The ethnic origin of the Bastarnae remains mysterious. Polybius and the authors who copy him regard them as Galatae. Livy claims (Liv. XLIV, 26,2-3,14) they are Celts. Strabo (with reservations - Strabo, VII, 3,17), Pliny (H.N. IV, 81), and Tacitus (Germ. 46) regard them as Germans, but the Romans often used "German" as a geographical rather than ethnic classification. Tacitus expressly declares their German origin but says that the race was degraded by intermarriage with Sarmatians. Strabo notes that they also "mingled with the Thracians" as well as some Celtic tribes. More recently it has been suggested that they had a semi-nomadic "Eastern" nature, which does not tie in well with either of the modern stereotypes of Celtic or Germanic ethnicity. Almoustine 18:05, 30 August 2008 (EEST)