Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Sarmatians, Huns, and Goths: Olympiodoros of Thebes on statues as protection against invasions (early fifth century CE),' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified March 24, 2024, https://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=19211.
Ancient authors: Olympiodoros of Thebes (ca. 365-425 CE), Histories = FHG IV 63 (link), as cited by Photios (eighth century CE), Bibliotheke, or Collection of Books, codex 80 (link).
Comments: We know very little about Olympiodoros of Thebes in Egypt beyond what Photios mentions in summarizing Olympiodoros’ work. Olympiodoros’ Histories was probably written shortly after the last events it narrates (i.e. after 425 CE). This was a time when the Roman empire continued to face pressures from surrounding peoples (“barbarians”) from various directions. Further on in the narrative, we find that Olympiodoros himself had served on an embassy (on behalf of the imperial court at Ravenna) to the Huns.
Quite fascinating are the passages (gathered below) from Olympiodoros’ work that make reference to the apparently common custom of using statues as a means of protection against invading peoples. In one case, the author refers to a statue that was imagined to protect against both invaders and the volcano Etna on Sicily. Once a Christian emperor had it removed, disaster followed.
The other more extended episode involves three buried silver statues, with each representing one of three peoples: Sarmatians, Huns, and Goths. The Thracian locals had buried them as a means of protection precisely against these surrounding peoples. These statues are described in some detail, with reference to their depiction as the potentially invading “barbarians.” Crucial to notice is that the statues depicted these personifications of peoples as bound and therefore captive or enslaved, apparently to prevent these peoples’ effectiveness against the local population. All of this backfired when the local imperial figure got permission to dig them up. Invasions soon followed, says Olympiodoros.
For more on Goths and others, go the the post about Jordanes (link).
Works consulted: R. C. Blockley, Fragmentary Classicising Historians of the Later Roman Empire: Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus and Malchus, 2 vols. (Cambridge, UK: Francis Cairns, 1981-83); B. Croke, “Evidence for the Hun Invasion of Thrace in A.D. 422,” Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 18 (1977): 347–367 (link).
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[Photios’ introduction to Olympiodoros’ work]
Read the Histories of Olympiodoros in twenty-two books. They begin with the seventh consulship of the emperor Honorius and the second of Theodosius [ca. 407 CE], and go down to the time when Valentinian, the son of Placidia and Constantius, was proclaimed emperor of the Romans [ca. 425 CE]. The author, a Theban, was from among Thebans in Egypt by descent, a poet by profession, according to his own account. His style is clear but loose and lacking in vigour, and sometimes degenerates into commonplace vulgarity, so that the work does not deserve to be considered a history. Perhaps that is the reason why the author himself, conscious of these defects, declares that his work is not a history, but a collection of materials for a history. He himself considered his style and phraseology that destitute of regular form. He is not distinguished for form, except so far as one might assert that he now and again approaches simplicity. But even in this, owing to the excessive simplicity and paltriness of his diction, he is unsuccessful and gradually descends to vulgar mannerism. He calls his work Silva, but divides it into books and strives to embellish it with prefaces. It is dedicated to the emperor Theodosius, the son of Arcadius, and nephew of Honorius and Placidia. . . [omitted extensive summary of other sections of the work].
[Statue of a god prevents volcanic eruptions and invasions until destroyed]
(F16) Rhegium was the chief town of Bruttians. The historian says Alaric intended to cross over from Rhegium to Sicily, but was prevented from doing so by a sacred statue. This statue is said to have been consecrated by the ancients as a protection against the fires of mount Aetna [i.e. the volcano] and the passage of barbarians from over seas. In one foot it contained a fire that was never extinguished, in the other a supply of water that never failed. When it was subsequently destroyed by Asclepius, the manager of Constantius and Placidia’s Sicilian property, the inhabitants suffered greatly from Aetna and the barbarians.
[Buried statues of bound peoples prevent invasions until excavated, ca. 421 CE]
(F27) The historian relates that he heard from a person of distinction named Valerius about certain silver statues that were consecrated to keep away the barbarians. In the reign of Constantius [likely Constantius III, reigned part of 421 CE], when Valerius was a leader (archōn) in Thrace, he received information about the location of a treasure. He proceeded to the spot and learned from the inhabitants that it was regarded as sacred, and that certain statues had been consecrated there in accordance with ancient rites.
Valerius reported this to the emperor, who gave him written permission to remove them. The spot was excavated, and three statues of solid silver were found, lying in barbarian fashion with arms bound, clothed in multi-coloured barbarian clothing, with long hair, facing towards the north, the country of the barbarians. When these statues were removed, the Goths a few days afterwards first overran and ravaged Thrace, and a little while later Huns and Sarmatians made inroads into Illyricum and Thrace itself. These consecrated districts lay between Thrace and Illyricum, and from the number of the statues consecrated, they appear to have been intended as a protection against the entire barbarian area.
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Source of translation: J.H. Freese, The Library of Photius: Volume 1 (London: SPCK, 1920), public domain, adapted by Harland.