The Getica begins with a geography/ethnography of the North, especially of Scandza (16-24). He lets the history of the Goths commence with the emigration of Berig with three ships from Scandza to

 ...

Because the original work of Cassiodorus has not survived, the work of Jordanes is one of the most important sources for the period of the migration of the European tribes, and the Ostrogoths and Visigothsin particular, from the 3rd century AD. Cassiodorus had claimed

 ...

A manuscript of the text was rediscovered in Vienna in 1442 by the Italian humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini. Its editio princeps was issued in 1515 by

 ...

In his Preface, Jordanes presents his plan
"...to condense in my own style in this small book the twelve volumes of [Cassiodorus] Senator on

 ...

1. ^ Costa 1977, p. 32.
2. ^ De Rebus Geticis: O. Seyffert, 329; De Getarum (Gothorum) Origine et Rebus Gestis
3. ^ Smith 1870, vol. 2, p.607.
4. ^ (Mierow 1908)

 ...

• IORDANIS DE ORIGINE ACTIBUSQUE GETARUM

 ...

The early Late Latinof Jordanes evidences a certain variability in the structure of the language which has been taken as an indication that the author no longer had a clear standard of

 ...