Ablabius (historian)
Ablabius (floruit 3th-5th-century CE) is thought to be either an historian, a geographer or ethnographer, who had written about the Goths, and whose work is cited by the influential 6th.century historian of the Goths, Jordanes. Since Jordanes himself states that he based his own work on recollections of reading a work on Gothic history, now lost, composed by Cassiodorus, Ablabius has traditionally been thought of as a source also for the latter work, though this view has met with considerable scepticism. Date. Several different dates, all based on inferences both from what Jordanes writes, and the nature  of the material he provides from this source, have been suggested for Ablabius's lifetime. Hypotheses have placed him as early as the 3rd century or in the age of Constantine (272–337), or concurrent with Theodosius the Calligrapher (401–450) or with either of two Visigothic kings, Euric (420–484) or his successor Alaricus (458/466–507). Ablabius's origins – whether he was a Goth, a Greek or a Roman, are unknown. Textual Fragments. In his Getica (550-551 CE) Jordanes cites him on three occasions. Fragment 1 at "Getica" 4.28 Fragment 2 at "Getica" 14.82 Fragment 3 at "Getica" 23.117 This fragment is  close to a similar passage in Dexippus. Evaluations. The evidence from Jordanes suggests that he was not quoted for historical details concerning the Goths: the three fragments indicate the writer's interest in ethnographic details, such as the origins and names of barbarian tribes, and Goths, in the region of Scythia. It has been suggested that the work of Ablabius was the first written history of the Goths, and that this formed the basis of a more detailed account written by Cassiodorus. It is likely that Jordanes used the work of Ablabius directly, but an intermediate source can not be  ruled out either. According to Jordanes the work of Ablabius relied on folk songs and legends.