tribes, i.e. the Geto-Dacians and Samatians’ language, proves “ a l’e ´vidence” that
the two languages, that is “the Latin” and “the Getic”, had a common linguistic
trunk.
This reality is in fact attested by the poet himself in “Tristia”, where he wrote:
“Ipse mihi videor iam dedidicisse Latine/ nam didici Getice Sarmaticeque loqui”
(Wheeler 1939) (I myself, I think, have already unlearned my Latin, for I have
learned how to speak Getic and Sarmatian).
Undoubtedly, Ovid’s verses may be invoked as a historical testimony, also
truthful in terms of the common Thracian origin of the two nations, i.e. the Getae
and the Sarmatians, who, “in illo tempore” (at that time), formed the native
populations of Pontic Dacia, recte of Scythia Minor. Moreover, the very logic of
things forces us to accept this reality, i.e. the Thracian origin of the two peoples (the
Getae and the Sarmatians), because, otherwise, it would have been impossible for
Ovid to learn the two languages (the Getic and the Sarmatian languages) in less than
3 years. Of course, only the fact that these languages resembled very much to Latin
(even better than Romanian resembles nowadays to Italian) granted Ovid the
possibility to both learn and write poems – in such a short time period – in both
native languages.
Therefore, Ovid’s success to speak and write in both languages, i.e. Getic and
Sarmatian, even in the early years of his exile at Tomis, is due to the fact that Latin,
his native language, and the two languages that were spoken at Tomis, at that time,
i.e. Getic and Sarmatian, were related, being part of the same common linguistic
trunk. In fact, only this way we can explain better both the so-called “miracle” of
the formation of the Romanian language and the rapid process whereby Burebista’s
Geto-Dacians have appropriated the conquerors’ language (from Latium). Perhaps,
in the near future, historians, philologists, linguists etc. will also reflect upon and
debate, in full awareness, this peremptory reality.
That the Getae cultivated the Muses and that poetry was at home among the
Thracian nations of “Scythia Minor” are attested by the fact that these nations had
poet kings, such as getic King Cotys (Cotiso) (Suetonius, LXIII, 4) of the Odrysian,
who ruled between 13 and 17 p. Chr. n., and whose poems made him famous also
among the poets of other nations. One of these poets was Ovid, who wrote to him
“as poet to poet”, and who also begged him to ease his stay among the Getae. Here
is what the Roman poet exiled at Tomis wrote – in this respect – to King Cotys of
the Getae, who, in his turn, had gained a universal fame as poet: “Ad vatem vates
orantia brachia tendo, terra sit exiliis ut tua fida meis” (Wheeler 1939) (As bard to
bard I extend my arms in prayer that thy land may be loyal to me in exile).
Treasured by the Getae from Tomis because he had learned and spoke their
language – in which he wrote poems – Ovid received their friendly request to
remain among them. As testimony to this friendship, the Tomitae addressed him –
by solemn decrees – words of appreciation and praise, and spared him – through
public documents – of all taxes. Moreover, he was granted the same privileges by
the neighboring Getic cities. Here is what Ovid confesses in his Pontic verses,
namely that at Tomis he was privileged and that “. . . Tomitae me, . . ., / cupiunt hic
tamen esse sui. / Nec mihi credideris: exstant decreta, quibus nos laudat, et
74
N.V. Dura ˘
the two languages, that is “the Latin” and “the Getic”, had a common linguistic
trunk.
This reality is in fact attested by the poet himself in “Tristia”, where he wrote:
“Ipse mihi videor iam dedidicisse Latine/ nam didici Getice Sarmaticeque loqui”
(Wheeler 1939) (I myself, I think, have already unlearned my Latin, for I have
learned how to speak Getic and Sarmatian).
Undoubtedly, Ovid’s verses may be invoked as a historical testimony, also
truthful in terms of the common Thracian origin of the two nations, i.e. the Getae
and the Sarmatians, who, “in illo tempore” (at that time), formed the native
populations of Pontic Dacia, recte of Scythia Minor. Moreover, the very logic of
things forces us to accept this reality, i.e. the Thracian origin of the two peoples (the
Getae and the Sarmatians), because, otherwise, it would have been impossible for
Ovid to learn the two languages (the Getic and the Sarmatian languages) in less than
3 years. Of course, only the fact that these languages resembled very much to Latin
(even better than Romanian resembles nowadays to Italian) granted Ovid the
possibility to both learn and write poems – in such a short time period – in both
native languages.
Therefore, Ovid’s success to speak and write in both languages, i.e. Getic and
Sarmatian, even in the early years of his exile at Tomis, is due to the fact that Latin,
his native language, and the two languages that were spoken at Tomis, at that time,
i.e. Getic and Sarmatian, were related, being part of the same common linguistic
trunk. In fact, only this way we can explain better both the so-called “miracle” of
the formation of the Romanian language and the rapid process whereby Burebista’s
Geto-Dacians have appropriated the conquerors’ language (from Latium). Perhaps,
in the near future, historians, philologists, linguists etc. will also reflect upon and
debate, in full awareness, this peremptory reality.
That the Getae cultivated the Muses and that poetry was at home among the
Thracian nations of “Scythia Minor” are attested by the fact that these nations had
poet kings, such as getic King Cotys (Cotiso) (Suetonius, LXIII, 4) of the Odrysian,
who ruled between 13 and 17 p. Chr. n., and whose poems made him famous also
among the poets of other nations. One of these poets was Ovid, who wrote to him
“as poet to poet”, and who also begged him to ease his stay among the Getae. Here
is what the Roman poet exiled at Tomis wrote – in this respect – to King Cotys of
the Getae, who, in his turn, had gained a universal fame as poet: “Ad vatem vates
orantia brachia tendo, terra sit exiliis ut tua fida meis” (Wheeler 1939) (As bard to
bard I extend my arms in prayer that thy land may be loyal to me in exile).
Treasured by the Getae from Tomis because he had learned and spoke their
language – in which he wrote poems – Ovid received their friendly request to
remain among them. As testimony to this friendship, the Tomitae addressed him –
by solemn decrees – words of appreciation and praise, and spared him – through
public documents – of all taxes. Moreover, he was granted the same privileges by
the neighboring Getic cities. Here is what Ovid confesses in his Pontic verses,
namely that at Tomis he was privileged and that “. . . Tomitae me, . . ., / cupiunt hic
tamen esse sui. / Nec mihi credideris: exstant decreta, quibus nos laudat, et
74
N.V. Dura ˘