Spatha or gladius? The principles of reflection of military data of his own time by Ammianus Marcellinus
The historical work of Ammianus Marcellinus is considered to be the most important source for the history of the late IVth century. The scrupulous analysis of its information on warfare makes the researchers throw doubts about Ammanus’ accuracy: Ammianus was inaccurate in usage of military terminology, incoherent in description of machines. One can suppose thereupon that Res Gestae isn’t such a reliable source as it considered to be. Nevertheless the careful examination of each questionable episode reveals that Ammianus tried to use military terminology of Caesar, Tacitus and Livius. The use of word was much more important for Ammianus than its meaning. The historian tended to write about the contemporary realities using the termini which have been employed by his great predecessors.