Die Trauser in Gaza. Zum Kontext der Fragmente inc. sed. 15 und 1 Amato von Prokop von Gaza

This paper analyzes fragments 15 and 1 Amato of Procopius of Gaza. The thematic affinity between fr. 15 and one passage from Procopius’ epistolary (Epist. 164, 17-18 Garzya-Loenertz) proves beyond doubt that the fragment was really written by this author, confirming an attribution reported by only one manuscript of the source. The original context of fr. 1 may be inferred from a comparison with fr. 15 and with a passage from Choricius’ Funeral Speech on Procopius (or. 8, 44 Foerster-Richtsteig). It can thus be argued that this brief fr. 1 handles the same typical consolatory motif as fr. 15 and Chor. 8, 44. Namely, the peculiar behavior of the Thracian tribe called Trausi with respect to dealing with births and deaths. Following this argument, fr. 1 can be attributed to the same context as fr. 15, the consolatory section of a lost epitaph of Procopius.