Comments on Carrier: Is Thallus Actually Quoted by Eusebius?

Dr. Richard Carrier has recently argued that the historian Thallus, of whom much is unknown, should not be included among the ancient testimonia for the historical Jesus. Julius Africanus claims Thallus called the darkness which befell the world during Jesus’ crucifixion an eclipse. Eusebius speaks of the 2nd century historian Phlegon and “(an)other Greek compendium(s)” mentioning an eclipse in the 30’s AD. Carrier believes that Eusebius is quoting Thallus. In the present article the author argues that Eusebius could be refering only to Phlegon, and that Africanus, possibly, confused Thallus with Phlegon. Thus, Thallus could have been a 1st century BC historian, writing nothing about events during the crucifixion.