Scandza

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Scandza is the name of Scandinavia in the Getica of the late antique historian Jordanes . The name appeared in various forms of name in antiquity until the current form "Scandinavia" prevailed in the Middle Ages.

background

Scandinavia after Ptolemy
  • Around 77 AD Pliny the Elder mentioned in his work Naturalis historia an island Scatinavia in the Gulf of Codanus and named its inhabitants Hilleviones . He also mentioned another opinion, according to which an island of Aeningia is no smaller than Scatinavia . The Codanus is bordered by a huge Saevo mountain and the Cimbri promontory and is full of islands.
  • In 98 AD, Publius Cornelius Tacitus wrote about a Scandinavian tribe for the first time in his work Germania , referring to the Suionen as a seafaring people in the sea.
  • About 50 years later, Claudius Ptolemy mentioned four Scandinavian islands (τέσσαρες νῆσοι αἱ καλούμεναι Σκανδίαι) and described the easternmost island, which is also the largest, in more detail. Seven tribes live according to him, on this island: the Chaediner (Χαιδεινοι) to the west, the Firaesen (Φρίσιοι or Φιραῖσοι) and Favonen (Φαυόναι) to the east, the Finns in the north, the Gauts and Daukionen (Δαυκίωνες) in the south and the Levoner in the middle.
  • An island called Scadinavia ( Paulus Diaconus ) or scadan [an] ( Origo Gentis Langobardorum ) is said to have been the place of origin of the Longobards .

Description of the Jordanes

Scandinavia around 550 AD according to Jordanes

The Roman-Gothic historian Jordanes wrote in the middle of the 6th century that the Goths left their original homeland, the island of Scandza, and sailed across the Baltic Sea in three ships under their king Berig . There they met the coast of present-day Poland, where they established new settlements. This stretch of coast was named Gothiscandza . Jordanes provided a more detailed picture of Scandinavia (Scandza) in his work. However, his information from the 6th century AD is viewed rather critically in modern research. Jordanes described Scandza as a large, non-round island, with a large lake inland, a river called Vagus (possibly the Vänernsee and Göta älv , formerly Ván) and a land bridge ( Lapland ) to the mainland in the east. Jordanes named a variety of tribes, although it is questionable whether these details are accurate. Far in the north lived the Adogit , where there was a time of continuous light for forty days and nights in midsummer and total darkness for the same number of days and nights in winter. Another people are the Screrefennae (Skridfinner), who did not feed on grain, but on the meat of wild animals and the eggs of birds. There is so much young game in the swampy landscape that they can live a good life from hunting. Further south lived the Suehans , who like the Thurini had excellent horses. Among these were those who were known for their beautiful dark furs, a people who lived in humility but possessed the most precious clothes.

The tribes of the Theusten , Vagothen , Bergio , Hallin and Liothida settled in the fertile plains of Scandza . These were therefore often attacked by other tribes. To the north of them lived the Ahelmil , Finnaithae or Finnveden , the Fervir and the Gautigoten (Götaland), a people of strong and fast fighters. Then there were the Mixi , Evagre , Otingis , who all lived like animals in caves or castles carved into the rock, the Ostrogothae , Raumarici , Aeragnaricii and the friendly Finns , who were more peaceful than all the other inhabitants of Scandzas and who resembled the Vinoviloths . Jordanes also counted the Suetidi , who were larger than the other peoples. Among the Dani , who also derived their roots of this tribe, were the Heruli , which towered above all the nations Scandzas. In addition there were the Granier , Augandzier , Eunixier , Taetel , Rugier , Arochier and the Ranier in their neighborhood .

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Pliny the Elder : Naturalis historia . IV 96: "mons Saevo ibi, inmensus nec Ripaeis iugis minor, inmanem ad Cimbrorum usque promunturium efficit sinum, qui Codanus vocatur, refertus insulis, quarum clarissima est Scatinavia, inconpertae magnitudinis, portionem tantum eius, quoding notum situm, Hillevagentis : quare alterum orbem terrarum eam appellant. nec minor est opinione Aeningia. "
  2. ^ Ptolemy: Geographike Hyphegesis. Volume 2, 10.
  3. ↑ Monika Mokre, Gilbert Weiss, Rainer Bauböck: Europe's Identities. Myths, conflicts, constructions. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2003, ISBN 3-593-37231-2 , p. 31. ( online ).
  4. ↑ John Ole Askedal, Harald Bjorvand: Three studies on Germanic in old and new times. Odense University Press, Odense 1995, ISBN 9-027-27283-2 , pp. 87 ff. ( Online ).
  5. ^ Arne Søby Christensen: Cassiodorus, Jordanes and the History of the Goths. Studies in a Migration Myth. Copenhagen 2002, pp. 255 ff.
  6. ↑ a b Charles C. Mierow: Geographical Introduction. Section III. in: The origin and deeds of the Goths.