Posted: August 13, 1999 at 02:31:13: by Neithan
: : I seeem to remember the king of the Teutones having a Celtic name.
It was the "king" of the Cimbri, he was called Boirax, the Teuton one was Teutobod, at this stage in the migration, many of the original participants seems to have gone home (at least there is a rise in wealthy finds in this period), while new germanic and celtic tribes had joined up and been merged into the two original tribes. Among those joining can be named part of the Cherusci- the later victors of teutoburger wald. It is concievable that Boirax was either born while the migration was in the lands of the Boi or was of that tribe (Cimbic chief taking Boi wife??) as he was very young and had probably never seen Jutland.
: : Anyway there was a lesser god called Teutates, I think, which would form a parallel with the example of the Saxons getting their name from the god Seaxneat (Saxsnot).Teutates was a Gallic god, not a germanic one. : : I cannot remember the origin of the term Germani, but the Romans made somewhat indescriminate use of it often lumping the Sarmatians and Alans under the same name. After all to the Romans one bunch of barbarians north of the rivers was much the same as another.
Tacitus distinguishes rather well between germans and other barbarians and so does Caesar. However, generally, I agree with that assessment. I think Caesar and Tacitus agrees on the term "German", was their own name for themselves. : Some other bits - Teuto might be related to the Irish Tuath meaning people - or tribe.
Some say it comes from Thy, a landscape in Denmark where they suppossedly originated, just as "Himmerland" (the part of Dk north of Limfjorden in Jutland) was called Cimberland way back and is supposed to be the land of the Cimbri. : Unrelated - I know a rhyme which is supposed to be in Shetland Norse (Norn) which died out as a living language in the 1600s. I know what it's meaning is thought to be, but I wondered if you could make any sense of it. I take no responsibility for the spelling ;) : Barn vill ikka teea
: Barn vill ikka teea
: Takken leggan, slog an veggan
: Barn vill ikka teea It seems to say;
The child will not behave
The child will not behave
grapp the legs, bash it into the wall (!!!)
The child will not behave
(or possibly ending with a "the child that will not behave)
Scandinavians with some linguistic ear and who takes time can still read our ancient Norse texts. This especially goes for Icelanders as their language has changed little to enable them to still read the sagas easily (they have legislation concerning the language). I too have read some of them, but it is hard.
;-) Neitan turambar (but just call me Arminus!)
|
