Scandza
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2008-07-04T11:16:33Z
Echosmoke
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/* Geographical description */
{{portalpar|Ancient Germanic culture}}
[[Image:Scandza.PNG|right|thumbnail|250px|map of Scandza with a selection of tribes]]
'''Scandza''' was the name given to [[Scandinavia]] by [[Jordanes]], in his work [[Getica]]. He described the area to set the stage for his treatment of the [[Goths]]' migration from Scandinavia to [[Gothiscandza]]. His account contains several accurate descriptions of Scandinavia, but is also jumbled and composed of information from several sources. According to the prominent Swedish archaeologist Göran Burenhult, [[Jordanes]] account gives us a unique glimpse into the tribes of Scandinavia in the [[6th century]].<ref>Burenhult 1996:94</ref>
==Geographical description==
Jordanes referred to [[Ptolemy]]'s fairly correct description of ''Scandia'' "as a great island shaped like a juniper leaf" (i.e. long and not round) "having bulging sides and which tapered down in the south at a long end".
He also referred to [[Pomponius Mela]]'s description of ''[[Codanonia]]'' (called ''[[Scatinavia]]'' by [[Pliny the Elder]]) which was located in the Codanian Gulf (probably [[Kattegat]]). "This island was in front of the [[Vistula]] and that there was a great lake" (probably [[Vänern]]) "from which sprang the river ''Vagus''" (cf. ''Ván'' an old name for [[Göta älv]]). "On the western and northern side it was surrounded by an enormous sea" (the [[Atlantic]]), "but in the east there was a land bridge" ([[Sápmi (area)|Lappland]]) "which cut off the sea in the east forming the ''German Sea''" (the [[Baltic Sea]]). "There were also many small islands" (the Swedish and Finnish archipelagos) "where wolves could pass when the sea was frozen. In winter the country was not only cruel to people but also to wild beasts. Due to the extreme cold there were no swarms of honey-making bees."
==Midsummer sun and the Midwinter darkness==
In the north, there was the nation of the ''Adogit'' (perhaps referring to the inhabitants of [[Hålogaland]] in Norway or the people of [[Andøya]]<ref name="nerman36">Nerman 1925:36</ref>) who lived in continual light during the midsummer (for forty days and nights) and in continual darkness for as long time during the midwinter. Due to this alternation they go from joy to suffering (the first description of the Scandinavian [[Seasonal affective disorder|winter depression]]). The sun moreoever seemed to pass around the Earth rather than to rise from below.
==Inhabitants==
Jordanes names a multitude of tribes living in Scandza, which he named the ''Womb of nations'', and they were taller and more ferocious than the Germans (archaeological evidence has shown the Scandinavians of the time were tall, probably due to their diet). The listing represents several instances of the same people named twice, which was probably due to the gathering of information from diverse travellers<ref name="nerman46">Nerman 1925:46</ref> and from Scandinavians arriving to join the Goths, such as [[Rodwulf]] from [[Bohuslän]]<ref>Ohlmarks 1994:255</ref>. Whereas linguists have been able to connect some names to regions in Scandinavia, there are others that may be based on misunderstandings.<ref name="burenhult94">Burenhult 1996:94</ref>
On the island there were the ''Screrefennae'' (i.e. [[Sami people]]s<ref name="nerman36"/>) who lived as [[Hunter-gatherer]]s living on a multitude of game in the swamps and on birds' eggs.
There were also the ''Suehans'' ([[Swedish people|Swedes]]) who had splendid horses like the [[Thuringians]] (interestingly [[Snorri Sturluson]] wrote that the [[6th century]] Swedish king [[Adils]] had the best horses of his time). They were the suppliers of black fox skins for the Roman market and they were richly dressed even though they lived in poverty.
There were also the ''Theustes'' (the people of the ''[[Tjust]]'' region in [[Småland]]), ''[[Vagoth]]s'' (probably the [[Gotland]]ers<ref name="nerman40">Nerman 1925:40</ref>), ''Bergio'' (either the people of ''[[Bjäre Hundred]]'' in [[Skåne]], according to L Weibull, or the people of [[Kolmården]] according to others), ''Hallin'' (southern [[Halland]]) and the ''Liothida'' (either the ''[[Luggude Hundred]]'' or ''Lödde'' in [[Skåne]], but others connect them to [[Södermanland]]<ref name="nerman38">Nerman 1925:38</ref>) who live in a flat and fertile region, due to which they are subject to the attacks of their neighbours. Other tribes were the ''Ahelmil'' (identified with the region of [[Halmstad]]<ref>Ohlmarks 1994:10</ref>), the ''Finnaithae'' (''Finnhaith-'', i.e. ''Finnheden'', the old name for [[Finnveden]]), the ''Fervir'' (the inhabitants of [[Fjäre Hundred]]) and the ''Gautigoths'' (the [[Geats]] of [[Västergötland]]), a nation which was bold and quick to engage in war. There were also the ''Mixi'', ''Evagreotingis'' (or the ''Evagres'' and the ''Otingis'' depending on the translator), who live like animals among the rocks (probably the numerous [[hillfort]]s and ''Evagreotingis'' is believed to have meant the "people of the island hill forts" which best fits the people of [[Bohuslän]]<ref name="nerman42ff">Nerman 1925:42ff</ref>). Beyond them, there were the ''Ostrogoths'' ([[Östergötland]]), ''Raumarici'' ([[Romerike]]), the ''Ragnaricii'' (probably [[Ranrike]], an old name for a part of Bohuslän) and the most gentle ''Finns'' (probably second mention of the [[Sami people]]s<ref name="nerman44">Nerman 1925:44</ref>). The ''Vinoviloth'' (possibly remaining [[Lombards]], ''vinili''.<ref>See Christie, Neil. ''The Lombards: The Ancient Longobards'' (The Peoples of Europe Series). ISBN 978-0631211976.</ref>) were similar.
He also named the ''Suetidi'' (a second mention of the [[Swedish people|Swedes]]<ref name="nerman44"/>). The [[Dani]], who were of the same stock and who drove the [[Heruls]] from their lands. Those tribes were the tallest of men.
In the same area there were the ''Granni'' ([[Grenland]]<ref name="nerman45">Nerman 1925:45</ref>), ''Augandzi'' ([[Agder]]<ref name="nerman45"/>), ''Eunixi'', ''Taetel'', ''Rugi'' ([[Rogaland]]<ref name="nerman45"/>), ''Arochi'' ([[Hordaland]]<ref name="nerman45"/>) and ''Ranii'' (possibly the people of [[Romsdalen]]<ref name="nerman45"/>). The king Roduulf was of the Rani but left his kingdom and joined [[Theodoric]], king of the Goths.
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*Burenhult, Göran (1996) ''Människans historia'', VI.
*Nerman, B. ''Det svenska rikets uppkomst''. Stockholm, 1925.
*Ohlmarks, Å. (1994). ''Fornnordiskt lexikon''
*Ståhl, Harry (1970) ''Ortnamn och ortnamnsforskning'', AWE/Gebers, Uppsala.
*[http://www.northvegr.org/lore/history_viking/019.php A History of the Vikings]
*[http://www.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/jordgeti.html The Origin and the Deeds of the Goths]
*[http://www.arild-hauge.com/folkevan.htm A Norwegian etymology for Germanic tribal names]
[[Category:Goths]]
[[Category:Scandinavia]]
[[Category:Viking Age]]
[[Category:Ancient Germanic peoples]]
[[Category:History of the Germanic peoples]]
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