Gwodan/Frea [gothic-l] Odin / Religions

[trbrandt at POST9.TELE.DK]

Hi Keth,

I have noticed the legend and find it interesting.

I don't think you can date the legend and the names of the gods to
the 2nd century because you in the legend recognize an event from
that time. However I am sure the couple existed in Germany before
they were transferred to Scandinavia.

The Greek connection I do not believe. It was probably invented among
the Germanic people in the time between Gregory of Tours and "Gesta
Regum Francorum"/Fredegar, when the Franks got "their classical
past". Paulus Diaconus obviously belonged to this new school, which
was also known by the Icelandic authors.

Regards
Troels


--- In gothic-l at y..., keth at o... wrote:
> Hi Troels,
> I'd like to add that the Langobards who took over in Italy after
> the Goths, had an old legend about their god Gwodan and his
> wife Frea, where Frea helped them to win a victory over the
> Vandals when they still lived in their old homeland. Since
> the Langobards were neighbors to the Vandals while they still
> lived on the lower Elbe, where Tacitus places them, this must
> have occurred before the Vandals started wandering South,
> That is before the Vandals under Rhaus and Raptus
> appeared in Dacia in 170/171 in the time of Marcus Aurelius.
> Therefore, we can say that this Langobard legend of Wodan and Frigg
> can be dated to the 2nd century at the latest.
> The legend is sound like a true legend to me.
> The names Gwodan and Frea agree too well with the
> the later Icelandic names that we find in the Edda.
> Paulus also goes on to identify Godan/Wodan with
> Mercurius, and adds that all Germanic peoples once
> worshipped this god. But that it was a long time ago,
> and not in Germania but in Greece. So we see a conception
> of an Eastern Wodan already in Paulus' "Historia".
>
> Best regards
> Keth


You are a member of the Gothic-L list.  To unsubscribe, send a blank email to <gothic-l-unsubscribe at egroups.com>.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/