[gothic-l] Odin / Religions (Was: Illerup)

[Tore Gannholm]

Hi Dirk,
I have written about this in "The Origin of Svear" which some of you have
received from me.
Tore

>Hi Dirk
>
>In my opinion the religions worshipping fertility and the Sun (known
>from the pictures of the Bronce Ages) in Scandinavia continued as
>fertility cults (Ingviones/Nerthus) and later maybe even in a
>creator/warrior cult (Gauts) in some turbulent areas (Ingemar).
>
>The archaeologi indicates, that Wothan penetrated slowly from south
>in the 5th century (bracteats etc.). Around 520-30 a general shift in
>weapons to a more uniform style, in offerings and burials all over
>Scandinavia is registered both in Sweden and in Denmark. In Uppsala 3
>big mounds were erected, and 50 years later the Vendel style spread
>over Scandinavia with a dominating center around Uppsala using style-
>elements also known from Alemans, Merovings, Lombards and
>Anglosaxons - a distaint center with international connections
>consolidating and demonstrating power. This center continued and
>around 1000AD Adam of Bremen described the main temple of Odin in
>Uppsala.
>
>Very brief the sagas tell us about a war between Ases (=Odin and his
>men from Asia) and Vanes (=the old traditions). Odin, who arrived
>from Tanais to Sigtuna near Uppsala, reconciled with the Vanes, and
>some of these got place among the Ases. Odin also became the ancestor
>to the Scandinavian kings.
>
>My explanation is that a migration people arrived with their typical
>warrior and ancestor cult around 500-30. Although relatively few they
>subdued the local Ingviones around Uppsala, but accepted some of
>their fertility gods (Ing/Frej and Njord) in order to consolidate
>their power without spoiling the old farming society (like Theodoric
>in Italy 20 years earlier). From there they made most of their small
>neighbour kingdoms "subject and tributary to themselves" (Procopius
>about the Heruls in Pannonia 30 years earlier). Most of the gold
>disappeared except around the religious center which was consolidated
>50 years later, but soon they had to split up in several centres as
>they were not able to cover all Scandinavia - having still a
>religious connection.
>
>If the leader of the Ases did not play such a role already at his
>arrival, he got after his death a Wothan-like shape, and his name
>became the Scandinavian version, Odin (According to Wolfram the name
>does not occur before the 6th century). Probably they already
>worshipped Wothan or Gaut, and took advantage of both gods being
>known in some areas of Scandinavia already.
>
>How could the old population believe that story? Probably they
>didn't! They believed in their old Vanes and the weapons of the Ases -
> and the supporters got rich too. Odin was primarily accepted as the
>god of kings, earls and warriors - his decendents. Looking at
>archaeology he never got the position we should expect, and even 500
>years later Thor had according to Adam the position in the middle
>between Odin and Frej in his temple in Uppsala. Odin is in the sagas
>described with a dominating position, because he later became the god
>of the Viking warriors, but looking closer into the poems and sagas
>the Norse mythology was an ever changing mess - a compromise which
>should not be expected if it was a society expanding by its own power.
>
>This is one way to explain the Norse mythology, but it is of course
>not the only solution. Is this in accordance with the principles we
>discussed below? Do other listmembers have any objections against it
>as a possibility?
>
>The reason to bring this at Gothic list is, that the names Ases and
>Tanais point at an Eastgermanic people worshipping as late as 500AD
>Gaut/Wothan-ancestors. This could be the royal Herulian family -
>according to Procopius a Gothic tribe. But please keep this out of
>the argumentation at this stage, as I did not use it.
>
>Regards
>Troels


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