[gothic-l] Traditions of origin - Gaut/Geat/Gaus(us)

[Tore Gannholm]

Hi Keth,
The Gutnish symbol is not a Christian lamb but a wedder with a sword and a
banner. (see http://gotland.luma.com  ). Probably it goes back to the
crusades.
We know that the road to Jerusalem during the Crusades went over Gotland
and the Russian rivers. In 1103 the Danish king Erik Ejegod and his queen
passed Gotland on their way to Jerusalem. At the same time Erik Ejegod
inaugurated S:t Olofs church in Visby. The Gutnish red and white colour is
the same as the crusaders used. Later also used in the Danish flag.


This was the official symbol of the Gutnish repuplic. We have it documented
from beginning of the 13the century. But it was well established at that
time. This means that Gotland had an established heraldic sign long before
the Swedes even dreamt of such things.


Tore



>Hi Tore!
>I am glad you took up this question.
>
>>Gotland and the Gutnish people are mentioned still more times. They are in
>>Beowulf called the "Wedder" people. The wedder is the official symbol of
>>Gotland and was used as the official seal for the Gutnish republic.
>>Not Sweden but Svear are mentined many times as part of Beowulf deals with
>>the wars between the Svear and the Gutnish people.
>>Tore
>
>I didn't know about the Wedder before, though I did once see
>upon your web page - quite a few years ago now - that Gotland
>has a lamb as symbol. But the way I remember it is like a
>Christian lamb, maybe with the Danebrog on a stannart. (?)
>
>You are quite right that there is a lot of Wederas in Beowulf.
>I count it 16 times !
>And then there are some guys called "Wedergeatas",
>ah!  Weather-goats  ;) which is supposed to be the same as the Geatas.
>But the Geatas are mentioned 50 times!
>There are also several kinds of Geatas:
>
>Guðgeatas    -  godguttane !
>Sægeatas     -  sjøguttane !
>Wedergeatas  -  Vérguttane !
>:)
>
>Bäste Hälsingar
>Keth
>
>
>
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