[gothic-l] Pre-Viking Raids and Verland

[Bertil Haggman]

"The Suetidi are of this stock and excel the rest
in stature. However, the Dani, who trace their origin
to the same stock, drove from their homes the
Eruli, who lay claom to preeminence among all
the nations of Scandza for their tallness."

Well, is there any doubt about the Scandinavian
origin of the Eruli in the view of J.?(Jordanes 23).

As for the meaning of Eruli just a short quote
as an introduction by Marvin Taylor in his article
in 1990 on the etymology of the Eruli name:

"But the Erulians celebrated 'return' to Scandinavia
at the beginning of the sixth century indicates
that they could have played an exceptional role in
cultural contact between northern and southern Europe..."

Indeed, exceptional. Of course there are a number of
etymologies for the Eruli people name. Most
etymologists believe in OIc jarl, OE eorl,
earl. But I find Gonsiorowski's alternative
of interest, as I think a diversity on this list
is to be welcomed.

My personal view is "near" but some researchers
equal Verland with Blekinge, southwestern Smaaland
and southwestern Vaestergoetland (Rhodon, Lindblom,
Klang) which suggests a settlement in Goetaland.

What "archeological evidence"? I for one would be
interested in some of these sources in English, Russian,
Ukrainian or German.

Bertil Haggman



"no probative value"


   Nope. The original meaning of *erilaz is
> uncertain. But the excellent linguist Piotr
> Gonsiorowski notes it as the probable antonym of
> *karilaz (=man, free peasant, farmer, "churl"), and as
> a social status term meaning
> "warrior,high-born,earl.

> This also is an ambiguous term, which can
> mean either "near" or "among". I prefer the former,
> but suggest that IF one wishes to interpret "Eruli" as
> a status rather than an ethnicity, then "among" might
> work for them. The "Eruli" would then be "Gauti"
> coming home. I don't accept the theory myself.
> >
> > Anybody who is writing about "extant evidence"
> > when it comes to the Era of Great Migration is
> > not really quite up to date.
>

"archaeological evidence"




------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Get your FREE credit report with a FREE CreditCheck
Monitoring Service trial
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ACHqaB/bQ8CAA/ySSFAA/wWMplB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

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/