--- In cybalist@..., "torsten pedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >While some Cimmerians went south, others fled westwards.
Archaeology may be
> >little useful for distinguishing between Cimmerians and Scythians,
since
> >the steppe culture was rather homogenous compared to the Near East
and
> >settled areas of Europe partitioned by mountains and different
ecological
> >zones. In any event, some Cimmerians and probably Scythians
penetrated
> >eastern and central Europe, influencing Celtic art. I'm not the
first to
> >notice the name similarities between the Cimmerians and the Cimbri
of
> >Jutland who were, IMO, originally Celtic. Could they have even
earlier been
> >Cimmerians - first Celticized and later Germanicized? There was
also the
> >Arii tribe the Romans referenced in modern-day Poland. Could they
have once
> >been Iranians?
> >
> Don't forget that the Ynglingasaga says that the invaders who came
with Odin
> taught the natives to speak their language.
>
> Torsten
>
No, I was not aware of that, Torsten. Please provide some details.
Below is a translation of Homer's account of the Cimmerians.
Then, when we had got down to the sea shore we drew our ship into the
water and got her mast and sails into her; we also put the sheep on
board and took our places, weeping and in great distress of mind.
Circe, that great and cunning goddess, sent us a fair wind that blew
dead aft and stayed steadily with us keeping our sails all the time
well filled; so we did whatever wanted doing to the ship's gear and
let her go as the wind and helmsman headed her.
All day long her sails were full as she held her course over the sea,
but when the sun went down and darkness was over all the earth, we
got into the deep waters of the river Okeanos, where lie the dêmos
and city of the Cimmerians who live enshrouded in mist and darkness
which the rays of the sun never pierce neither at his rising nor as
he goes down again out of the heavens, but the poor wretches live in
one long melancholy night. When we got there we beached the ship,
took the sheep out of her, and went along by the waters of Okeanos
till we came to the place of which Circe had told us.
Now, does the city of the Cimmerians sound as if it is located in the
sunny Mediterranean - or could it be foggy, misty Jutland?
You may also be aware of a comparison done between Homer's catalogue
of ships that set sail from Aulis, their home ports, and the names of
towns in Denmark. If not, ask and I'll find it and post it for you.