Re: [tied] Plinius and Tacitus

Thanks Piotr,

This makes it much easier to understand the Baltic area during that time.

Swedish historians have for centuries had it as an axiom that Tacitus and Plinius talked about a mighty people in Lake Mälar area. This is of course pure nonsense.

I have put out a map on http://w1.855.telia.com/~u85528681/Map/Kartabrons.JPG

This is from the book "Gothic connections" by Anders Kaliff.

It shows the Baltic with similar finds during the Bronze Age.

Gotland is dominating in the middle of the Baltic and most Scandinavian finds are from there.

If Suionum means "similar blood" this is locgical.

It is only in the beginning of the 6th century that a mighty power appears in the Lake Mälar area. That is supposed to be the immigrating Heruls mentioned by Procopius.

Before that time it is very quiet in the Lake Mälar area and Gotland is the dominating power in the Baltic.

Next question is. Where does the word Gutans and Guthiuda come from.

The Gotlanders also take this name. It is obvious that there is a close related culture in the area where we later on find the Goths and in Gotland.

Still today the people in Gotland is called Gutar.

Tore

The underlying element is no doubt *swe- 'one's own, of the same blood'. Cf. the autoethnonym of the Swedes (Sve-ar, Swea-ri:ke > Sverige), or *swo-ino- > *swaina- 'young tribesman'. I suppose the variation Sueui ~ Suebi ~ Suabi, etc. reflects more than one original tribal name (e.g. *swia-, *swaba- < *swe(j)-o-, *swobH-o-) that have denoted several ontologically different peoples, easily confused with one another by foreign authors.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----

From: Tore Gannholm

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 9:33 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] Plinius and Tacitus

Plinius and Tacitus writes about Mare Suebicum and the people who live on the island in "Mare Suebicum" as "suionum civitates" and "illa Suionum gente". The only document in the Baltic with something similar is the one word on the oldest full runic alfabet, the Kylverstone from Stånga in Gotland from end of the 4th century. There one can read "sueus" Does anybody know where the Romans got these names from and what could be the origin. Tore
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