Re: I, Hercules [was: A "Germanic" query]

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: tgpedersen
> To: cybalist@...
> Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 1:14 PM
> Subject: [tied] Re: I, Hercules [was: A "Germanic" query]
>
>
> The Etruscan, Greek and Romans knew Hercules under that or a

similar name, so did the Scythians, says Herodotus, and the
Armenians. Now if Tacitus informs us that the Germani knew Hercules,
was it then under that or under another name? Which is more likely?
I'd say under the Hercules name. And what would that be in the
Germanic of that time? Etc...

--- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> Next time you'll be telling the list that the Erminones/Herminones
worshipped Hermes (invoking Tacitus [Germ. 9], of course: "deorum
maxime Mercurium colunt"). Tacitus pairs (West) Germanic and Roman
gods/heroes according to his _interpretatio Romana_. With minor
modifications this pairing survives in the names of the days of the
week. Tacitus' "Germanic Mercury" refers not to unknown *Merxurjaz
but to Woden. His "Mars" is Tiu, and Hercules (later Jove) was
identified with Thunar by the Romans. No Latin/Greek names of gods
are found among the Germani despite the above identifications, so
there is no reason why Hercules should have been the only one known
under his "original" name.
>
> Piotr
>
>
What an excellent idea! No, but seriously, Hercules is not really a
god, but a cultural hero, therefore your criticism doesn't apply.
He travels all over the place. Would it be surprising if they had
known him in the places the Greek have him travel to? Perhaps there
is is even a historical truth hidden in these stories (shamelessly
euhemerising again!). "Hera-klees", Hera-fame struck even the Greek
as being odd. Perhaps this is a Greek folk-etymology and he belongs
to a pre-Greek substrate?

Torsten