Re: Torsten's theory reviewed

Torsten wrote:

> > > "Suebi" is a
> > > large ethnic identifier. It refers to all

Germanic

> > > populations east of the Chatti, Chauci, and

Cimbri. It

> > > is a label, as Tacitus states, which applies to

more

> > > than one "nation", indeed to more than one half

of

> > > "Germania".
> >
> > Yup. It is a confederation. And at Tacitus' time

it

> > has grown to that size.
>
> GK: Surely you can't mean this.

But I do.

****GK: And I think I know why(:=))).****

> Whatever Tacitus'
> "Suebians" were, they were not, all together at

least,

> a political community (nor indeed, all together, a
> cult community). Anyone who reads through the

Germania

> sects.39 to 45 can see this immediately.

How? Because they are different? So are the states of
USA.

****GK: No. Because the statements of Tacitus clearly
indicate that the Langobardi, Hermunduri, Harii,
Gotones, Suiones, to name but these, cannot
conceivably be part of any confederation a la
U.S.A.****

> Tacitus does
> recognize some religious associations among some of
> his "Suebians", but there is nothing "global",not

even

> the hair style(!cf. sect,.39) "Suebia" is a purely
> geographical conception (?)****

I don't think it was a confederation about hairstyles.
It was about
some political aim.

****GK: When did you last read Snor... oops I mean
Tacitus? The hairstyle is the first thing that he
mentions (and adds that it is imitated by non
-Suebians). What political aim would these "Suebians"
share?****

Torsten



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