Gothiscandza facts for kids
Gothiscandza was a very old place, a bit like a first home for a group of people called the Goths. They settled there after traveling a long way from a region called Scandza, which is thought to be modern-day Scandinavia. This happened around the first century CE. An old writer named Jordanes mentioned Gothiscandza in his book Getica around the year 551 CE, saying the name was still used back then.
Contents
Jordanes' Story of Gothiscandza
The Goths' First Home
A historian named Jordanes wrote about the Goths in his book Getica. He said that the Goths, a Germanic tribe, were led by their king, Berig, from a place called Scandza. When they arrived in a new land, they named it Gothiscandza.
Jordanes also mentioned another group, the Gepids, who traveled with the Goths. They were on the slowest ship. The Gepids settled on an island near the Vistula river. They called this island "Gepedoios."
New Neighbors and New Lands
After settling, the Goths soon moved to the coast. They pushed away the Rugians, another Germanic tribe already living there. Then, the Goths defeated their new neighbors, the Vandals.
Later, after many years and several kings, the Goths had grown in number. Their king, Filimer, decided it was time to leave Gothiscandza. He led his people to a new region called Oium, which was in Scythia. Some historians question how accurate Jordanes' stories are about these very early Gothic times.
What Does Gothiscandza Mean?
Understanding the Name
The name Gothiscandza has a few possible meanings. One idea is that it's a Latin way of saying the Gothic words gutisk-an[d]ja. This could mean "Gothic end" or "Gothic frontier," showing where the Goths' land reached.
Another idea is that an[d]ja means "cape," so the whole word would mean "Gothic peninsula." It's also possible that the name is a mix of "Gothic" and "Scandinavia." Some experts suggest it means "Gothic coast" or "Gothic Scandia."
Finding Gothiscandza: History and Clues
Ancient Writers and Tribal Names
In the first century AD, writers like Pliny the Elder and Tacitus mentioned a group called the Gutones or Gothones living near the mouth of the Vistula river.
Tacitus wrote in his book Germania:
Beyond the Lygians dwell the Gothones, under the rule of a king; and thence held in subjection somewhat stricter than the other German[ic] nations, yet not so strict as to extinguish all their liberty. Immediately adjoining are the Rugians and Lemovians upon the coast of the ocean, and of these several nations the characteristics are a round shield, a short sword and kingly government.
The names Gutones and Gothones seem to be very similar to *Gutaniz. This is the old form of the name the Goths and the Gotlanders used for themselves. This suggests a strong connection between these ancient groups and the Goths.
Archaeology: Digging Up the Past
Archaeologists have found clues about Gothiscandza. In the first century AD, a new culture appeared near the Vistula river. It's called the Wielbark Culture. This culture replaced an older local one, the Oksywie culture.
One of the most interesting things about the Wielbark Culture is that it used Scandinavian burial traditions. People built stone circles and placed tall stones where they buried their dead. This shows that people in the Wielbark Culture followed Scandinavian customs.
There's also evidence that Scandinavian influences were in this area even earlier. This might be connected to the arrival of the Rugians and Vandals. Later, in the third century AD, the Wielbark culture spread into Scythia. There, it became part of the Gothic Chernyakhov culture.
Gothiscandza in Norse Legends
Stories from the North
Old Norse legends also have stories that might be linked to Gothiscandza. One is the Gutasaga, which tells about the Goths' migration. Another is the legend of Dag the Wise, which talks about raids from Scandza.
The Gutasaga: A Journey South
The Gutasaga is a story from Gotland. It says that when the people of Gotland (the Goths) grew too numerous for their island, they drew lots. One-third of the people had to leave. They could take all their belongings but not their land.
The story says they traveled:
- over a long time, the people descended from these three multiplied so much that the land couldn't support them all. Then they draw lots, and every third person was picked to leave, and they could keep everything they owned and take it with them, except for their land. ... they went up the river Dvina, up through Russia. They went so far that they came to the land of the Greeks. ... they settled there, and live there still, and still have something of our language.
This story might be a memory of the Goths' journey from their homeland.
Ynglingatal: Raids from Scandza
The legend of Dag the Wise might describe attacks by the Suiones (an old name for Swedes) in the second or third century. In old Scandinavian stories, the land where the Goths lived during their migrations is often called Reidgotaland.
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