r/AncientGermanic Dec 14 '20

Mod announcement Welcome to r/AncientGermanic (& frequently asked questions)! (999+ sub members edition)

42 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/AncientGermanic! This subreddit is dedicated to ancient Germanic studies, an interdisciplinary academic field focused on the ancient Germanic language-speaking peoples, including their shared (and differentiated) language, history, and culture.

As you can see, this sub has to date consisted largely of posts of peer-reviewed sources and accompanying discussion, but also of questions related to ancient Germanic studies.

F. A. Q.

* What is ancient Germanic studies?

Ancient Germanic studies is the interdisciplinary study of the ancient Germanic peoples, speakers of ancient Germanic languages, including their commonalities and their differences. Associated fields include historical linguistics, archaeology, folklore studies, history of religions, and numerous others.

Ancient Germanic studies has had an outsized influence on the development of the humanities due to scientific advances made in the 19th century, such as the observation of Grimm’s Law (sometimes referred to as the First Germanic Sound Shift).

In Western school systems, most university or college departments offer some means of approaching ancient Germanic studies, usually by way of the school’s Germanic languages program or department but sometimes through a linguistics department or program.

* Who were the ancient Germanic peoples?

A quick definition: The ancient Germanic peoples were groups of peoples who natively spoke ancient Germanic languages, and are therefore the linguistic ancestors of today’s speakers of Germanic languages, such as English, German, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, and many others. Scholars generally divide these languages into three groups: West Germanic languages (Old English, Old High German, Old Low German, and more), North Germanic languages (Old Norse), and the extinct East Germanic languages (most notably Gothic). All of these languages stem from a common ancestor, known by scholars today as Proto-Germanic, which in turn developed from an earlier language known as Proto-Indo-European.

As one would expect from peoples who stem from a common cultural origin, researchers note a variety of commonalities among these groups, and in some cases can state with high confidence these elements existed in Proto-Germanic culture. For example, the use of a particular form of composition known as alliterative verse among various Germanic peoples is attested (that is, recorded) in Old English (such as the so-called “Nine Herbs Charm”), in Old High German (such as the Merseburg Charms), and the Old Norse (most famously in eddic poetry, poetry in the style of poems found in the collection known as the Poetic Edda). Eddic poetry, recorded in the 13th century, also contains references to historic events among other ancient Germanic peoples, such as references to the Gothic king Ermanaric who evidently died several hundred years before in Eastern Europe (as does the Old English poem Beowulf).

Outside of the comparatively massive Old Norse corpus of texts, records of and references to the pre-Christianization culture of the ancient Germanic peoples are scarce. However, from them scholars can here and there gain insight into early Germanic culture: For example, these often fragmentary sources frequently mention intense fixation among the ancient Germanic peoples on sacred trees (singular trees) and sacred groves (groups of trees). Trees and the concept of ‘tree-ness’ appears to have been not only central to religious practice among the ancient Germanic peoples but also central to their notions of themselves and the cosmos. (For more on this, see this entry in the Kvasir Symbol Database).

These are just a few examples of the many topics relevant to discussion at this subreddit.

* What are this sub’s rules?

This sub has three simple core rules:

  • No pseudoscience: Unfortunately, pseudoscience plagues the internet, and it’s important to apply source criticism to everything one encounters. Ask yourself, who wrote something? Is this person an authority? What sources are they using?
  • No racism: We do not accept any form of racism on this subreddit.
  •  Be friendly! We strive to promote an inclusive environment in which all here feel welcome and comfortable contributing and asking questions. As a result, we expect all members of this sub to be friendly to one another.

* What is all this about Mimisbrunnr.info?

Mimisbrunnr.info is a web-based project and resource focused on ancient Germanic studies and an outgrowth of a now-defunct student reading group, Ár Var Alda, sponsored by the University of Georgia’s Department of Gemanic and Slavic Studies. Today Mimisbrunnr.info primarily focuses on building resources for researchers, such as surveys of translations. r/AncientGermanic is a development of the Mimisbrunnr.info project and is primarily moderated by individuals involved with the project.

* Who made the art that appears on this sub?

Art on this sub is by Rim Mere, which depicts what appears to be a sacred tree from the Överhogdal tapestries. You can read more about these depictions and their broader context in an entry on sacred trees and groves at the Kvasir Symbol Database here.

* Is this heathen (modern Germanic neopagan) sub?

This sub is specifically aimed at a general audience. All are welcome here, including adherents of modern Germanic heathenry!

* What’s so special about the number 999?

Good question! A fixation on the number three and its multiples appears throughout the ancient Germanic record, as discussed in the Kvasir Symbol Database entry  “Numbers: Three & Nine”.The fixation appears to go back to the Proto-Germanic period.


r/AncientGermanic Dec 18 '23

Resource List of subject-specific articles (Hyldyr, ongoing)

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16 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic 1d ago

What Do Early Germanic Dragons Look Like?

23 Upvotes

The most common modern depiction of a dragon is as a fire-breathing, clawed reptile with wings. However, the native Germanic words (orm, wyrm, wurm) all mean "serpent." In the Eddas and Gesta Danorum, these dragons seem mostly to be large, venomous snakes with some magical properties. However, I know that the dragon in Beowulf flies and breathes fire, and it is my understanding that dragons in some of the sagas do as well, though I haven't read much in the sagas, yet. Are these attributes that have been borrowed from classical dragons? (Beowulf sometimes uses the word draka, which is Greek through Latin, suggesting that the concept of draka is overlapping with the concept of wyrm.) Or are fire-breathing, flying, and claws native to Germanic dragons? Or do we just not have enough evidence?


r/AncientGermanic 2d ago

How the Germanic word for soap reached Aboriginal Australia

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19 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic 2d ago

Alternative word for 'mirror'? (Proto-Germanic to Modern English evolution)

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1 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic 12d ago

Archaeology Portable Antiquities Scheme New Database

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9 Upvotes

What are your thoughts on the updated Portable Antiquities Scheme database?


r/AncientGermanic 14d ago

Etruscan wolf's head helmet. 2500 years old.

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13 Upvotes

it does make you think...


r/AncientGermanic 18d ago

The (current) earliest known runic inscription found in Britain is an Elder Futhark inscription (PreOE-GB-13) on a roe deer's ankle bone reading 'of the roe-deer'. It is dated to 425-475.

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18 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic 19d ago

Runology The Old English poem "The Husband's Message" is a poem in the voice of a rune-inscribed stick sent from husband to wife and includes a series of Anglo-Saxon runes read as an ideographic code. Many medieval rune-inscribed sticks were found many years later in Scandinavia (such as in Bryggen).

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14 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic 21d ago

Question Buying Ancient Germanic Clothing?

15 Upvotes

Does anyone here know any stores that sell Germanic clothing from before the migration period?


r/AncientGermanic 25d ago

Archaeology Could the apparent headdresses worn by the Germanic matronae resembled these? (cf. the Matronae Aufaniae)

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23 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Aug 02 '26

Archaeology Sutton Hoo ship-burial - gold scabbard boss, early 7thC

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57 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jul 29 '26

Archaeology Bielefeld-Sieker, Germany: A sprawling Roman-period Germanic settlement (2nd–5th c. CE) revealed over 30 longhouses, storage pits, pottery, a Roman coin, and traces of thriving trade along ancient routes. Even ordinary objects can outlive empires, quietly preserving the stories people leave behind.

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33 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jul 17 '26

Runology The Canterbury Charm and Saltfleetby spindle-whorl are two enigmatic objects from Anglo-Saxon England that invoke Old Norse gods for assistance. Both in Younger Futhark runes, they display the continued influence of Viking Age Scandinavian paganism in the region even after the Norman conquest.

41 Upvotes

More information on both of these extremely interesting items:

* Saltfleetby spindle-whirl: https://www.runesdb.de/find/3918 (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltfleetby_spindle-whorl ) — invokes Odin and Heimdallr

* Canterbury charm: https://www.runesdb.de/find/9955 (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_charm ) — invokes Thor against a 'thurs lord'

Edit: "objects" should be items but alas I cannot edit the title.


r/AncientGermanic Jul 12 '26

Archaeology "Norway's oldest known ship burial predates the Viking Age" (Science Norway, July 2026)

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77 Upvotes

Excerpt:

But few large ships from this period have been found. One of the best-known early ship burials is at Sutton Hoo in the UK, which has been dated to around 610–635, according to the British Museum. It's an Anglo-Saxon grave.

"There has been a great deal of debate about the relationship between Sutton Hoo and the later Viking Age ship burials," Grønnesby tells Science Norway.

This is where Herlaugshaugen becomes important, the researchers argue. A clearer picture is beginning to emerge of how these ship burial traditions spread and how they are connected, according to the Norwegian archaeologist.

Also here's a direct (and clean) link to the April 2026 Antiquity article that this article refers to: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/herlaugshaugen-ship-burial-closing-the-gap-between-the-east-anglian-and-scandinavian-ship-burial-traditions/D0300C5E218A904B296286EB52178310


r/AncientGermanic Jul 05 '26

Plutarch on the possible origins of the Cimbri, the tribe which destroyed 12 legions in what was, objectively speaking, the Romans most complete military defeat in history at the battle of Arausio in 105 BC.

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52 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jul 03 '26

Question How did Eastern Germanic Tribes differ from Western Germanic Tribes, in regards to culture, religion, society (pre conversion to Christianity)?

42 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jun 29 '26

Reconstruction Agilulf, King of the Longobards in Italy flanked by two companions (gasindi) of his comitatus, or retinue-warband, as guards. VIIth century.

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161 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jun 29 '26

hola, intenten ver que es esto.

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0 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jun 28 '26

Archaeology The Finglesham Buckle. Depicting a horned spear-dancer. Anglo-Saxon period.

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81 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jun 27 '26

Illustration of an Vandal elite warrior of the Vth century

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134 Upvotes

r/AncientGermanic Jun 21 '26

Linguistics Ustedes creen que se pueda revivir el gotico?

8 Upvotes

Yo estoy haciendo una simplificación del gotico para que sea más fácil de aprender, y quisiera saber si la gente quisiera aprender gotico?. Y además los descendientes de españoles se consideran aunque sea en una pequeña parte germanicos por ser descendientes de los visigodos?


r/AncientGermanic Jun 19 '26

Archaeology "Kent find suggests Sutton Hoo-type helmets could have been made in England" (Kent County Council, June 2026)

18 Upvotes

URL: https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-find-suggests-sutton-hoo-type-helmets-could-have-been-made-in-england

Summary: "A rare Anglo-Saxon die stamp discovered near Lynsted, Kent, could change our understanding of where some of Britain’s most iconic archaeological treasures were made."

Edit: I've added this to our list of Anglo-Saxon examples of this motif here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientGermanic/comments/1t92hrn/list_of_all_known_birdhorn_helmeted_motif/


r/AncientGermanic Jun 16 '26

Reconstruction My replica of the signet ring from King Childeric I's grave, which I am having recreate his grave goods.

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144 Upvotes

Well this is actually an older version, but it's the same thing.


r/AncientGermanic Jun 11 '26

Archaeology The Krefeld-Gellep helmet, belonging to a Frankish warlord. Circa 6th century.

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174 Upvotes

It can be seen in the Museum Burg Linn, in Krefeld, Germany. This photo belongs to me.