The dark sandstone rocks rise 300 feet high on the northern slopes of the
Teutoburg Forest and are located near an ancient trade route. Tall oak trees
and numerous mineral springs are located in the Weserbergland. This is where
the Romans were defeated by the Germanic tribes. From early times the
"Externsteine" was a place of worship, by the Celts, the Germans and the
Romans.
Teutoburg Forest and are located near an ancient trade route. Tall oak trees
and numerous mineral springs are located in the Weserbergland. This is where
the Romans were defeated by the Germanic tribes. From early times the
"Externsteine" was a place of worship, by the Celts, the Germans and the
Romans.
Tacitus wrote of an upper sanctuary where only women, who were the prophetesses, could enter.
Only one of the rocks has retained its original peak, and may have once been the interior of such a
cave. The roof of this rock-chamber was possibly destroyed by Charlemagne in his quest to
Christianize the heathen Saxons and destroy their holy places of pagan worship. The rocks were also
used by hermits and, in Medieval times, Benedictine monks transformed the area into a place of
Christian pilgrimage and it therefore also contains early Christian carvings.
Only one of the rocks has retained its original peak, and may have once been the interior of such a
cave. The roof of this rock-chamber was possibly destroyed by Charlemagne in his quest to
Christianize the heathen Saxons and destroy their holy places of pagan worship. The rocks were also
used by hermits and, in Medieval times, Benedictine monks transformed the area into a place of
Christian pilgrimage and it therefore also contains early Christian carvings.
Virtually all of the old Teutonic tribes, unlike other ancient peoples, regarded each
other as brethren and equals, including the sexes. German tribespeople enjoyed
personal freedom, esteemed liberty and had a legal right over their own property,
yet at the same time had a high regard for community. The value they placed on
individual liberty was alien and shocking to the Romans, and even the ancient
Greeks had a dim view of such liberties. Roman likeness of an early German, left
other as brethren and equals, including the sexes. German tribespeople enjoyed
personal freedom, esteemed liberty and had a legal right over their own property,
yet at the same time had a high regard for community. The value they placed on
individual liberty was alien and shocking to the Romans, and even the ancient
Greeks had a dim view of such liberties. Roman likeness of an early German, left
The Germanic tribes had ceremonies where warriors took an oath of the sword and pledged their
brotherhood, honor and loyalty to kinsmen and community. The Cimbri, Teutones and Istavones,
who later became the Franks, and the Chauci, who became the Saxons, and others all practiced this
ritual where a special oneness was felt for the sword, and swords occur in practically all Germanic
legends and were even exchanged at weddings. Roman historian Tacitus descibes unique sword
dances among the tribes as well.
brotherhood, honor and loyalty to kinsmen and community. The Cimbri, Teutones and Istavones,
who later became the Franks, and the Chauci, who became the Saxons, and others all practiced this
ritual where a special oneness was felt for the sword, and swords occur in practically all Germanic
legends and were even exchanged at weddings. Roman historian Tacitus descibes unique sword
dances among the tribes as well.
There were at least 12 principal gods named after days of the week and spirits of the forest, air,
water and more. They also worshipped wood figures within oak groves. Charlemagne once destroyed
an enormous tree trunk called the 'Irminsul' in 772 AD while trying to convert these early Germans
to Christianity. Germans living along the Roman frontier in the 4th and 5th centuries AD were the
first to convert to Christianity, but pagan tribes could still be found well into the 12th and 13th
centuries and those living in northern German forests were not converted until generations later.
water and more. They also worshipped wood figures within oak groves. Charlemagne once destroyed
an enormous tree trunk called the 'Irminsul' in 772 AD while trying to convert these early Germans
to Christianity. Germans living along the Roman frontier in the 4th and 5th centuries AD were the
first to convert to Christianity, but pagan tribes could still be found well into the 12th and 13th
centuries and those living in northern German forests were not converted until generations later.
click
Most Germanic tribes had a small number of families that served as tribal leaders for many
generations and were considered "nobles." These noble pagan families, who claimed descent from
the gods, also served as the priestly class. By the time of the fall of Rome, most German men were
expected to serve in their own tribal army. Over the centuries, a minority of the tribal members
gained sufficient wealth to maintain goods and horses, and they became knights. Another large
minority of the tribal population was either semi-free, serfs or slaves.
generations and were considered "nobles." These noble pagan families, who claimed descent from
the gods, also served as the priestly class. By the time of the fall of Rome, most German men were
expected to serve in their own tribal army. Over the centuries, a minority of the tribal members
gained sufficient wealth to maintain goods and horses, and they became knights. Another large
minority of the tribal population was either semi-free, serfs or slaves.
The period of around four hundred years of mass movement, beginning in the 2nd century AD in the
east against the Slavic tribes on the Russian steppes, was known as the German "Wandering of the
Nations". The Germans became more prosperous after learning technological skills from the Romans,
and their population therefore increased, causing some tribes or tribal members (usually fewer than
50,000 men, women, and children, including slaves) to expand into other more productive areas and
eventually into Roman lands in the 4th century. They spread as far as North Africa and the
wandering didn't cease until the early 6th century.
east against the Slavic tribes on the Russian steppes, was known as the German "Wandering of the
Nations". The Germans became more prosperous after learning technological skills from the Romans,
and their population therefore increased, causing some tribes or tribal members (usually fewer than
50,000 men, women, and children, including slaves) to expand into other more productive areas and
eventually into Roman lands in the 4th century. They spread as far as North Africa and the
wandering didn't cease until the early 6th century.
The Germanic tribes that settled in Roman territory were a
minority who were assimilated culturally and physically.
Germans here modeled their social structure after the Roman
"estate" system; the warriors became the significant landowners
and they were supported by serfs. The nobles and kings
throughout the many small kingdoms were led by the knights
(ritteren), who maintained order among the serfs and slaves and
formed the core of the feudal warrior class.
minority who were assimilated culturally and physically.
Germans here modeled their social structure after the Roman
"estate" system; the warriors became the significant landowners
and they were supported by serfs. The nobles and kings
throughout the many small kingdoms were led by the knights
(ritteren), who maintained order among the serfs and slaves and
formed the core of the feudal warrior class.
| The Early Germans; Page Two |
The various Germanic migratory tribes spread out over a vast area from today's European Russia to
Iceland and from Norway to North Africa. Some groups adopted new cultural identities, thus many
of the descendants of the ancient Germans do not speak German, as they were absorbed into Roman
culture. In some places where Germanic peoples, such as the Christianized Saxons of the Carolingian
Empire and the pagan Scandinavian Vikings, maintained continuity with their common ancestors,
over time they often assumed different cultural and linguistic differences. Early Medieval Germans in
positions of leadership, such as Burgundy's Burgundians, Andalusia's Vandals and western France's
and eastern Iberia's Visigoths all lost their Germanic identity and became part of Latin Europe. The
Franks of Western Francia became the ancestry of some of the French people. The Germanic
settlement of Britain resulted in the "Anglo-Saxons" and a culture that extended to Scotland.
Iceland and from Norway to North Africa. Some groups adopted new cultural identities, thus many
of the descendants of the ancient Germans do not speak German, as they were absorbed into Roman
culture. In some places where Germanic peoples, such as the Christianized Saxons of the Carolingian
Empire and the pagan Scandinavian Vikings, maintained continuity with their common ancestors,
over time they often assumed different cultural and linguistic differences. Early Medieval Germans in
positions of leadership, such as Burgundy's Burgundians, Andalusia's Vandals and western France's
and eastern Iberia's Visigoths all lost their Germanic identity and became part of Latin Europe. The
Franks of Western Francia became the ancestry of some of the French people. The Germanic
settlement of Britain resulted in the "Anglo-Saxons" and a culture that extended to Scotland.
Many knights in Roman lands were blond and blue eyed even after the Germans were assimilated
and had shed their German language and customs. There was also a free, unarmed artisan class. As
the Romans offered freedom to their slaves for good performance, the slave population declined,
and most ex-slaves became landless serfs who ended up working for their former master. By the 3rd
century, a form of feudalism developed from these estates as their owners administered law and
recruited soldiers from among their serfs to supply the imperial Roman army. above left: Germans
holding a council from the column of Marcus Aurelius (click)
and had shed their German language and customs. There was also a free, unarmed artisan class. As
the Romans offered freedom to their slaves for good performance, the slave population declined,
and most ex-slaves became landless serfs who ended up working for their former master. By the 3rd
century, a form of feudalism developed from these estates as their owners administered law and
recruited soldiers from among their serfs to supply the imperial Roman army. above left: Germans
holding a council from the column of Marcus Aurelius (click)
Even Portugal and Spain had some Germanic settlement through various tribes such as the Visigoths,
the Suebi and others. Many words of Germanic origin entered into the Spanish and Portuguese
languages at this time. Italy also had heavy Germanic settlement by tribes such as the Visigoths,
Ostrogoths, Vandals and Lombards. Later, the Holy Roman Empire included all remaining Germanic
speaking groups in Europe from the 10th century. In the Late Medieval to the Early Modern period,
Germanic groups such as the Dutch, Flemish and Swiss populations split off the Empire.
the Suebi and others. Many words of Germanic origin entered into the Spanish and Portuguese
languages at this time. Italy also had heavy Germanic settlement by tribes such as the Visigoths,
Ostrogoths, Vandals and Lombards. Later, the Holy Roman Empire included all remaining Germanic
speaking groups in Europe from the 10th century. In the Late Medieval to the Early Modern period,
Germanic groups such as the Dutch, Flemish and Swiss populations split off the Empire.