The information for this blog comes from the Germania written Tacitus. The Germania is a first-person account of Pre-Christian life in Germany by a Roman named Tacitus. He writes about many different aspects of German life, but he talks the most highly of the women and their roll in everyday life.
When Tacitus writes about the women’s roll in combat, he seems to be amazed at how they can affect a battles outcome. He remarks how the women will show up at a battle site and more than once rallied the men, turning defeat into victory. More than simple “cheerleaders” they were able to breathe new life and vigor into their men by reminding them of their role as protectors. How it was their responsibility to keep the women and children safe from harm. This is one of the main reasons why Rome was able to gain some control over southern Germany. Tacitus writes, “you can secure a surer hold on these nations if you compel them to include among a consignment of hostages some girls of noble family. “
A point I find interesting is the Pre-Christian Germanic belief that there resides in women an element of holiness and a gift of prophecy. Women were so respected for their ability to give advice that their council was sought on a great many things ranging from military strategy to everyday needs. Tacitus remarks that some women were so well respected and valued that they were even worshiped as goddesses. (They were Aurinia and Veleda.)
The following is another bit of history I find interesting, that men brought the dowry to the wife. The wife to be and all of her family members would get together to approve said gifts. These gifts were not gold and silver, or random objects chosen to please a woman's fancy. They were oxen, and horses complete with bridles, or a shield, spear and sword. In the tradition of a gift deserves a gift the woman would also give the man a present of arms (weapons) once they were married. (In case you are thinking everyone just ran to ebay and spent $20.00, on a sword, spear, and shield, you could not be farther from the truth.) These weapons were hand crafted and, in some cases, took months to make. If we followed this tradition today it would cost thousands of dollars for just a single set of arms.
Let me end this post by saying that the women did not lead a life of worship and luxury as some of the men reading may think. It is during the wedding ceremony that the women are reminded that they are not excluded from aspirations to manly virtues or exempt from the hazards of warfare. Similar to our modern wedding vows the women of old vowed to enter their husband's home, to be his partner in all the hard work that was required to make a life in those days. The women were also reminded that in peace as well as in war they shared in the man’s sufferings and adventures. This brings us back to the gifts the man gives the bride. It is the woman’s responsibility to keep them safe so she can pass them on to her children. So, her sons have a dowry to give to their brides and so on.
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