Quotes: The barbarians across the Rhine sing savage songs composed in language not unlike the croaking of harsh-voiced birds, and that they delight in such songs. Msp Chapter 1The German has neither cuirass nor helmet; even his shield is not strengthened with leather or steel, but is of osiers woven together or of thin and painted board. Ann Book II Chapter 14: War with the Germans. An assembly. Again, though their frames are terrible to the eye and formidable in a brief onset, they have no capacity of enduring wounds; without, any shame at the disgrace, without any regard to their leaders, they quit the field and flee; they quail under disaster, just as in success they forget alike divine and human laws. Ann Book II Chapter 14: War with the Germans. An assembly. These Romans were the most cowardly fugitives out of Varus's army, men who rather than endure war had taken to mutiny. Ann Book II Chapter 15: War with the Germans. Words of the German leaders. Germany is conspicuous for the terrors of its climate Ann Book II Chapter 15: War with the Germans. Words of the German leaders. They on no account permit wine to be imported to them, because they consider that men degenerate in their powers of enduring fatigue, and are rendered effeminate by that commodity. Dbg Book IV Chapter 2: War with the Germans. About the Suevi(Cont.) They esteem it their greatest praise as a nation, that the lands about their territories lie unoccupied to a very great extent, Dbg Book IV Chapter 3: War with the Germans. About the Suevi(Cont.) That they are inferior to the Suevi alone, to whom not even the immortal gods can show themselves equal; that there was none at all besides on earth whom they could not conquer." Dbg Book IV Chapter 7: War with the Germans. German embassadors. They rank in the number of the gods those alone whom they behold, and by whose instrumentality they are obviously benefited, namely, the sun, fire, and the moon; they have not heard of the other deities even by report. Dbg Book VI Chapter 21: The Germans: their gods and marriages. Those who have remained chaste for the longest time, receive the greatest commendation among their people; they think that by this the growth is promoted, by this the physical powers are increased and the sinews are strengthened. And to have had knowledge of a woman before the twentieth year they reckon among the most disgraceful acts; of which matter there is no concealment, because they bathe promiscuously in the rivers and [only] use skins or small cloaks of deer's hides a large portion of the body being in consequence naked. Dbg Book VI Chapter 21: The Germans: their gods and marriages. They do not pay much attention to agriculture, and a large portion of their food consists in milk, cheese and flesh; nor has any one a fixed quantity of land or his own individual limits; but the magistrates and the leading men each year apportion to the tribes and families, who have united together, as much land as, and in the place in which, they think proper, and the year after compel them to remove elsewhere. Dbg Book VI Chapter 22: The Germans: their agriculture. To injure guests they regard as impious; they defend from wrong those who have come to them for any purpose whatever, and esteem them inviolable; to them the houses of all are open and maintenance is freely supplied. Dbg Book VI Chapter 23: The Germans: their wars. And there was formerly a time when the Gauls excelled the Germans in prowess, and waged war on them offensively, and, on account of the great number of their people and the insufficiency of their land, sent colonies over the Rhine. Dbg Book VI Chapter 24: Previous wars between Gauls and Germans. Moreover, besides the dangers from a sea tempestuous, horrid and unknown, who would relinquish Asia, or Africa, or Italy, to repair to Germany, a region hideous and rude, under a rigorous climate, dismal to behold or to manure unless the same were his native country? Ger Chapter 2: Origin of the Germans They have a tradition that Hercules also had been in their country, and him above all other heroes they extol in their songs when they advance to battle. Ger Chapter 3: Hercules and Ulysses Besides there are some of opinion, that Ulysses, whilst he wandered about in his long and fabulous voyages, was carried into this ocean and entered Germany, and that by him Asciburgium was founded and named, a city at this day standing and inhabited upon the bank of the Rhine: nay, that in the same place was formerly found an altar dedicated to Ulysses, with the name of his father Laertes added to his own, and that upon the confines of Germany and Rhaetia are still extant certain monuments and tombs inscribed with Greek characters. Ger Chapter 3: Hercules and Ulysses Hence amongst such a mighty multitude of men, the same make and form is found in all, eyes stern and blue, yellow hair, huge bodies, but vigorous only in the first onset Ger Chapter 4: The German race Their lands, however somewhat different in aspect, yet taken all together consist of gloomy forests or nasty marshes Ger Chapter 5: The country Silver and gold the Gods have denied them, whether in mercy or in wrath, I am unable to determine Ger Chapter 5: The country They carry javelins or, in their own language, framms, pointed with a piece of iron short and narrow, but so sharp and manageable, that with the same weapon they can fight at a distance or hand to hand, just as need requires Ger Chapter 6: The army The most glaring disgrace that can befall them, is to have quitted their shield; nor to one branded with such ignominy is it lawful to join in their sacrifices, or to enter into their assemblies; and many who have escaped in the day of battle, have hanged themselves to put an end to this their infamy. Ger Chapter 6: The army But to none else but the priests is it allowed to exercise correction, or to inflict bonds or stripes. Nor when the Priests do this, is the same considered as a punishment, or arising from the orders of the general, but from the immediate command of the Deity, Him whom they believe to accompany them in war. Ger Chapter 6: The army Their wounds and maims they carry to their mothers, or to their wives, neither are their mothers or wives shocked in telling, or in sucking their bleeding sores Ger Chapter 7: Generals and soldiers In history we find, that some armies already yielding and ready to fly, have been by the women restored, through their inflexible importunity and entreaty, presenting their breasts, and showing their impending captivity; an evil to the Germans then by far most dreadful when it befalls their women. Ger Chapter 8: The women To the use of lots and auguries, they are addicted beyond all other nations. Ger Chapter 10: Omens and divining But to this nation it is peculiar, to learn presages and admonitions divine from horses also. These are nourished by the State in the same sacred groves and woods, all milk-white and employed in no earthly labour. These yoked in the holy chariot, are accompanied by the Priest and the king, or the Chief the of Community, who both carefully observed his actions and neighing. Ger Chapter 10: Omens and divining They have likewise another method of divination, whence to learn the issue of great and mighty wars. From the nation with whom they are at war they contrive, it avails not how, to gain a captive: him they engage in combat with one selected from amongst themselves, each armed after the manner of his country, and according as the victory falls to this or to the other, gather a presage of the whole. Ger Chapter 10: Omens and divining Without being armed they transact nothing, whether of public or private concernment Ger Chapter 13: Carrying weapons In the day of battle, it is scandalous to the Prince to be surpassed in feats of bravery, scandalous to his followers to fail in matching the bravery of the Prince. But it is infamy during life, and indelible reproach, to return alive from a battle where their Prince was slain. To preserve their Prince, to defend him, and to ascribe to his glory all their own valorous deeds, is the sum and most sacred part of their oath. Ger Chapter 14: On the battle-field Since stupid and spiritless they account it, to acquire by their sweat what they can gain by their blood. Ger Chapter 14: On the battle-field For their covering a mantle is what they all wear, fastened with a clasp or, for want of it, with a thorn. As far as this reaches not they are naked, and lie whole days before the fire. Ger Chapter 17: Their cloths Yet the laws of matrimony are severely observed there; nor in the whole of their manners is aught more praiseworthy than this: for they are almost the only Barbarians contented with one wife, excepting a very few amongst them; men of dignity who marry divers wives, from no wantonness or lubricity, but courted for the lustre of their family into many alliances Ger Chapter 18: Marriages To the husband, the wife tenders no dowry; but the husband, to the wife Ger Chapter 18: Marriages To restrain generation and the increase of children, is esteemed an abominable sin, as also to kill infants newly born. And more powerful with them are good manners, than with other people are good laws. Ger Chapter 19: Marriage and children To refuse admitting under your roof any man whatsoever, is held wicked and inhuman. Every man receives every comer, and treats him with repasts as large as his ability can possibly furnish. Ger Chapter 21: Feuds and friends To continue drinking night and day without intermission, is a reproach to no man. Ger Chapter 22: Life at home For their drink, they draw a liquor from barley or other grain; and ferment the same, so as to make it resemble wine. Ger Chapter 23: Food and drink Playing at dice is one of their most serious employments. Ger Chapter 23: Food and drink The usual laziness of Germans. Ger Chapter 45: Aestyans, amber and Sitones While the gladiators were making their way to it in boats, the Germans swam and outstripped them. A considerable number, as it chanced, had effected the passage, His Book II Chapter 35: Otho versus Vitellius. An island in the Padus Their extreme eagerness for the water and their impatience of the heat weakened the constitutions of the Germans and Gauls, always liable to disease. His Book II Chapter 93: Revolt of Vespasian. Vitellius' army The Germans, a people who delight in war His Book IV Chapter 16: The Batavian Uprise. The start But the Germans, ..., do not obey orders, and cannot be controlled, but always act according to their own caprice His Book IV Chapter 76: The Batavian Uprise. Conflict of opinions The Gauls they urged to fight for freedom, the Batavi for glory, the Germans for plunder. His Book IV Chapter 78: The Batavian Uprise. Cerialis victorious Traitors and deserters they hang upon trees. Ger Chapter 12: Justice Cowards, and sluggards, and unnatural prostitutes they smother in mud and bogs under an heap of hurdles Ger Chapter 12: Justice Other links: World66: Germany [M] Lonely Planet: Germany [M] Germany Cath.Encyc.: Germany Germany Meaning of letters between [ and ]: A: Roman remains. C: Coins. L: Links. M: Map. P: Peutinger
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Term referred to by name of the following persons: If the number following a name is identical to the number following another name, then the names refer to the same person. Aurinia(12797) Paria(5318) Alanoviiamuth(5319) Jordanes(5363)
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