Germania

by Tacitus, Claus Krag (Translator)

Kort før år 100 e.Kr. gjorde den romerske senatoren og litteraten Gaius Cornelius Tacitus ferdig et lite skrift, som tross det uanselige utgangspunktet har hatt sosiale og politiske ringvirkninger nesten uten sidestykke. Oldtidshistorikeren Arnaldo Momigliano hevdet at Tacitus’ verk er blant de hundre farligste bøker som noen gang er skrevet.

Tacitus skriver om germanernes skikker, historie og samfunn. Her får vi et portrett fra en urban romer av folkeslag som riktignok er barbarer, men ikke desto mindre edle og verdige og ofte et eksempel til etterfølgelse. Nazistene trykket følgelig boken til sitt bryst.

I denne boken har spesialist på norrøn filologi og norsk middelalderhistorie, og professor emeritus ved Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge, Claus Krag nyoversatt Germania, skrevet en fyldig innledning som setter verket i kontekst, og laget et omfattende kommentarapparat til glede for dagens lesere.

Genres: History, Classics, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Germany, Ancient, Roman History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 98

About the author

born perhaps 55
died perhaps 120

From the death of Augustus in 14 Histories and Annals , greatest works of Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Roman public official, concern the period to Domitian in 96.

Publius Cornelius Tacitus served as a senator of the empire. The major portions examine the reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those four emperors, who reigned in the year. They span the empire to the years of the first Jewish war in 70. One enormous four-books long lacuna survives in the texts.

Publius Cornelius Tacitus discusses oratory in dialogue format in Dialogus de oratoribus , Germania in De origine et situ Germanorum , and biographical notes about Gnaeus Julius Agricola, his father-in-law, primarily during his campaign in Britannia (see De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae ).

Reviews

[Uroš Đurković · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nakon dve hiljade godina, istoriografija se može doživeti kao fikcija, prvorazredna maštovna građevina. Nije to, međutim, samo zbog vremena, već i zbog stila – Tacit piše vešto i sugestivno, dakle, pripovedno u najboljem duhu te reči. Pojedini detalji su toliko živi i životni da je uranjanje nužno, a sa njim i dopričavanje. Dovoljno mi je da pročitam kako su Germani proricali sudbinu iz grančica, kretanja belih konja ili cvrkuta priča, pa da se priča nastavi svojim tokom. Kad se Tacitovom tekstu dodaju Čajkanovićeve napomene, koje, naravno, često uporedno osvetljavaju germanski i slovenski folklor, sve postaje još zanimljivije. Sličnosti je mnogo više nego što bi neko pomislio. Od običajnog prava, mitologije, ratovanja, sve do svakodnevice i kulta gostoljubivosti – svugde se mogu povući paralele. Nije nemoguće da su veze između Germana i Slovena, naročito u kontekstu daleke prošlosti, tešnje nego što smo mislili. To je teško utvrdivo, ali imaginacija se ne zaustavlja na dokazima.

Ali da se vratim na napomene. U jednoj saznajemo da su Germani nosili ono što je Rimljanima bilo sasvim strano – pantalone! Štaviše, Čajkanović navodi da je car Honorije 397. godine zabranio nošenje pantalona kao varvarski običaj. E tu godinu treba zapamtiti!
Uz pantalone, odevali su se u kabanice, a svaki muškarac je nosio sa sobom oružje, budući da je ono bilo izraz pripadanja grupi – čim ga mladić dobije, postaje odrastao. Za razliku od Rimljana, vojna oprema im je bila oskudna, retko ko je uopšte imao pancir, ali su zato štitovi bili česti. Štitovi su se farbali, ali farbala se, iznenađujuće, i kosa. Tacit ističe kako su Germani riđi i izuzetno visoki, što Čajkanović potvrđuje istakavši da arheološka istraživanja pokazuju da su u pitanju još tad bili gotovo dvometraši. To zasigurno nije bilo samo zbog ishrane, koja je bila, kako Tacit tvrdi, svedena – poljsko voće, divljač, kiselo mleko – nego i, verujem, ne sasvim idealnih životnih uslova koji iziskuju prilagodljivost i izdržljivost. Naravno, jedna od prvih asocijacija na germanski svet – pivo – našla je i ovde mesto, mada je opisano, u nedostatku boljeg izraza kao „sok od ječma ili pšenice”, odnosno, nešto poput vina. (Treba li napomenuti da nas Čajkanović podseća da je takav napitak bio poznat još u Mesopotamiji?) I mada je Tacit vrlo naklonjen Germanima, zamera im sklonost prema piću, ali i, na primer, kockanje. Iako u nezbijenim, rasutim naseljima, uz česte migracije, Germani žive u zajednici i odlučuju o ključnim pitanjima zajedno, na saborima, uz urlike odobravanja ili osporavanja. Svađaju se često, vole da ratuju, a ako slučajno ne ratuju idu u lov, a većinom, veli Tacit, besposličare uz želju da što višeš vremena provedu u izležavanju, jedenju i spavanju. Kada neko baš prekardaši, sleduje mu smrtna kazna – ukoliko nešto predstavlja sramotu za celu zajednicu, poput izdaje, rešenje je vešanje, a ukoliko nedelo više proizilazi iz lične sfere, poput bluda ili kukavičluka, okrivljeni se davi u blatu i prekriva lesom, da slučajno neko ne vidi ko je u pitanju. Tacit je zadivljen monogamnim životom Germana i pohvalno govori o snazi germanskih žena, što i jedno i drugo Čajkanović, nažalost, demantuje.

Da imam vremeplov, ali da taj vremeplov podrazumeva udobnost i distancu od okruženja, posetio bih one koji se o sebi nisu oglašavali. Na neki način, ta želja mi je i ispunjena – Tacitovom živopisnom vremenskom kapsulom, koja, iako nije rezultat neposrednog dodira sa Germanima, predstavlja presek znanja nekog vremena, a on nije bez razloga takav kakav jeste. I na samom kraju, spominjući izvesne Helusije i Etione, Tacit primećuje kako oni imaju čovečju glavu i životinjsko telo. Ipak, dodaje on: „Ja to ne znam, pa zato o tome i ne govorim.” Kud bolji zavšretak od tog – ovako šarmantno obznanjivanje neznanja uvek me kupi.

Opasan je Tacit i istoričar i književnik.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Può far sorridere emettere giudizi e dar voti a Tacito. Dunque, cinque stelle senza manco pensarci. È una bella passeggiata questa tra i Germani, a patto di avere tra le mani un atlante storico, per non perdersi in qualche palude o foresta tra L’Elba e il Weser. È quasi un elogio continuo dei barbari Germani, che ne loda la frugalità, la semplicità e la purezza dei costumi, la temperanza, la schiettezza, il coraggio, il desiderio di libertà, il forte senso di comunità. “Là [tra i Germani] non si ride dei vizi, né il corrompere e l’esser corrotti ha nome di moda”. E ancora: “Durante i conviti si discute anche per conciliare tra loro i nemici, per contrarre parentadi, per scegliere i capi, e della pace e della guerra: come se l’animo non fosse in nessun altro tempo aperto ai liberi pensieri o acceso alle grandi azioni. Gente non astuta per natura né scaltrita dall’esperienza, apre ancora i segreti del cuore nell’espandersi dell’allegria conviviale: scoperta e nuda è allora la mente di tutti. Il giorno seguente riprendono la discussione; ed è rispettata la convenienza dell’uno e dell’altro momento; deliberano mentre non sanno fingere, decidono quando non possono errare”. Più di così! È chiaramente il discorso fatto alla nuora perché suocera (Roma e i Romani) intenda.
I nazi invece lo presero alla lettera e videro in esso un’antica e autorevole testimonianza dell’esistenza dello spirito völkisch imperituro, la fiamma immortale e creatrice che arde nel popolo tedesco lungo tutti i secoli, e via dicendo.
Il Codex Aesinas Latinus 8 è la più antica copia rinascimentale del Germania (e dell’Agricola) di Tacito. Copiato a sua volta dal ben più antico Codex Hersfeldensis (andato perduto) dall’umanista Stefano Guarnieri di Osimo, saltò fuori all’improvviso nel 1902 dalla biblioteca jesina (da lì “Aesinas”) del conte Aurelio Guglielmi Baldeschi Balleani e la scoperta fece il giro dell’Europa. I nazi (Hitler, Himmler e tutta l’allegra compagnia) quando andarono al potere lo vollero, a tutti i costi (sacra Germania, sacro Volk, che diamine!) e tramite l’interessamento l’ex socialista rivoluzionario di Predappio fecero con le mani e con i piedi per acchiapparselo. Niente da fare: l’opinione pubblica, quella colta e quella meno colta (allora in Italia e in particolar modo a Jesi, avevano il senso della propria storia e del proprio passato anche i sassi!) fecero un tal baccano che non se ne fece più nulla. Nel ’44 i nazi ci riprovarono con la forza, perquisendo tutte le dimore che il conte Aurelio aveva tra Jesi, Osimo e Ancona, senza trovare nulla: il conte Aurelio lo aveva nascosto così bene che i nazi non trovarono nulla. Riapparve poi a guerra finita e liberazione conclusa.
Doppio legame affettivo allora, per me, col Germania di Tacito che possiamo leggere e gustare: perché fu trovato a Jesi, nella villa di Fontadamo; e perché il nonno di mia moglie era mezzadro del conte Aurelio Guglielmi Baldeschi Balleani, che Iddio li abbia in gloria tutt’e due, conte e mezzadro. Amen!

[Vaishali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Per Tacitus, Rome invaded Germany for 2 centuries, confronting many tribes including the Aryans. Some customs bear uncanny similarities with P.I.E-speaking peoples who entered South Asia millennia ago.

Quotes:
-------
"Silver and gold the gods have denied them… silver vessels have been presented to their princes and ambassadors, but not esteemed more than earthen vessels. The Germans adjoining to our frontiers value gold and silver for commerce."

"Their generals procure obedience not by the force of their authority but by their example."

"Of all the gods, they worship Mercury most. On certain days he is offered human victims. Hercules and Mars are appeased with sacrificed beasts."

"They judge it unsuitable to hold the gods within walls, or represent them like humans. They instead consecrate entire forests and groves."

"They divine events from the voices and flight of birds. To this nation it is peculiar to learn divine presages and warnings from horses also. These are nourished by the State in the same sacred woods and groves, all milk-white and never put to work. Yoked to a holy chariot, they are accompanied by the priest and king or communal chief, who both carefully observe his actions and neighing."

"In reckoning time they count the number of nights, not days. The night seems to lead and govern the day."

"They hang traitors and deserters upon trees. Cowards, sluggards, and unnatural prostitutes are smothered in mud and bogs."

"Delinquents upon conviction are condemned to pay a certain number of horses or cattle."

"You cannot easily persuade them to farm - to await the return of the seasons and produce of the year - than provoke foes, risking wounds and death. They regard it stupid and spiritless to acquire by sweat what can be gained by blood."

"Much of their time they pass in indolence, sleep and repasts."

"They trust to their wives, to the ancient men, and to the most impotent domestic worker, all the care of their house, land, and possessions. They themselves loiter."

"It is well known none of the several German tribes live in cities."

"They prefer digging caves deep underground, overlaying them with great dung heaps. Thither they retire for shelter in the winter, or convey their grain."

"They are almost the only Barbarians content with one wife."

"The wife gives no dowry to the husband; the husband grants a dowry to the wife."

"Adultery is exceedingly rare; a crime instantly punished and inflicted by the husband. He cuts off her hair, expels her from his house naked, in the presence of her kin, and pursues her with whippings throughout the village."

"More powerful with them are good manners than with other people are good laws."

"They are all nourished with the milk of their own mothers, and never surrendered to handmaids and nurses."

"Slow and late do young men come to women, and thus preserve youthful vigor. Neither are virgins hastened to wed. They must both have the same sprightly youth, stature, and marry when equal and
able-bodied."

"To refuse any man whatsoever under your roof is wicked and inhuman… Upon your departure, if you ask anything, it is their custom to grant it; and with the same facility, they ask of you."

"Their food is very simple: wild fruit, fresh venison, or coagulated milk."

"To whip a slave, chain him, or doom him to severe labor are things rarely seen…. For there they bear higher sway than the free-born, nay, higher than the nobles. In other countries the inferior condition of freedmen is a proof of public liberty."

"Upon the funeral pile, they add neither apparel nor perfumes. Into the fire is thrown the arms of the dead, and sometimes his horse."

"As soon as they arrive to maturity of years, they let their hair and beards grow… Over the blood and spoil of a foe they make bare their face."

"The most brave wear an iron ring."

"Chaucians… the people of all Germans most noble, maintain their grandeur by justice, not violence. They provoke no wars, ravage no countries, nor pursue plunder. The chief evidence of bravery and power is in that without wronging or oppressing others, they become superior to all."

"Suevians… divided into several nations with distinct names… have a peculiar custom of twisting their hair and binding it up in a knot… by publicly sacrificing a man, they begin the horrible solemnity of their barbarous worship."

"The Aryans, besides their forces, which surpass the several nations just recounted, are stern and truculent. Art, time, and humor improve their natural grimness and ferocity. They wear black shields, paint their bodies black, they choose dark nights to battle; scaring the enemy with their ghastly hue. In all battles the eyes are vanquished first."


.

[Mehmet]

Avrupa'nın feodal halindeki görünümünü merak edenler için başvurulabilecek bu kitap; döneminde yazılan en kapsamlı ve detaylı kitap olmasa da özet mahiyetinde okunabilir. Kitapta pek çok bilginin yanlış veya eksik olduğunu da son derece kapsamlı olan dipnotlardan anlıyoruz. Lakin yine de Kısa Roma Tarihi ile kıyaslandığında bu eserin daha başarılı bir tarihçilik yönü olduğunu söylemek gerek.

Bu eserin Notlar-Galya Savaşı Üzerine ile birlikte okunmasının daha yararlı olacağını düşünüyorum.

Tacitus'un diğer iki eseri, en önemli eserleri The Histories ve The Annals of Imperial Rome dilimize henüz çevirilmemiş. Bu eser dışında Tacitus'un dilimize ilk çevirilen kitabı Agricola'nın Hayatı veya Britanya Tarihi olmuştu. Bunu 1943 yılında Hamit Dereli çevirmişti.

Not: Bu yılın 150. kitabı olan Germania ile 2017 hedefimi tamamlamış bulunmaktayım.

[Richard Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone everywhere has tribal ancestors. Folks with European roots know little about their kin who lived in the countless centuries of wild freedom. Tacitus gives us a glimpse at their world, as it was over 1,900 years ago. He was a Roman historian, born in A.D. 56, and died in 117. He wrote Germania in 98. It provided a brief overview of several dozen Germanic tribes of the era, as viewed from a civilized perspective. For example, the Batavi, Chatti, Usipii, Tencteri, Chauci, Fosi, Cimbri, Anglii, and Varini. (MAP)

In the days of Tacitus, Germania was a vast wild frontier of forest and marsh, “a land rude in its surface, rigorous in its climate, cheerless to every beholder and cultivator, except a native.” The mighty Rhine River separated the German motherland from the tribes of Belgica (Belgium) and the Celtic tribes of Gaul (France). Since there were no bridges in those days, the treacherous fast-flowing river provided an effective security barrier.

The Rhine protected Germania from the evil Empire. Moving armies across the wild river was a serious challenge, and the barbarians on the other side were notoriously ferocious. The German side was heavily forested. The Roman war machine excelled at fighting in open country, and avoided engagements near forest, where they lost their tactical superiority. So, the badass Germans remained proud, wild, and free, whilst the tribes of Gaul and Belgica, who surrendered to Empire (to avoid annihilation), were obligated to pay tributes and taxes, and provide numerous young conscripts to fight in the Roman legion.

Throughout Germania, the people had the appearance of a pure unmixed race. They had reddish hair, blue eyes, large strong bodies, and were not weakened by cold or hunger. They raised herds and flocks, and grew a little grain. Their diet majored in meat, cheese, fruit, and beer. Warriors took great delight in fighting, hunting, feasting, and oblivion drinking. Dreary laborious toil was the domain of women, old men, and slaves.

Germanic spirituality majored in reverence for nature. They worshipped in the living temple of the great outdoors — not inside walls. Their deities inhabited sacred groves that were the tribe’s place of origin. Folks would gather in the grove and offer sacrifices, which were sometimes human. A number of tribes had festivals honoring Ertha (Big Mama Earth), a deity always present in their lives.

Notably, they were still animists — they did not imagine their deities to have human form. Centuries later, as Indo-European influences intensified, a pantheon (family) of humanlike deities evolved in German metaphysics. In this new culture of human supremacy, a powerful male god ruled over a colorful mob of lesser gods, goddesses, and tricksters. This tradition spread from Greece (Zeus), to Rome (Jupiter), Germany (Wotan), and Scandinavia (Odin).

Germania was not a realm of love and peace. “They actually think it tame and stupid to acquire by the sweat of toil what they might win by their blood.” Raids and conflicts were common, and tribes depended on their warriors for survival. In their rites of initiation, the transition of a boy into a man was marked by giving him a shield and spear. From then on, the man was not allowed to cut his hair or beard until the day he killed his first foe.

Year after year, tribes invested much time and effort in killing folks from other tribes. Romans were delighted by the fact that Germans worked so hard to kill other Germans. They had to fight to survive. The Cherusci were seen as foolish and cowardly, because of their deep love of peace — they were exterminated. It was common for conquered tribes to go extinct; survivors were sold into slavery.

The Batavi avoided gangster raids by inhabiting an island in the Rhine. The Suiones felt so safe and secure that they didn’t carry arms all the time — they had a pleasant life by the sea, centuries before the era of seaborne Viking terrorists. Some tribes enjoyed safety by inhabiting remote locations in vast primeval forests.

The Hercynian forest once spanned east from the Rhine, across modern Germany, to the Carpathians, and all the way to Dacia (present-day Romania). A quick traveler could cross the forest north to south in nine days, but it was very long, from east to west. In 51 B.C., Julius Caesar noted, “There is no man in the Germany we know who can say that he has reached the edge of that forest, though he may have gone forward sixty days’ journey, or who has learnt in what place it begins.” Pliny also mentioned it: “The vast trees of the Hercynian forest, untouched for ages, and as old as the world, by their almost immortal destiny exceed common wonders.”

Every ecosystem has a limit to how many humans it can support. In the time of Tacitus, the carrying capacity was quite low, because large-scale forest mining and soil mining were not yet possible. Iron axes were still rare luxuries, and the moldboard plow would not come into common use for another thousand years. Forest soils were too heavy for digging sticks.

Aurochs (wild cattle) inhabited a range spanning from England to China. Bulls were up to 6 feet (180 cm) tall at the shoulder, much larger than modern cattle. They were very strong, terribly aggressive, and loved to disembowel passing humans, wolves, and other annoyances. Hence, the Germans preferred to enslave passive, dim-witted domestic cattle and sheep, which could be confined close to home. By milking the livestock, they could extract four times more calories from their enslaved animals, compared to simply eating them. Cheese could be stored for later use.

Nobody owned aurochs, or confined them to pastures, but somebody did own the horses and livestock. These animals were an important form of wealth, and stealing them from neighbors was an exciting way to get rich quick, or die trying. Hence, raiding was a popular pastime. Naturally, it was a good way to make enemies, and ignite long-term feuds. By majoring in herding, and building no permanent settlements, tribes could pack up and move when life got too hot.

In a world of tribal warfare, there was strength in numbers. Family planning increased vulnerability. “To limit the increase of children, or put to death any of the later progeny is accounted infamous.” Thus, limited carrying capacity, plus population pressure, plus the crazy-making juju of hoarding wealth hurled Germania into a bloody cesspool, similar to the far larger one we’re soaking in today.

Our cousins the chimps do not enslave domesticated animals to inflate carrying capacity. They respond to the tensions of crowding with kicks, punches, and bites — sometimes killing competitors. Germans did increase carrying capacity, did not limit births, made enemies with raiding, nurtured feuds, and resolved tensions with spears, javelins, and long knives — intending to kill competitors. This was not the only possible strategy, in theory, but it has been common around the world. Crowded critters get crabby.

Tacitus described one tribe of good old-fashioned hunter-gatherers, the only example of fully wild and free Europeans I have found. The Fenni (Finnish) enjoyed a life of magnificent simplicity in the great white north. Their culture was so complete and well balanced that they had no need to wish for anything. Listen:

“The Fenni live in a state of amazing savageness and squalid poverty. They are destitute of arms, horses, and settled abodes: their food is herbs; their clothing, skins; their bed, the ground. Their only dependence is on their arrows, which, for want of iron, are headed with bone; and the chase is the support of the women as well as the men; the former accompany the latter in the pursuit, and claim a share of the prey. Nor do they provide any other shelter for their infants from wild beasts and storms, than a covering of branches twisted together. This is the resort of youth; this is the receptacle of old age. Yet even this way of life is in their estimation happier than groaning over the plough; toiling in the erection of houses; subjecting their own fortunes and those of others to the agitations of alternate hope and fear. Secure against men, secure against the gods, they have attained the most difficult point, not to need even a wish.”

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had studied the topic of this little book at school, but I decided to read it anyway and it turned out far more interesting than I thought.

I liked more the first part because, even though it speaks generically about the Germanic populations, it gives satisfying insight into their lives and traditions. It was striking to read how they were advanced and underdeveloped at the same time: their technological developments were probably rude, but their morality was an high standard for that time -even if not in all its aspects, of course. One of the paragraphs that caught my attention is the one that concerns women, and the peculiar attention that their men reserve to them.
The second part was less interesting because it was just a list of all the different populations, almost without details, except in some cases.

[Elly]

"...wild en blauw hun ogen, rossig hun haar, fors hun lichamen en slechts tot een momentane krachtsinspanning deugdelijk: voor moeizaam afmattende arbeid hebben zij niet eenzelfde uithoudingsvermogen. En geenszins zijn zij erop ingesteld dorst en hitte te verdragen; aan koude en hongeren zijn zij door klimaat of bodemgesteldheid gewoon geraakt".

"...En zij rekenen niet naar dagen zoals wij, maar naar nachten; op deze wijze stellen zij [een tijdstip] vast, aldus maken zij afspraken: hun dunkt het dat de nacht de dag inleidt".

"...Desniettegenstaande is de huwelijksmoraal daar streng, ja er is wel geen enkel facet aan hun zeden dat men hoger zou kunnen prijzen. Want zij zijn ongeveer de enigen onder de barbaren die zich met één vrouw vergenoegen... Niemand in Germania gekscheert, wanneer het om zedelijke verdorvenheid gaat."

"Winter en lente en zomer hebben betekenis en derhalve benamingen. Voor de herfst is het woord al evenzeer onbekend als zijn goede gaven."

"De Treveri en de Nervii maken er aanspraak op van Germaanse afkomst te wezen en zij zijn hierop bijzonder gebrand, als konden zij zich door deze roemruchte verwantschap distantiëren van hun gelijkenis met de Galliërs - te weten van hun traagheid."

[Dorotea · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than the book, I am rating my reading experience - I tried to focus solely on the Latin text and it has been quite an interesting experience. It’s relatively simple in terms of construction and vocabulary (which is why I picked the book in the first place. However, in terms of subject matter I am simply not interested.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ESPAÑOL: Buena revisión de la historia y la geografía de los pueblos germanos antes y durante el tiempo de Tácito, que escribió este libro hacia el año 100 A.D. Esta es la segunda vez que he leído este libro.

ENGLISH: A good review of the history and geography of the Germanic folks before and during the time of Tacitus, who wrote this book around A.D. 100. This is the second time I've read this book.

[KritikKröte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gelesen in deutsch vor ein paar Jahren. Ich weiß immer noch nicht ganz warum.

Was sich liest wie ein rassistischer Reiseführer über ein in verdreckten Lehmhütten wohnendes Volk von Untermenschen ist genau das - zumindest aus den zivilisierten Augen des seines Namens nicht gerechtwerdenden Autors. Die beschriebenen Untermenschen sind genauer gesagt der größte Barbarenschreck der Römer neben den Persern: die Germanen. Vor der Erfindung von Birkenstock, Mallorca-Urlaub und Fußballfans waren unsere Vorfahren im Ausland anscheinend nur für drei Stereotypen bekannt, die sie auch nach Jahren des zivilisatorischen Einflusses ihrer Nachbarn, noch nicht abzulegen vermagt haben, nämlich Bier, blonde Haare und Genozid.

Geschrieben in einem deskriptiven Stil, schmeißt Tacitus im Stile antiker Klassik alle Prinzipien journalistischer Berichterstattung - primär Objektivität und Wahrheit - über Bord und äußert sich in glossenähnlichen Stil über die Gesellschaft der Germanen, die er nie wirklich selbst erlebt hat. Es mag kaum erschrecken, dass diese Art von Literatur heute wie damals ein Kassenschlager war.

Was man dem guten Tacitus allerdings zugute halten muss, ist, dass er wahrscheinlich sein Bestes versucht hat und für antike Verhältnisse relativ viel beschrieben hat was heute fachwissenschaftlich als richtig angesehen wird. Das sein Werk eines der wenigen überlebenden Werke über die Germanen ist und diese sich literarisch nicht bemüht haben ihre internationale Reputation selbst zu gestalten, ist die Germania allerdings auch das Basiswerk für Einblicke in die germanische Kultur. Was neben all den modernen Problemen allerdings wirklich interessant ist zu lesen, ist die Sicht die zumindest die Römer von den Germanen hatten. Nach dem Motto "Das sagt mehr über dich als über mich aus" haben die Germanen sich vielleicht auch schlichtweg mit so niederen Formen des Investigativjournalismus nicht gemüßigt gefühlt einen Finger zu rühren und ihre Zeit er auf die Zerstörung des Römischen Reichs gelegt. (Vielleicht war das ja auch der Grund?)

Die Germania ist zweifelsohne interessant zu lesen wenn man einen Einblick in die Gesellschaft der Zeit bekommen möchte und wirkt mir zum Erreichen dieses Ziels auch sinnstiftender als Appian oder Plinius. Normalen Menschen würde ich das Buch allerdings nicht empfehlen, da der Mehrwert des Buches heutzutage gegen null geht. 3 Sterne weils gut war aber mehr auch nicht.

[Juliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was fascinating.

I wonder now, as I did back at school, where we were made to translate fragments of Germania very poorly, just how accurate accounts of this nature can ever be, even if they’re not skewed one way or the other, for political reasons.

When the Roman historian, Tacitus, arrives to watch your customs, how on earth do you prevent yourself from spoofing him?

That village idiot who died today, after he got kicked by a horse? Quick, hang him from that tree by the neck. We’ll tell the Romans, this is what we do to traitors who collaborate with expansive nations.

Next time we have a fight, girls, whip out your boobs. We’ll tell the Romans, this is how our women cheer us on in battle.

It could be a joke, which carries over for centuries. When they see me, the Germans turn their back on me, pull down their pants, and display their derrières. This is a special greeting, they reserve only for Roman historians – and a sure sign, I'm a friend of the tribe.

[JV]

Muita gente dizendo que pensa no império romano com frequência, mas já pensaram em quem pensava o império romano? Depende de quando se pergunta, mas já a partir de Augustus a civilização germânica estava na cabeça dos romanos. Estes, como hoje também se reconhece, tinham cabelos escuros e olhos castanhos; e embora na época da república desprezassem loiros, no império era moda pintar o cabelo para copiar os bárbaros do norte. Já na época de Tácito Roma combateu por 230 anos aqueles povos que um dia herdariam não só a Europa mas também Roma.

Mas o olhar de Tácito não via só o perigo mas principalmente visava aconselhar os romanos às vantagens da liberdade. Roma caminhava em passos largos em direção ao despotismo. No fim, também eu fiquei pensando na civilização germânica e em seus costumes. Pensando que sob a égide gerco-romana tem um ímpeto do germânico livre e maleável ao ensino.

[Tania tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molto interessante dal punto di vista storico germanico.

Ho letto solo la parte in italiano, dal momento che non conosco il latino, però mi sembra una buona traduzione e molto comprensibile.

Consiglio la lettura a chiunque voglia sapere in linea generale qualcosa riguardo la società germanica in generale.

[Sotiris Makrygiannis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short description of Germany during the times of the Roman empire. He praises them for being monogamous but also describes how to win them...give them booze. Their laws and customs very nicely described bit still consider them barbaric, probably because of human sacrifices. However considers them autochthonous that even met Hercules and admired him

[Åsmund Ådnøy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid pakke med et langt forord og en lang forklaring etterpå, om Tacitus sin berømte bok fra år 109. Jeg likte spesielt godt gjennomgangen av bokens mange tolkningstradisjoner fram til vår tid. Er det en farlig bok? Nei, ikke i seg selv. Boka i seg selv er ikke et forsvar for germansk fortreffelighet på noe vis, snarere det motsatte. Men når nasjonsånden spirer, som i Tyskland på 1800- og 1900-tallet, tyr man til ekstremt skeiv kildekritikk for å få noe historisk glans å kaste over tankegodset sitt.

[gloriabluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short book, there was so much information in here.
Fascinating to hear about early "barbarian" German tribes and their dress, warfare, spirituality, domestic life, and other customs.
It ended on a rather intriguing note, Tacitus stating there were rumoured to be part-human, part-beast creatures living in the vicinity. He leaves us to make what we will about that.

[Aurora Pesce · Rating 2 out of 5]

E mettili i verbi, Tacito

[BrandosEgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 Quotes regarding Germans:

“Inaction is odious to their race” - Ch. 14

“Night they regard as bringing on the day.” - Ch. 11

“The Germans themselves I should regard as aboriginal, and not mixed at all with other races through immigration or intercourse. […] the tribes of Germany are free from all taint of intermarriages with foreign nations, and that they appear as a distinct, unmixed race, like none but themselves.” - Ch. 2&4

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

… nam primi in omnibus proeliis oculi vincuntur.

… dato che in ogni battaglia i primi ad essere soggiogati sono gli occhi.

De origine et situ Germanorum, 43

Tacito è uno di quegli autori che, quando ti toccavano in traduzione al liceo, odiavi sinceramente. Almeno a me capitava così.
Invece, ora, a distanza di un lungo-non meglio quantificabile-e comunque meglio non renderlo tale tempo, in una, a mio gusto, splendida traduzione di Bianca Ceva, con la possibilità di confrontare la traduzione con il testo originale accanto, rileggendolo, ho potuto apprezzare immensamente. Al di là di certi limiti che accompagnano l'opera, il De origine et situ Germanorum è un lavoro estremamente interessante, breve ma prezioso, moderno e, a tratti, persino molto bello. Non credo serva raccontare quest'opera o, forse, sono io a non esserne capace. Quello che tuttavia posso fare è consigliare caldamente questa lettura a chiunque.

[Metin Yılmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alfa Yayınlarından şaşırtan bir kitap daha. Az biraz bilgim vardı ama nedir ne değildir bilmeden aldığım ve inanılmaz keyif alarak okuduğum, güzel bilgilerle bezeli bir kitap. Germenlerin eski kavimleri, yaşayışları, neyi nasıl yaptıkları gibi bir çok bilginin yer aldığı güzel bir eser. Konuya meraklı olanların seveceği bir okuma olacağından eminim. Özellikle dip notlar çok aydınlatıcı.

[Annika Unterberger]

9th grade Latin class: we’re learning how the Romans viewed the Gauls, Germans and Brits. About whom the best and most important sources are Caesar’s Bello Gallico and Tacitus‘ Germania. And because Caesar is from the more difficult golden age of Latin whereas Tacitus is from the easier silver Latinity everyone was fighting for a presentation about the latter. I got Caesar and Britain.

That has now been rectified and yes, Tacitus is way easier to read. Short sentences, nice vocabulary and no artful grammar. He describes the way of live, values and morals of the Germans vividly and understandably and in part two he even says a few words about various clans.

And in typical Tacitus fashion he makes us believe wholeheartedly in every word he says. Because he is the expert. It’s only that about 30 pages of knowledge about a whole ethnic group isn’t that much, it actually doesn’t even scratch the surface.
But that’s just Tacitus…

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tai olisi tämä voinut olla viidenkin tähden lukukokemus. Todella huolella toimitettu editio (korjattu painos) Germaniasta. Johdanto, suomenkielinen teksti, alkuperäinen latinalainen ja erinomainen selitysosio, jonka luin ”omana lukunaan” ja toimi hyvin näin. Tacitus kuvaa germaaneja ensin yleisellä tasolla ja sen jälkeen heimoittain mukaan lukien fennit.

[Juha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Törmäsin tähän ensin Jukka Pitkäsen äänikirjana, joka osoittautui tehokkaaksi unilääkkeeksi, mutta sitten germaanit alkoivat kiinnostaa niin, että oli pakko etsiä kirjakin käsiin ja lukea huolella. On muuten Gaudeamukselta ja Tuomo Pekkaselta esimerkillinen laitos, kun on alkusanat, teksti, alkuteksti latinaksi, erittäin kattavat selitykset ja selitysten alaviitteet sekä hakemisto oudommista sanoista.

Suomalaisia tässä kiinnostaa erityisesti viimeiset sivut, joilla Tacitus esittää näkemyksiään Germanian pohjoispuolen kansoista mm. svionit, aestit ja fennit, jotka ovat ruotsalaisten, ehkä virolaisten ja suomalaisten tai saamelaisten esi-isiä. Yritin lukea pätkiä alkutekstistä duolingo-latinallani, mutta kovin pitkälle en päässyt. Tämän fennien kuvauksen ymmärsin melkein kokonaan: Fennis mira feritas, foeda paupertas: non arma, non equi, non penates; victui herba, vestitui pelles, cubile humus. (Fennit ovat ihmeen villejä, viheliäisen köyhiä. Ei heillä ole aseita, ei hevosia, ei asuntoja. Ravintona kasvit, vaatteina nahat, makuusijana maa. suom. Tuomo Pekkanen)

[Arvid Jakobsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ca 60 sidor text och drygt 100 sidor kommentarer. Klassiskt! Tacitus är rätt högfärdig gentemot de barbariska horderna öster om Rhen, men det är uppenbart att han samtidigt är vettskrämd för dem. Några rader om Sverige får han med mot slutet.

[Aceber Anilom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tal vez los bárbaros son los otros.

[Iselin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intressant läsning för historienördar som vill lära sig om hur "vanligt folk" levde i Germanien för nästan 2000 år sedan.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Det är en av de baserade böckerna

[Clayton Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read for school)

Really funny, he is bewildered by the existence of primitive people, at time feels like gossip, i loved it.

[Esioan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me reading this coincided with playing rome total war pretty well. Tacitus description of Germania is as close as you'd get to a peek into the Swabian tribes customs and world-soul. The description of their common use of land, meritocratic castes and egalitarian collectivism is fascinating. You can Tacitus has a respect for it, especially in comparison to decadent Rome. Definitely a bit of Rousseau's noble savage can be seen here (tho with extra violence).

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty damn interesting. This is like a very early ethnographical account of the Germanic peoples from the Roman perspective. It gives a theorized origin and then delves into their manners, customs, religion, politics etc. I have no idea how accurate it is, but it reads weirdly similar to the "noble savage" literature of later centuries. So I am suspicious that the Tacitus idealized the warrior nobility aspect of Germanic culture here. Combined with that idealization are semi-patronizing comments about the naive simplicity of the Germans in their primitive condition. But it is interesting that Tacitus not also paints the Germans somewhat in a similar manner as we tend to perceive them in the modern period. As a reserved, cold, and orderly nation yet one oddly prone to aggression. He also regards them as a primordial race on the basis that nobody from Asia, Mediterranean Europe, or Africa would go to a place of cold and starvation like Germany. Plus, they say they got to Germany from the ocean, and any place where you could take a boat to Germany from in the distant past is even more inhospitable. Yet he also later admits that there probably is Gaulish/Celtic-Germanic admixture. He also regards them as unusually monogamous, except for the elites which collected wives as a part of diplomatic exchange.