The Goths resplendent oral tradition lead a Roman by the name of Tacitus to record the story of the origin of the tribe. In the first Century AD he wrote:

“In their ancient songs they celebrated an earth-born god Tuisco, and his son Mannus, as the origin of their race, as their founders. To Mannus they assign three sons, from whose names, they say, the coast tribes are called Ingaevones; those of the interior, Herminones; all the rest, Istaevones. ”

Among the gothic tribe oral tradition prevailed because their was no written language. Only symbol reading and writing of runes was known to have been passed down through the powerful female elders. The principal language spoken is a dead language with roots in the Proto-Germanic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages. The I-E speaking stone age tribes migrated North and West from Lithuania in 2000 BC. What was to become the Gothic tribe settled in South Eastern Scandinavia.

The Gothic tribe dates to around 500 BC. Due to the Nomadic nature of the people the tribe migrated all over Europe and eventually was incorporated into the regions in which they settled. After two branches, Visigoth and Ostrogoth, were created due to capture during Hun invasion. The Visigoths migrated through present-day Germany and eventually settled in Spain and Southern France, even founding the city of Cologne. The Ostrogoths were made slaves to the Asian invaders and eventually escaped to Italy and Greece.

For more than five hundred years the Goth tribe was known for its fierce loyalty to the purity of the race. They did not begin to interbreed until the 5th century. The tribes characteristics were very distinct. Hair ranging from Fire Red to almost White, light eyes, and a large stocky build. They were the largest and most impressive looking people in all the ancient world, according to Tacitus. The people were adept at dealing with harsh winter conditions and were known not to like warmer climates.

The goth people did not understand the concept of coins as money. Horses, sheep, and cattle were the main items used in their barter system. Milk, meat, fruit, and grains were the basic diet. Beer, wine, and meed, an ancient and sometimes ritual honey wine, were produced for everyday consumption. They put great importance on leisure time and even spent days drinking in celebration.

Goth marriages were some of the strongest of the ancient world. The leader was allowed more than one wife for purposes of continuation of the lineage and the common man married only once. Marriage for love was encouraged. The person you were bound to was the only one you were ever allowed to marry or have sexual relations with. If a partner was to die or be killed in battle the other person was not allowed to marry again or ever have sexual relations with anyone else. In order to enter into and strengthen the marriage bond one must have something to offer into the partnership in the way of past victories.

Because of this both sexes married later in life (early twenty’s). It was believed that the longer the chastity, the greater and more powerful the offspring. Women were allowed to perform abortions for whatever reason was felt fit but the family was prized more than anything. It was a great honor to die leaving behind a large family and so in turn, many connections. Sister’s sons were held in as much esteem by their uncles as their fathers. Mothers would not offer their milk to any other child but their own. Adultery, though very rare, was a serious crime. The male was allowed to punish his own wife in the manor of shaving all her hair, stripping her naked, and beating her all over town. Male adultery was punished as well. If a woman chose to have sexual relations before marriage she was not allowed to marry.

Male children were trained in combat at an early age. A knife was carried to prepare them for adulthood. The Chief chose at what age the child was to become a man. The initiation process included participation in a raid and pillaging of an enemy village. Women were allowed to fight along side their men. It was an honor for a married couple to enter into a battle together. The woman fought bare breasted as to distract the enemy. The men fought with only a cloak. Knives, swords, grenades of rocks, shields, as well as spears were all used in battle. Everyday clothing was simple as well. Women and men dressed alike in large tunics that hugged the upper body. A belt in the form of an arms sheath was worn around the waist for men. All men from the time of childhood wore a weapon constantly. Cloaks, for both sexes, were gathered at the shoulder and pinned with a large thorn. Fabric was mostly constructed of linen. Animal skins and fur of all sorts were used for warmth. Goth people were very clean. They bathed daily and even had hygienic tools like an ear scoop to remove wax.

Religion was earth-based like all forms of European Paganism. The Seeresses, or village wise women, was consulted for everything. They rune casted to determine proper times to enter into battle as well as future casted. These women presided over all aspects of tribal life from Birth and death to crop planting and seasonal ceremonies. Some Seeresses even held positions as tribal elders and Law makers. Religious customs were very basic. Mostly consisting of drinking and feasting to celebrate victory, death, sacrifice, and the changing seasons to name a few. To the Goths, feasting represented one of the most important communications with the gods. Odin and Thor were the chief gods worshipped. They represented simply death and war respectively. More than that, as a pair, they represented life itself. Freya was worshipped mainly by women as the goddess of fertility.

As with most ancient civilizations, time caught up to the Goths. By 711 AD migration, war and interbreeding equally contributed to the end of a great race of warrior’s. All is not lost though. One can be continuously fascinated by this powerful civilization. Today one can learn and practice Rune magic as well as the Teutonic and Pagan religions of our Gothic forefathers.

So when next you sit down to feast raise your glass high and offer up a solemn vow in the righteously hedonistic Gothic tradition.