Origo et religio. Etnikai hagyományok és irodalom a kora középkori szövegekben (Fordította: Galamb György)
Origo et religio. Ethnic Traditions and Literature in Early Medieval Texts

Summary/Abstract: Focusing on the example of two early medieval barbarian peoples, the Goths and the Langobards, the author examines how reliable origin myths and genealogy of ruling families are as historical sources. Arguing primarily with Walter Goffart, he claims that these two genres are naturally literary products, but they do have political functions and a role in constructing identity, and they also cast light on the cults and the mythical corpus of early German peoples. They reflect those critical changes that are connected to the primordial deed or the stages of migration (the exodus of the Winils), or those that came with the emergence of a new dynasty (the Goth Amals); they show the strong legitimating force of long descent. Genealogies that trace origins back to the distant past, to half gods or gods, were common primarily among the Langobards and the Goths, as well as among the peoples of the British Isles. It is important that these passed on authentic names to us. At the same time, it is clear that as strict historical sources their value is modest, they condense a diverging oral tradition that originates from the distant past. Studying the theme of the exodus from Scandinavia, the author concludes that Scandinavia exported not so much crowds of peoples and warriors, but rather such sacred traditions which spread with smaller groups (the Amals) or travelled long distances without any mediator.

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