Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Syrian" who had interpreted the story for him. There was also need of a man from the
Orient as an authority when a previously unknown miracle was to be presented -- a
miracle that had transpired in a cave near Ephesus. But there is no absolute reason for
assuming that Gregorius presents a story of his own invention. The reference of the
legend to Ephesus is explained by the antique saga-variation concerning Endymion, 8
according to which the latter was sentenced to confinement and eternal sleep in a cave in
the mountain Latmos. Latmos is south of Ephesus, and not very far from there. This saga
is the antique root-thread of the legend, out of which rose its localization, but not its
contents and its details. The contents are borrowed from the Germanic mythology. That
Syria or Asia Minor was the scene of its transformation into a Christian legend is
possible, and is not surprising. During and immediately after the time to which the legend
itself refers the resurrection of the seven sleepers, the time of Theodosius, the Roman
Orient, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt were full of Germanic warriors who had permanent
quarters there. A Notitia dignitatum 9 from this age speaks of hosts of Goths,
Alamannians, Franks, Chamavians, and Vandals, who there had fixed military quarters.
There then stood an ala Francorum, a cohors Alamannorum, a cohors Chamavorum, an
ala Vandilorum, a cohors Gothorum, 10 and no doubt there, as elsewhere in the Roman
Empire, great provinces were colonized by Germanic veterans and other immigrants. Nor
must we neglect to remark that the legend refers the falling asleep of the seven men to the
time of Decius. Decius fell in battle against the Goths, who, a few years later, invaded
Asia Minor and captured among other places also Ephesus. 11
95.
ON THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE MYTHOLOGY.
The account now given of the myths concerning the lower world shows that the
hierologists and skalds of our heathendom had developed the doctrine in a clear manner
even down to the minutest details. The lower world and its kingdom of death were the
chief subjects with which their fancy was occupied. The many sagas and traditions which
flowed from heathen sources and which described Svipdag's, Hadding's, Gorm's,
Thorkil's, and other journeys down there are proof of this, and the complete agreement of
statements from totally different sources in regard to the topography of the lower world
and the life there below shows that the ideas were systematized into a clear and
perspicuous whole. Svipdag's and Hadding's journeys in the lower world have been
incorporated as episodes in the great epic concerning the Germanic patriarchs, the chief
outlines of which I have presented in the preceding pages. This is done in the same
manner as the visits of Ulysses and Æneas in the lower world have become a part of the
great Greek and Roman epic poems.
8 In Greek Mythology, Endymion is a mortal loved by the moon-goddess Selene who bears him fifty
daughters. Because she could not bear to see him die, she lulled him to sleep in a cave where he would
remain youthful and beautiful eternally. In another version of the tale, Zeus grants his wish to remain
beautiful forever by putting him to sleep in a cave.
9 Register of Dignitaries
10 ala, squadron; cohors, retinue
11 The influence of the Germanic tribes in this region is confirmed by Gibbons in his Of the Decline and
Fall of the Roman Empire.