Reidgotaland

Reidgotaland, Hreidgotaland or Hreiðgotaland was in Norse mythology, a kingdom which was generally described as the land of the Goths.

The name could be derived from the word hreiðr what bird's nest meant and could be a Kenning for the Gothic tradition of traveling and " Einnistens " in foreign territories. Another possible explanation of the name is the origin of Reid ( horse riding, trips). The second part of the name refers to the Goths or the inhabitants of Gotland.

On the Runestone Rök Reidgotaland ( hraiþkutum ) is equated with Östergötland. In contrast, says the Hervarar saga that with Hreiðgotaland originally the territory of the Ostrogoths in Southeast Europe is meant Snorri Sturluson's Edda and in Jutland Reidgotaland corresponds to it from Eygotaland to separate the island of Gotland and the Danish islands.

Due to the disparity of source data on the location of Reidgotaland a list of possible positions was published in Nordisk familjebok.

• Place of Germanic mythology
• Goths
• Ostrogoths
• Greutungen