Gaut

Gautr, Gauti and Gautatýr are in Norse mythology epithet of the chief god Odin. The name stands in an ambiguous relation with the local name of the Scandinavian Götländer, Old Icelandic Gautar, but also with the continental Goths, Old Icelandic Gotar. The special feature of this Odinsnamen is that he has been handed down as a progenitor of various Germanic royal houses, and thus may arise from ancient Germanic time.

Gaut in the sources

The Icelandic Saga Bosa saga ok Herrauðs called the progenitor of the royal dynasty götländischen, Gautr, as a son of Odin.

In the name of the form GaPt it appears in Jordanes as the progenitor of the Ostrogothic Amali and hence the - not only by the heroic legends - famous kings Ermanarich and Theodoric the Great also known as Dietrich von Bern. The form of the name GaPt is thereby explained as a prescription for Gaut.

When the Lombards is the Latinized name Gausus. He is referred to therein as the progenitor of the king Audoin and his son Alboin.

In contrast, the Anglo-Saxon tradition knows as Geat ancestor of the royal families. These are derived although all of Woden from, but Woden is itself a descendant of the Geats, who is in turn in some genealogies as a descendant of Sceaf. The Celtic historian Nennius noticed this name that Gentiles Geat have worshiped as a god and that herstamme the kingdom from him. The Christian King Alfred called this God, however, as a " comedic divinity "; a clear indication that Geat enjoyed great popularity. Points in this direction also the lament of the singer Deor, who sings about the unfortunate affair of Geat to Mæðhilde.

In contrast, the Saxon race Sage knows a hero Hathagat, combat Gaut '. Widukind of Corvey in his Res gestae describes him Saxonicae as " an older warrior, despite his advanced age still strong, was called as a reward excellent virtues Father of Fathers ." Hathagat seized, when the Saxons were about to flee, the Saxon standard and expressed that while he fight as an old man, but he could not escape. Thus encouraged, the Saxons won the battle against the Thuringian. Here still shines through clearly the figure of the militant ancestors of God.