Irminones

The Herminones (Latin Herminones ) were a Germanic tribe. The name is only three ancient writers of the 1st century AD handed, Tacitus, Pliny and Pomponius Mela.

Historical reports

Tacitus reports about the mythical origin of the Germans:

" Manno tris filios assignant, e quorum nominibus Proximi Oceano Ingaevones, medii Herminones, ceteri Istaevones vocentur "

" .. The Mannus they write to three sons, after whose name the the ocean neighbor Ingaevones that should be called in the middle Herminones, the remaining Istävonen "

The localization of the Herminones is also covered by the statement in Pliny:

" Hermione mediterranei, quorum Suebi, Hermunduri, Chatti, Cherusci "

" In the middle of the living Hermiones to which the Suevi, Hermunduren, chatting and Cherusker belong "

Something notwithstanding the geographical position at Mela:

"Ultra ultimi Germaniae Hermione "

"Beyond the Herminones than the extremes in Germania "

Whether the information Melas why is " wrong ", but it remains open; it seems that is possible from the context that still live on the Herminones, other tribes.

Name

The name of tradition varies in the sources between Herminones next to Hermione in Tacitus and Hermione in the other sources. As implied by Tacitus three names are linked together by alliteration, is due to the initial sound H- no language real meaning, but merely a graphic. The shape of Hermione can be explained as a corruption, either by connecting to names like lat.-gr. Hermione or the copy is created mechanically ( by loss of -n-, which was written as a shortcut bar, so Hermione [= Herminones ]> Hermione ). The Germanic form * to postulierende Erminones is a derivative of the Germanic n- suffix in individualizing function of the adj PGmc. * ermina, general, comprehensive, total, tremendous ' ( > OHG, AS. irmin, ae. eormen, AISL. iǫrmun ), so that the meaning of the name as, the great, the mighty, the Allverbündeten ' to be set is. The name would thus have served to describe an association of several tribes.