Scandza
Scandza is the name of Scandinavia in Jordanes ' Getica. It appears in ancient times in varying forms of the name until the Middle Ages, finally, the present form " Scandinavia " prevailed.
As Thule Scandinavia was probably BC known already in the 4th century by the travels of Pytheas of Massalia the Mediterranean world.
Pliny the Elder mentioned in the 1st century AD, the peninsula as Scatinavia and called the inhabitants Hillevionen. 98 AD wrote Publius Cornelius Tacitus in his work Germania for the first time on a Scandinavian tribe, by describing the Suionen as a seafaring people in the sea.
About 50 years later Claudius Ptolemy mentioned four skandische Islands ( τέσσαρες νῆσοι αἱ καλούμεναι Σκανδίαι ) and described the easternmost island, which is also the largest of which is at the same time more accurate. Seven tribes live according to him, on this island: the Chaediner in the west, and Firaesen Favonen in the East, the Finns ( = cloth ) in the north, Gauti and Daukionen in the south and the Levoner in the middle.
A more detailed picture of Scandinavia handed the writing in the 6th century Roman- Gothic historian Jordanes in his Getica Scandza. Jordanes, whose information will be considered in modern research but very critical, Scandza described in any case as a large, non-circular island, with a large lake in the interior ( Vänern ), one from the sea flowing river called the vagus ( the Göta älv, formerly Ván ) and a land bridge ( Lapland ) to the mainland to the east. Jordanes also called a variety of strains, and it is questionable whether these details are accurate. Up in the north lived the Adogit (if from Halogit prescribed in Haalogaland ) in which the phenomenon of the midnight sun occurred. Further south were the seats of Suehans. In the south of Skandza settled the tribes of Theustes ( Tjust ) Vagoth ( Gotland or Götaland ), Bergio ( Scania), Hallin ( Halland ) and Liothida ( in the lowlands ). Behind them, that is, north of them, the Ahelmil, Finnaithae sat ( Finnveden ) Fervir ( Fjöre Hundred ) and Gautigoth ( Götaland ). Still further to the north settled Mixi, Evagre and Otingis (perhaps in Bohuslän ), then the Ostrogothae ( Östergötland), Raumarici ( Romerike ) Ragnaricii ( Ranrike in Bohuslän ) and Finns. Without further geographical indication Jordanes called then the Vinoviloth (? Winiler? ) Suetidi, Danes and Heruli (but having the modern research According never lived in Scandinavia). In the same area the granii ( Grenland ) Augandxi, Eunixi, Taetel, Rugians ( Rogaland ) sat Arochi (probably prescribed for (H ) Arothi, so Haruder in Hordaland ) and the Ranii (probably also in Ranrike ).
An island called Scadinavia ( Paul the Deacon ) or scadan [at] ( Origo Gentis Langobardorum ) to have been origin of the Lombards.