10-29-2002, 06:10 PM
On Tim's CLADES VARIANA forum I too have argued that the lack of a "german" memory means something. Are there not many examples of storys surviving orally millenia only on the basis of the inspiration they continue regenerate everytime they are told. They called legends.<br>
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The argument goes that the Cherusci didn't survive so why should one expect the oral memory of Arminius to survive. But I do think it is interesting that the great feat of Arminius and the brave Cherusci was not percieved by "nearby" peoples to be worthy of memory or imitation. Evidently the many "german" tribes (peoples) percieved more differences among themselves than similarities.<br>
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I acknowledge that maybe I am reacting as a modern man imbued with a somewhat romantic notion of greatness. But what is the real social purpose of legends? I think they help reaffirm the ties of a people to their ancestors, land and ways. If there is no people to speak of and no culture to tie down, then it is unlikely that a story will become a legend. But the reverse is also somewhat true: if there are no storys and legends to tell then a culture will easily die out.<br>
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Of course I am just thinking.<br>
Ciao<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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The argument goes that the Cherusci didn't survive so why should one expect the oral memory of Arminius to survive. But I do think it is interesting that the great feat of Arminius and the brave Cherusci was not percieved by "nearby" peoples to be worthy of memory or imitation. Evidently the many "german" tribes (peoples) percieved more differences among themselves than similarities.<br>
<br>
I acknowledge that maybe I am reacting as a modern man imbued with a somewhat romantic notion of greatness. But what is the real social purpose of legends? I think they help reaffirm the ties of a people to their ancestors, land and ways. If there is no people to speak of and no culture to tie down, then it is unlikely that a story will become a legend. But the reverse is also somewhat true: if there are no storys and legends to tell then a culture will easily die out.<br>
<br>
Of course I am just thinking.<br>
Ciao<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
