View on forefathers in ancient times

[æinvargR]

What do we know about people's view on forefathers in pre-Christian times? Any leads in the lore? I've seen it mentioned on some asatru sites that "the belief in forefathers was/is strong" etc.

[pinlighter]

What do you mean by "forefathers"? Ancestral spirits????

[Liffrea]

Well ancestors were definately honoured. For example amongst the Anglo-Saxons it was common to state your name as, for example, Eadric son of Harold son of Edmund etc. In this way a man could get a sense of who you were and the deeds, or mis-deeds, that your ancestors had committed. There was no original sin, but I believe that the actions carried out by your ancestors reflected on you.

[Scramaseax]

Have a look at the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which lists peoples ancestry back sometimes 10,15,20 generations back to Woden and beyond. It was something that our ancestors cared about a hell of alot more than mainstream society does now. Have a look at Germanai where they sing songs about their descent from Mannus and his three sons. Have a look at Norse patrynomic naming. Disir. Reincarnation down the bloodline.

[Scramaseax]

Although I guess we don't know how much common people remembered their ancestry, the king's recorded their ancestry to maintain power as Aethelings.

[æinvargR]

Aethelings? Is that another angelication (sp)? Hehe. Ättling in Swedish means descendant.

[æinvargR]

What about forefathers that you weren't necessarily a direct/lineal descendant of? Basically dead kin, dead men of your people.

[Liffrea]

Athelings were princes of the blood. Anglo-Saxon kingship was sacral rather than paternal.



What about forefathers that you weren't necessarily a direct/lineal descendant of? Basically dead kin, dead men of your people.

That is a good question. There was tribal memory as far as I know.

[Lonnie]

You may want to read Gronbechs "Culture of the Teutons" Vol. #1 (http://gamall-steinn.org/text/cot-index.htm) & Vol. #2 (http://gamall-steinn.org/text/cot2-index.htm)... He tends to do a decent job as to our ancient Kins outlook on various subjects...

[Loki's Advocate]

"When evening comes, I return to my home, and I go into my study; and on the threshold, I take off my everyday clothes, which are covered with mud and mire, and I put on regal and curial robes; and dressed in a more appropriate manner I enter into the ancient courts of ancient men and am welcomed by them kindly, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born; and there I am not ashamed to speak with them, to ask them the reasons for their actions, and they, in their humanity, answer me, and for four hours I feel no boredom, I dismiss every affliction, I no longer fear poverty nor do I tremble at the thought of death: I become completely part of them."

[Scramaseax]

What about forefathers that you weren't necessarily a direct/lineal descendant of? Basically dead kin, dead men of your people.

Well this quote from Ch.14 of The History of Hacon the Good comes to mind, when discussing sacrifices:
It was usual to drink last Bragi's bowl; they also drank bowls for their howe-laid kinsmen and that was called minni.

[æinvargR]

I googled a part of that quote, Scramaseax, and found this article:
http://www.geocities.com/heatheneurope/ancestral.html
which does bring up a few more points :) though it's not much.

Tribal memory, yes... partly it probably goes to show the importance of/respect for forefathers and their deeds.

Thanks for the help everyone and thanks Lonnie for the links, I will look into them.