Berig
Encyclopedia
Berig is a legendary king of the Goths
appearing in the Getica by Jordanes
. According to Jordanes, Berig led his people on three ships from Scandza
(Scandinavia) to Gothiscandza
(the Vistula Basin). They settled and then attacked the Rugians
who lived on the shore and drove them away from their homes, subsequently winning a battle against the Vandals
.
The name is said to stem from the Gothic
Bairika, which translates as "Little Bear". A Danish historian, Arne Søby has nontheless proposed that Cassiodorus
, who wrote the original text on which Jordanes' work is based, invented him, with inspiration from the name of Βέρικος (Berikos or Verica
). Recent archaeological research demonstrates that the transition of Oksywie culture
into Wielbark culture was peaceful. Its timing coincides with the appearance of new population of Scandinavian origins in previously uninhabited area ("no man's land
") between the Oksywie and Przeworsk culture areas.
The 16th century Swedish archbishop of Uppsala
, Johannes Magnus
in his history of the Swedes and Goths, was the first to publish a song known as the "Ballad of Eric", about an early Gothic king called Eric, who bears some similarities to Berig. It was once thought to contain authentic folk tradition about the king, but it is now regarded as fake. However, Magnus discusses king Berig separately as having united the Swedes and Goths some 400 years after Erik's death.
In popular culture, Berig is referenced (as Berik) in the song Three Ships of Berik, Pts. 1 and 2
by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
appearing in the Getica by Jordanes
Jordanes
Jordanes, also written Jordanis or Jornandes, was a 6th century Roman bureaucrat, who turned his hand to history later in life....
. According to Jordanes, Berig led his people on three ships from Scandza
Scandza
Scandza was the name given to Scandinavia by the Roman historian Jordanes in his work Getica, written while in Constantinople around AD 551. He described the area to set the stage for his treatment of the Goths' migration from southern Sweden to Gothiscandza...
(Scandinavia) to Gothiscandza
Gothiscandza
According to a tale related by Jordanes, Gothiscandza was the first settlement of the Goths after their migration from Scandinavia during the first half of the 1st century CE....
(the Vistula Basin). They settled and then attacked the Rugians
Rugians
"Rugi" redirects here. For the Romanian villages by this name, see Păltiniş, Caraş-Severin and Turcineşti.The Rugii, also Rugians, Rygir, Ulmerugi, or Holmrygir were an East Germanic tribe migrated from southwest Norway to Pomerania around 100 AD, and from there to the Danube River valley...
who lived on the shore and drove them away from their homes, subsequently winning a battle against the Vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
.
The name is said to stem from the Gothic
Gothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
Bairika, which translates as "Little Bear". A Danish historian, Arne Søby has nontheless proposed that Cassiodorus
Cassiodorus
Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator , commonly known as Cassiodorus, was a Roman statesman and writer, serving in the administration of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Senator was part of his surname, not his rank.- Life :Cassiodorus was born at Scylletium, near Catanzaro in...
, who wrote the original text on which Jordanes' work is based, invented him, with inspiration from the name of Βέρικος (Berikos or Verica
Verica
Verica was a British client king of the Roman Empire in the years preceding the Claudian invasion of 43 AD.From his coinage, he appears to have been king of the Atrebates tribe and a son of Commius. He succeeded his elder brother Eppillus as king in about 15 AD, reigning at Calleva Atrebatum,...
). Recent archaeological research demonstrates that the transition of Oksywie culture
Oksywie culture
The Oksywie Culture, was an archaeological culture which existed in the area of modern day Eastern Pomerania around the lower Vistula river, from the 2nd century BC to the early 1st century AD....
into Wielbark culture was peaceful. Its timing coincides with the appearance of new population of Scandinavian origins in previously uninhabited area ("no man's land
No man's land
No man's land is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms...
") between the Oksywie and Przeworsk culture areas.
The 16th century Swedish archbishop of Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, Johannes Magnus
Johannes Magnus
Johannes Magnus was the last functioning Catholic Archbishop in Sweden, and also a theologian, genealogist, and historian.-Life:Johannes Magnus was born in Linköping, son of the burgess Måns Pedersson and his wife Kristina...
in his history of the Swedes and Goths, was the first to publish a song known as the "Ballad of Eric", about an early Gothic king called Eric, who bears some similarities to Berig. It was once thought to contain authentic folk tradition about the king, but it is now regarded as fake. However, Magnus discusses king Berig separately as having united the Swedes and Goths some 400 years after Erik's death.
In popular culture, Berig is referenced (as Berik) in the song Three Ships of Berik, Pts. 1 and 2
Lemuria (album)
Lemuria is the eleventh full-length musical album by symphonic metal band Therion. The album title refers to the name of a hypothetical "Lost Land" called Lemuria. It was released simultaneously with Sirius B. Cover artwork was made by Thomas Ewerhard.-Track listing:#"Typhon" – 4:36#"Uthark Runa" ...
by Swedish symphonic metal band Therion
Therion (band)
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...