|
I was born in Medhelan (Mediolanum), the Celtic holy place "in the middle of the plain" in Cisalpine Gaul, and live there, when not travelling in search of knowledge. Both my mother and grandmother were born there, so I'm at least a third-generation Celt (of possibly Insubres-Bituriges origins). We call ourselves "Celtegh" in the local dialect.
My father was born in Patavium, in the land of the Veneti, like his mother, so this makes him a Celt too. However, his own father was born near the village of Cartoceto, in Central Italy, allegedly founded by Carthaginian soldiers after the battle of the Metauro. So this gives me Etruscan blood too, and a dash of Mid-East.
My parents are very Romanized and brought me up the same way; however I've recently set out to discover other cultures, starting with the special mix of Western Civilization aspects that makes up what I am. Being interested in the Celtic culture is for me a given. Studying the works of the great scholar and artist J.R.R. Tolkien sparked in me a fascination for the Anglo-Saxon world, and thence for the Germanic world, in their languages, history and myths.
I have a degree in Italian Literature and Philology and make my living as a translator, bringing into contact the Anglo-Saxon and Latin world. I'm a fledgling writer too, though I'm never satisfied enough to try and publish anything. I'm teaching myself some Old English and Gothic. Unfortunately I'm not very good with Gaelic.
More stuff:
The Dragon and the King: Aelfwine's writing and research laboratory.
Thidrek's Library: pertinent historical and literary links.
Bibliography of my studies:
J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Monster and the Critics".
The basis of my interest in Anglo-Saxon culture.
Tom Shippey, "The Road to Middle Earth".
The ultimate Tolkien scholar, who showed me the deep link between language and literature, and the deep meaning of philology.
"Beowulf".
Because.
Joseph Campbell, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces".
A true bible for mythology scholars.
"I Goti"
Catalogue of an exhibition of Gothic artefacts which took place in Medhelan ten years ago. Invaluable for research.
John Moorehead, "Theoderic in Italy".
A very detailed study of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy. A bit scant on the actual war in Italy, but otherwise full of references to primary sources.
Simon James, "The Atlantic Celts: ancient people or modern invention?"
A very interesting theory and important remarks on cultural and ethnic identity.
Jean Markale, "Druidism".
A detailed, insightful and practical look at this religion. From the same author, I'm looking for "Celtic Christianity".
A folder with printouts of many sources found on the Net, mostly from Northvegr or Labyrinth or the Old English pages, when possible in the original language:
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- Annales Cambriae
- Gildas: De Excidio Britanniae
- Nennius: Historia Brittonum
- Bede: Ecclesiastical history of England (looking for the OE original)
- Anglo-Saxon Pagan Elegies, most of the Exeter Book
- Wulfila's Gothic Bible
- Kalevala
- Poetic Edda
- Volsungasaga
- Nibelungenlied
- Hildebrandslied
- Tacitus, Germania (I century AD)
- Jordanes, De Origine Actibusque Getarum
- Anonymus Valesianus, Chronica Theodericiana
- Procopius of Caesarea, The Secret History (c.490/510-c.560s)
- Saxo Gramaticus, History of the Danes (no original text) ca. XII century
- A million secondary sources about Northern tradition, among which:
Donald A. Mackenzie, Teutonic Myth and Legend, 1912?
Felix Dahn, Walhall, about 1883 (in German)
Looking for:
- Claudius Ptolemy's Geography (about 130 AD)
- Sidonius Apollinaris (about 430-480 AD)
- Procopius of Caesarea, The Gothic War
- Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks
- Ennodius' Panegyric of Theodoric
- Gesta Theodorici Regis
- Cassiodorus, Variae
- Thidrekssaga
- The Dietrich von Bern poems
Sites:
Northvegr
Labyrinth
Internet Ancient History Sourcebook
The Heroic Age
Sacred Texts
3090 Sagen (a bottomless well)
Old English Pages
Old English Aerobics
Ša Engliscan Gesižas with sound files of the lovely OE language
Historical Novels:
to see what others have written
Felix Dahn: Ein Kampf um Rom, 1876. Must learn German.
Stephan Grundy: Attila's Treasure
Follows the myths rather than history, but it's not bad.
Gary Jennings: Raptor
Weird, but actually a good portrayal of Theodoric, almost apologetic, and rather well researched, though the last chapters are hurried.
Off Topic:
Robin Hobb, "The Tawny Man Trilogy".
The best fantasy I've ever found after Tolkien, full of humanity and creativity.
Stephen Ambrose, "Band of Brothers".
The history of another group of warriors from a different era.
JK Rowling, "Harry Potter".
A mythmaker for modern times. So shoot me with a longbow. But I'm not alone!
|
Current Amount in My Cashbox:
10,249 strti.
Social Summary
Recent Social Posts
07:27 Oct 23, 2006
04:34 Aug 17, 2006
08:43 Aug 6, 2006
|
