In the period 300-372, Carl goes among the Goths as a tall, bearded, grey-haired, spear-carrying wayfarer who tells stories, flies and frightens their enemies. Consequently, they identify him with Wodan but does it matter that some of the stories about this god reflected real events? Yes, archetypes are immeasurably powerful but the Patrol has to accept that Carl is and has always been a part of this major North European myth.
We have documented Veleda. It may be that the time stream bears her along. See here.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think you should have added that it was accidental and unintended on Carl's part that he sort of stumbled into becoming part of the developing Germanic myths of Wotan/Odin. It would have been an example of how the Patrol itself helped to shape the past of the timeline it defended.
Sean
*Wodenaz (the Proto-Germanic form) probably derived from PIE forms meaning roughly "fury, inspiration", and may be cognate to both Hera (the Greek goddess) and Hercules. It was probably a more concrete personification of a very ancient concept of a spiritual power which brings frenzy or mental transfiguration.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
And THAT reminded me of the later Scandinavian concept of the "berserker."
Sean
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