Götaland theory, or Västgötaskolan is an umbrella term for a number of ideas proposed by amateur historians and local patriots in the province of Western Götaland, Sweden. It is not accepted at universities, but it is aggressively preached to non-scholars by its adherents (as "new research"). Westrogothia (Västergötland) is a historical Province (landskap) in the southwest of Sweden. ...

Terminology

Commonly, it is a term referring to a set of opinions among some amateur historians that oppose the general professional scholar view that holds the ancient pagan (heathen) location for Ása-faith worshipers (named Ubsola in ancient sources) and the original homeland of the Sveas to be located in Gamla Uppsala outside the modern city of Uppsala in the province of Uplandia, Sweden. The Aesir (Old Norse Æsir, singular Áss, feminine Ásynja, feminine plural Ásynjur) are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology. ... Svea is a Swedish female name. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... This article is about the modern city of Uppsala. ... The provinces or landskap were the subdivision of Sweden until 1634, when they were replaced by counties in a reform, led by Axel Oxenstierna, that still remains in force in Sweden proper. ... Uplandia, or Uppland, is a historical Province or Landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden. ...

Generally, all views opposing the official Svealand theory might at times be grouped under this term, though not necessarily suggesting that the province Västergötland was the origin of Sveas and the location of Ubsola. Some adherers to the Götaland theory are conspiracy theorists accusing academic scholars of lying (falsifying, for example, documents and runic stones) to disprove the Götaland theories. The Svealand theory is the commonly held opinion amongst most scholars that Gamla Uppsala in Uplandia, Sweden, was the location of the ancient pagan temple of Ása-faith worshippers, i. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by two or more individuals or various secretive powers or conspiracies. ...

History

The 19th and 20th century opponents that rendered the term 'Västgötaskolan' stated that the original place and the location of Ubsola should instead be in the Swedish province of Västergötland, preferably in the old parts that used to be called Uplanden (the higher or upper land). In this area we find the impressive ridge/mountain Kinnekulle, and accidentally the village and church of Husaby, at which location the first Svea (or Swedish) Christian king Olof Skötkonung was baptized. Kinnekulle is a hill or ridge in the province of Westrogothia, Sweden located at the eastern shore of the lake Vänern. ... Husaby, near Kinnekulle, is a village in the province of Westrogothia, Sweden. ... The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written Messiah), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح). ... Coin minted for Olof Skötkonung Olof of Sweden, Olof the Tax-king, Olof Skötkonung or Skautkonung, the first Christian king in Sweden, reigned between 995 and 1022. ... Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism. ...

Additionally, they also held the view that Västergötland and the region of Lake Vänern was in fact the land of Sithun, translated to modern day language as Sigtuna, where Odin and his Aesir companions supposedly settled when they came to Scandinavia. Lake Vänern Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, and the third largest lake in Europe, covering an area of 5,655 km². Its main tributary is Klarälven, which flows into the lake near the city of Karlstadt. ... This article treats the town and municipality of Sigtuna. ... For other meanings of Odin and Wotan see Odin (disambiguation) Odin (Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden) is usually considered the supreme god of Germanic and Norse mythology. ... The Aesir (Old Norse Æsir, singular Áss, feminine Ásynja, feminine plural Ásynjur) are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology. ... Scandinavia is the cultural and historic region of the Scandinavian Peninsula. ...

Advocates

Amongst its advocates may be mentioned Pehr Tham, from 1811 a member of Götiska förbundet who during the 19th century unsuccessfully tried to promote the view that the village Sätuna in Västergötland should have represented Old Sigtuna, and that the town of Birka related in ancient sources also were located in Västergötland, most likely by Lake Hornborgasjön. He is often denoted as "the last of the Rudbeckians". 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Fornsigtuna (forn means ancient), Old Sigtun, Sithun, Sign(h)ildsberg or Signesberg is located in the parish of Håtuna ca 4 km west of the modern town of Sigtuna, by lake Mälaren, in Sweden. ... Townsite of Birka Archaeological excavation at Birka Birka  listen , also Birca and Bierkø (today named Björkö, literally Birch Island), was an important trading center in the Baltic Sea region from the 8th century, which handled goods from Eastern Europe and the Orient, possibly as far as China, thus covering... Olaus Rudbeckius, senior or (1630-1702), Swedish scientist and writer, professor of medicine at Uppsala University and for several periods rector magnificus (headmaster) of the same university. ...

Another enthusiast was the very thorough Carl-Otto Fast—the one that forced the proof of the well in Gamla Uppsala to be disclosed. Despite eager disapproval of the scholars of the time, Fast enforced an endo-chronological examination of the oak tree wood inside of the supposed holy well of Urd found at the kings' mounds in Gamla Uppsala. The king of Sweden accommodated the request in 1946, and the wood was proven to be cut down around 1654 AD—not nearly old enough to have been placed in an original holy well. The Well of Urd is from Norse Mythology as the well in Asgard which fed one of the roots of the Yggdrasil. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

See Uppsala for the modern Swedish city. This article is about the modern city of Uppsala. ...

Ubsola, mythical seat of the Sveas of old Sweden

Upsalum, or Ubsola, is the name stated as the main cult center of pagan (heathen) Ása-faith in ancient Scandinavia and Sweden, generally translated into modern day language as Uppsala. This is where the supposed 'golden covered temple' should have been located, as described amongst others by Adam of Bremen and Snorri Sturluson. Pagan may refer to: A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism. ... Adam of Bremen (also: Adam Bremensis) was one of the most important German medieval chroniclers. ... Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ...

The general opinion is that the origin of the tribe of Suiones (usually only called Swedes in English), as well as the ancient pagan Ása cult and Temple at Uppsala sites, were located in Gamla Uppsala, Old Uppsala, in the county of Uppland. An opposing belief however states that the original site for the pagan Ása-temple was not located there, but instead in the county of Västergötland, in western Sweden, which was named after a different tribe, the Geats. Suiones, Swedes, Svíar or Svear, were an ancient Germanic tribe in Scandinavia. ... The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ... Uppland is the name of a geographical region in Sweden, which can refer to: Uplandia, or Uppland - a historical Province of Sweden Uppsala County, or Uppsala län - a current County of Sweden Part of Stockholm County, or Stockholms län - a current County of Sweden Part of Västmanland County or Västmanlands... Geats (Gautar Old Norse or Götar in Swedish) is the Old English spelling of the name of a Scandinavian people living in Götaland, land of the Geats, currently within the borders of modern Sweden. ...

This article discloses some interesting points raised by non-scholars about the possibility of keeping a wider scope for finding the "truth" behind the myths—in essence, whether the original site of the Ása cult was really Uppsala in Uppland, Sweden (the Svealand theory), or if Ubsola was located elsewhere (e.g. in Västergötland, according to the Götaland theory).

The Svealand theory

Whereas there exist several places in Sweden bearing the name Uppsala, the original seating of the tribe of Suiones as well as the mythic place for the old Swedish pagan culture of the Aesir, is mostly believed to have been located in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), just outside the modern city of Uppsala. This belief may be referred to as the Svealand theory.

Among the proponents of this theory, a debate is held as to whether the heathen temple was located in Gamla Uppsala, or in Uppsala.

Main arguments for placing Ubsola in Uppland

Generally, this is based upon the following facts:

1. Gamla Uppsala holds several mounds, of which the most famous, the three great mounds known as the kings' mounds are visible from far away. These are said to be the mounds of three famous mythological kings, Ane (Aun), his son Egil—also known as Ongentheow and sometimes Angantyr—(father of Ottar and Ale), Adils (Ottar's son), living sometimes around 450–550 A.D.
2. Also, it is an indisputable fact that the county of Uppland holds several findings from around the 10th and 11th century A.D. that indicates that a kingdom was ruled from here.
3. Furthermore, an often named place in the myths and sagas is Fyris Wolds, a vast field near the temple site of Uppsala. The river passing the modern city Uppsala is in fact called Fyrisån, the Fyris River. Fyris survives as the name of mediaeval royal estate on the location and in the names of two small lakes. The application of the form to the river, is however from the 17th century.
4. In Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, the Ynglinga saga being part of the history of ancient Norwegian kings, the place Ubsola (Upsalum) is said to be located by the lake Lagen/Logen, which Snorri means should be the lake Mälaren, dividing Uppland and Södermanland and hosting the capital of Sweden, Stockholm, at its eastern shores. The ancestor of the Ynglinga family is said to be Frey, the God that came to Scandinavia together with Odin. When Odin found the place to be, he named that country (or place, castle, town...) Sigtuna. In the days of Snorri, this town existed (and is archeologically proven to have existed around 1000 A.D.) to the north of Mälaren.
5. The same location is pointed out by Adam of Bremen, who was a bishop in Hamburg that wrote the history of the domain of northern Europe, including Scandinavia until Lund was given an archbishop seat in the 12th century. However, he did not explicitly state that the temple was located in Uppland.

Adam of Bremen relates the missionary Ansgar who is said to have visited the trade town Birka, located not far from Upsalum and Sigtunir (Sigtuna). Hrolf Kraki fleeing the Swedish king Adils on the Fýrisvellir Fyrisvellir, Fyris Wolds or Fyrisvallarna was the marshy plain (vellir) south of Gamla Uppsala where travellers had to leave the ships and walk to the Temple at Uppsala and the hall of the Swedish king. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The Ynglinga saga or Ynglingesaga, was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225 CE. He based it on an earlier Ynglingatal which is attributed to the Norwegian 10th century skald Tjodolf of Hvin, and which also appears in Historia Norwegiae. ... This article is a list of rulers of Norway up until the present, including: The Norwegian kingdom (with the Faroe Islands) The Union with Iceland and Greenland (1262-1814) The Norwegian kingdom (with Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands 1262-1814) The Union of Sweden and Norway (1319-1343) The... Mälaren is the third largest lake in Sweden, after lakes Vänern and Vättern. ... Note: This page contains IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Ansgar, etching by Hugo Hamilton (1830) Ansgar, Anskar or Oscar, (September 8?, 801 - February 3, 865) was an Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. ...

The Götaland theory

An intense opposing interest from non-scholars from Västergötland have long tried to present indications, and evidence, for placing the ancient Ubsola not in Uppland, but in the county of Västergötland. This theory might, with correspondence to the above used headline, be called the Götaland theory. Historically, stemming from the 19th century, these theories have been referred to as Västgötaskolan (lit., the school of Västergötland origins for ancient Sweden). Some adherents to Västgötaskolan are conspiracy theorists, accusing the academic scholars of lying and falsifying for example documents and runic stones to disprove Västgötaskolan theories.

Opposing notes of interest for not placing Ubsola in Uppland

Several interesting notes have been raised against the common theory of Svealand being the ancient home of Sveas and the Ása cult, e.g. the following: Svealand is a historical region of Sweden. ...

The original advocates for the Götaland theory are willing to seek evidence for Västergötland, and the Lake Väner region in particular, to be the origin of both the different people called Sveas, Danes and Goths/Geats/Götar, and furthermore the location of all ancient myths, including Odin's Sithun (Sigtuna), Valhall, the ashtree Yggdrasil etc. and myths of e.g. Helge Hundingsbane and Sigurd Fafnersbane. The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... Öland is an island in the Baltic Sea. ... Lake Vänern Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, and the third largest lake in Europe, covering an area of 5,655 km². Its main tributary is Klarälven, which flows into the lake near the city of Karlstadt. ... Fornsigtuna (forn means ancient), Old Sigtun, Sithun, Sign(h)ildsberg or Signesberg is located in the parish of Håtuna ca 4 km west of the modern town of Sigtuna, by lake Mälaren, in Sweden. ... For other uses see Valhalla (disambiguation). ... Yggdrasil In Norse Mythology, Yggdrasil (also Mimameid and Lerad) was the World tree, a gigantic tree, thought to connect all the nine worlds of Norse cosmology. ... Helgi Hundingsbane/Hundingsbani was a hero in the Norse sagas. ...

Conclusions

Naturally, to hold any view at all regarding the existence, first, and the location, second, of these ancient places of cult and religion, one has to be very well read of the actual historical sources, and of the findings in archeological and linguistic science being conducted over the years.

From a scientific viewpoint, the content of old myths and sagas cannot be held as historically valid sources. For one thing, they are written down centuries after they are supposed to have happened, following oral traditions that at best have added some flavour to the original tales—if there are any real matter to them at all. More often, the tales have lent from one another and the final versions are likely to contain additions that can only render them untrustworthy as historical sources. They can, however, disclose elements that have bearing and references in known and alleged sources from other parts of Europe, and hence some traces of the original (again, if they ever existed) deeds and people may be identified from them. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

Especially, the story of Odin and the Aesir's emigration according to the Ynglinga saga is generally considered invalid by the official views and scholars. Other parts of the extensive work of Snorri Sturluson (and other saga writers) may however be considered valid references for finding elements of the ancient history of Scandinavian people and their religious customs and beliefs. The Ynglinga saga or Ynglingesaga, was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225 CE. He based it on an earlier Ynglingatal which is attributed to the Norwegian 10th century skald Tjodolf of Hvin, and which also appears in Historia Norwegiae. ...

Official view on the location of Ubsola, ancient Uppsala

Not much attention have been paid from the scholars as to whether there could be any bearing in the reflections made and the arguments raised by the Götaland theory. There are as of today very little archeological findings to support the idea that Västergötland should hold the original site of Ubsola.

It is quite clear, however, that from 700 AD and mainly 800–900 AD the town of Birka was surrounded by a strong settlement of Viking era Sveas. The big question is whether they originated in Uppland, or if they originated in the oldest agricultural areas in Sweden, the Väner area in Västergötland. As of today, the official view stands unchanged: Ubsola was located in Uppland.

See also

• Lands of Sweden, History of Sweden