Priscus at the court of Attila the Huns

[Delodephius]

Do you believe that when studying history one should take sides?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Im Turkic, you are Slavic and Voltron is Hellenic, the best way to describe ourselves, in any case you disagree you might have a ID crisis.

Actually, you're banned, I am still here, and your multiple personality named Voltron is hanging on by a deluded thread. The only person that has/had an identity crisis here was yourself.

[Onur]

Do you believe that when studying history one should take sides?

The thing here is; while you are reading or studying something, you are actually taking someone`s side even against your own desire. That`s why we have a method called comparative history.

[Delodephius]

The thing here is; while you are reading or studying something, you are actually taking someone`s side even against your own desire. That`s why we have a method called comparative history.

Yes, that's basic. I was talking about something else, like why do you hate Romans and Westerners in general?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Onur - Slovak does make a point here, as you often criticise western Europeans, irrespective of the period of time in question. Would be interested in your answer. You two are like complete opposites - have you discussed what Slovak's thoughts are with regard to Attila? Bound for more debate no doubt. My opinion probably rests somewehere in the middle (with regard to Attila).

[Onur]

I don't hate western Europeans and i absolutely have no problem with ordinary western Europeans. I just don't like the classical western European dogmas and ideologies which was invented during Roman era with their church`s false propaganda and these dogmas are still represented today by Vatican, European Union, Bilderberg group (the inventors of today`s EU) and their eurocrats. I don't like their egoistic, imperialistic, ethnocentric ideologies either, which based on despise everything and everyone who doesn't belong them or who doesn't serve them within their ideological sphere. Btw, i am not alone on this or i am not like that just because i am Turkish. If you noticed, all the sources i wrote here are from western sources again. I am also ideologically closer to the eurosceptics and patriots in western Europe who are also against to the dogmas of Brussels. I am closer to them ideologically even tough they have some anti-Turkish thoughts. I am talking about reasonable patriots in western Europe like Madame Le Pen, not the fascist idiots like in Austria, Holland, Germany. I find them closer to the eurocrats of Brussels.


Yes, in that sense, me and Mr. Slovak can be considered as complete opposites. He considers himself European citizen, i believe nations and we have other contradictions like that. But this is not a problem for me, in fact, it`s useful to involve in an ideological clash with someone who are completely opposite to you.


I have no idea whats his opinion about Attila but i gotta remind you that Attila is an inspiring leader for several nations like Hungary and Turkey. He is also the biggest conqueror along with Alexander since he subjugated vast territories from the great wall of China to the Paris, France, Morea to the south, Siberia to the north. Also he was the one who defeated both eastern and western Romans.

[Delodephius]

There is a difference between not liking something and investing emotions into that dislike.

What I hate is that I have drawn myself into a debate with Onur. Through my stupidity and negligence and most of all lack of patience and control I allowed myself to respond to Onur's posts, something I curse myself for. I have sunk so low I am ashamed of it and I see my actions here as a failure. I wish I have just kept my mouth shut the first time I found something in his posts that I disagree with and just walked away. Instead I have caused Onur to draw conclusions about me and what he thinks I believe in, which I know are untrue, yet I lack the skill to respond to that properly. So with what dignity I have left I will restrain myself the best I can to ever respond to one of his posts again, but lord knows I tried before. However, due to major changes going in my life right now I am not surprised I lost focus before, yet I have hopes that from what I have experienced in these last few weeks and what awaits me for the months to come, I'll have enough strength to restrain myself this time and thus keep the promise I made here.

[Onur]

Ehmm, you confused me Mr. Slovak. I don't know what kind of conclusion i should draw from your response.

Maybe you think like you lack skills to respond properly to me but you make me kinda sad with your response above. Whats so bad about involving a discussion with me? Yes, i might be a pain in the ass sometimes if i debate something with someone but i am no evil!!!

[Delodephius]

Discussing with you is just not a worthwhile investment of time and effort. There is nothing interesting that you offer. To me your posts are just things that need to be corrected, and doing that is not something I like doing. I hate pointing out people's mistakes, and I hate myself when I do it nonetheless.

"To be just an average historian one first has to be a brilliant philosopher." I coined that. To me philosophy, particularly ethics, are the most important thing in life. History comes after that, and after languages. Without having advanced knowledge of everything else one should study or teach history only as a hobby and only with great scepticism. I do not take my knowledge of history seriously enough to discuss it with someone who forces me to question the validity of that knowledge. It is just not worth the effort I am willing to invest.

[Onur]

You make me feel same towards you too since you were never able to give me proper answer or never asked a proper question either. It`s clear that you are not in the forum to discuss your theories but you only interest to spread it.

So, we are back to square one. From now on, ignore me as you said b4. I already asked you to do that but you couldn't. For me, it`s just doesn't worth to speak with you either.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Ok, so we're all friends again now? Lol.

[Delodephius]

I learn things on my own, not through debates. And once I learn them I preach. That is how I do things. I don't have the talent to do it any other way.

I have no enemies, SoM. :-)

[Delodephius]

I made a new video, this time a sample of Old Saxon (Old Low German) from mid 9th century AD.

‪Heliand, Lord's Prayer - Old Saxon‬‏ - YouTube

[Onur]

This is a documentary about pre-christianity beliefs of the Europeans, mainly Germanic people. Animism, shamanism and paganism in general;


Episode 1 | Sexy Beasts
Looks back to a time before sex was taboo, when humans saw themselves as an integral part of the natural world.

Through history and prehistory, the representations of the ancient gods and traditions followed by pagans have been marred by propaganda from other religious groups eager to rein in those they defined as 'wild barbarians'. In truth, the word pagan is a Roman term meaning 'country folk', and the general concept of paganism is of oneness with nature and a quest to fully understand the world around us.

Though historical accounts lead us to images of stone dildo-wielding women flashing their genitals at cattle, chieftains having sex with horses before slaughtering them and whipping sessions in mixed saunas, the underlying theme is of human similarity with animals and nature. Where modern religion aims to emphasise the difference between humans and the world around us, portraying sexuality as taboo, the ancient pagan perspective blurs these boundaries and explores all the elements of the world on equal terms.;
Pagans - Sexy Beasts 1/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Sexy Beasts 2/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Sexy Beasts 3/3 - YouTube




Episode 2 | Magic Moments
Today magic is used as a form of entertainment. It still thrills us to see an apparently impossible phenomenon happen before our eyes. Reaching back through to prehistoric times, the pagan magicians, who could conjure material from nothing or predict the future, would almost certainly have been held in the highest regard.

They would not have been tricksters like the conjurers of today. In historic and prehistoric times, it would have taken great knowledge to understand the seasons, through their relationship to solstice. Predicting this yearly cycle would have been crucial to the agricultural societies of the time - a science to those who understood, but magic to those who didn't.

The fine art of producing the first bronze artefacts would also have been greatly respected. The ability to produce a knife from an ore is still magical, even though we now understand the chemistry. As for drug-induced shamans talking to the spirits, they must have appeared exceptionally powerful.;
Pagans - Magic Moments 1/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Magic Moments 2/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Magic Moments 3/3 - YouTube




Episode 3 | Band of Brothers
According to Roman records, the Iron Age Celtic peoples of Britain consisted of war-like tribes - but this could well be propaganda of the age. In 43 AD, as now, invaders found ways of justifying their subjugation of the native people whose country they colonised and whose land they took. Whatever the reality, the image of rough, heavy-drinking hooligans and evil barbarians is what we have been left with.

Pagan society in the Iron Age was certainly based on a strong system of tribal groups controlling different parts of the country, each with its own warrior class. However the accusations of barbarism could equally be a stereotyped reaction against these 'uncivilised' cultures.

The truth is that, though bands of fighting men may well have dominated much of society, the basis of a proto-democracy was also in action. Community leaders had to demonstrate that they were worthy of the role, and some needed to canvass support from surrounding groups to hold power. The economy relied heavily on well-established trade routes and, for the pagan Britons of the time, the system worked fine before the Empire stepped in.;
Pagans - Band of Brothers 1/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Band of Brothers 2/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Band of Brothers 3/3 - YouTube




Episode 4 | Sacred Landscape
A strong pagan belief is that the natural world is embedded in all of us. One method of defining the landscape is by building monuments. The construction of tombs at the boundaries of territory illustrates to outsiders that the area is rightfully yours, since it belonged to your ancestors. A succession of ritual monuments known throughout prehistoric Europe, from wooden trackways to henges (stone or wooden circles), suggest the strong influence of altering the landscape as a way of defining territory within the pagan belief system.

So what happens when people cannot lay claim to their territory by marking it with the graves or other signs that their ancestors lived there? In 874 AD Viking leader Ingolfur Arnarson threw two lengths of timber into the sea and swore that he would settle where they came ashore. They landed at the site of present day Reykjavik in Iceland. At the time the island had virtually no links with any past society, but this last new pagan European society survived because its members lived with the natural world rather than fighting against the harsh terrain. By 940 Iceland witnessed the first parliament of leaders in a pagan general assembly at a time when the rest of Europe was gradually becoming Christian.;
Pagans - Sacred Landscape 1/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Sacred Landscape 2/3 - YouTube
Pagans - Sacred Landscape 3/3 - YouTube

[Onur]

Terry Jones' Barbarians, "The End of the World";
Around 400 AD, two Barbarian babies were born. One would grow up to become the most feared of all - Attila the Hun. The other, Geiseric, led the Vandals whom history has cast as destroyers. Jones claims that Roman civilization wasn't destroyed by the invasion of these tribes, but by the loss of the North African tax base. He sees the common view of Rome and "Barbarians" as a result of the Roman Catholic Church popularizing the Roman version of the truth.

The End of the World 1/4 - YouTube

The End of the World 2/4 - YouTube

The End of the World 3/4 - YouTube

The End of the World 4/4 - YouTube