"Brit-Am Now"-363
February 19, 2004
Contents:
1. Tribes and Animal Symbols
2. Tribal Identifications: Benjamin in Norway?
3. Richard Griffin: Beserker warriors and the tribe of Benjamin
4. Brit-Am Needs
5. Dan-Tanais-Denmark
1. Tribes and Animal Symbols
According to the Midrash each tribe had its own animal symbol. In certain
circumstances
the animal symbol of one tribe could be used by another.
In addition indications are that some clans within a certain tribe would
use their own animal symbol which
could be different from that of the Tribe itself.
We are not sure in most cases what the symbol for each tribe was:
Some tribes seem to have had two symbols a main one (denoted by (1)) and a
secondary one (2).
Here is a rough list to work on but take it as only a tentative suggestion:
Reuben - a bear (?)
Simeon - (1) ? and (2) a bull
Levi -
Judah - a lion
Issachar- a donkey
Zebulon - a fish (?)
Gad - (1) Goat (or young horned sheep?) & (2) a lion
Asher
Joseph - a bull & (2) a sheep
Ephraim - (1) bull-calf and (2) a lion
Manasseh - (1) a unicorn an (2) eagle (?)
Benjamin- a wolf
Dan - (1) a snake (or dragon, or griffin, or eagle), & (2) a lion
Naphtali - (1) a deer or hind.
2. Tribal Identifications: Benjamin in Norway?
We hold that the Normans who conquered England were from Benjamin. They may
have come mainly from Norway but our understanding is that they different
from the rest of the Norwegians.
A supporter of ours, Bjorn-Olaf Hagensen, agrees with us though he says
that in some provinces of Norway, in his opinion, Benjamin is still prominent.
On the whole we believe that Norway is dominated by Naphtali but most
researchers in this field identify Norway with Benjamin.
see the note by Richard Griffin below:
3. Richard Griffin: Beserker warriors and the tribe of Benjamin
The History Channel aired a segment on unconventional warfare methods used
throughout history. The Beserker warriors of Norway were given honorable
mention. Several Scandinavian scholars discussed their unorthodox warfare
methods that included dressing in wolves and bear skins and not in armor,
and then howling like wolves before fearlessly charging their
opponents. The English work Beserk derives from these terrifying
warriors. Of interest to those that believe the Tribe of Benjamin migrated
into Scandinavia is the reference to a particular totem-animal that would
become associated with their tribe in
<http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=Gen&chapter=49&verse=27&version=kjv>Gen
49:27 Benjamin shall ravin [as] a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the
prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
Is it just a coincidence or have we stumbled across the wolf-tracks of the
sons of Benjamin?
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Berserker-(viking)
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/>Encyclopedia: Berserker (viking)
Berserkers (or Berserks) were ferocious
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Norsemen>Norse warriors who had
sworn allegiance to <http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Viking>Viking
god <http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Odin>Odin. They worked
themselves into murderous fury before a battle.
The term berserker comes from Norse "baresark", meaning "bear shirt".
However, it could also be translated as "naked shirt" (i.e., no shirt).
The origin of berserkers is unknown, although
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Tacitus>Tacitus mentions groups
of Germanic warriors with berserk-like fury.
It appears that berserkers were religiously-inspired warbands or warrior
societies. <http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Saga>Sagas mention
berserker gangs with twelve members where new applicants had to go through
a ritualistic or real fight to be accepted. Some berserks also took names
with bj³¶rn or biorn in them in reference to a bear.
Berserker bands' fearsome reputation and the sight of raging warriors
charging headlong into battle surely had a demoralizing effect on the
opposition. However, allies were wary of them as well because berserkers
could decide to pillage a friendly village on their own and rape their women.
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Snorri-Sturluson>Snorri Sturluson
mentions berserkers in Egilssaga, Hrolf's Saga and Ynglingasaga. Many sagas
describe berserkers as villains who kill, loot, and plunder
indiscriminately.
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Erik-the-Red>Erik the Red might
have been a berserk.
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Harald-I-of-Norway>Harald
Finehair, founder of kingdom of
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Norway>Norway, used shock troops
of berserker warriors. Grettirssaga tells that those warriors were
ulfhedinn or "wolf-coats", meaning that they wore wolf skins.
Many northern kings used berserkers as part of their army of hirthmen and
sometimes equivalent to a royal bodyguard. It may be that at least some of
those warriors just adopted the organization or rituals of berserk warbands
or used the name as a deterrent or claim of their ferocity. It is doubtful
any king would have accepted a band of homicidal maniacs as his closest men.
In 1015 King Erik of
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Norway>Norway outlawed
berserkers. <http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Iceland>Icelandic
Christian law banned berserkers as heathens and sentenced them to outlawry.
By the 1100's organized berserker warbands had disappeared.
Berserkers are reported to have worn bearskins in battle thick fur would
have worked as leather armor. Bear worship was not unusual in northern
Germanic areas. "Possessed" by the spirit of the bear, they might have
believed they had its the strength and ferociousness and could even take
the animal's shape. In that respect, they are basis of fantasy characters
like Beorn in the
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Lord-of-the-Rings>Lord of the Rings.
Warriors of the
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Varangian>Varangian Guard (Norse
warriors working for
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Byzantine-Empire>Byzantine
Empire) also followed bear rituals.
Berserkers fought with crazed or drugged strength, heedless of danger. They
worked themselves up into a bloodlust berserker rage - before battles,
banging their helmets with their weapons, biting their shields, and
howling. They were said to be immune to pain (or even immune to weapons) in
battle. In their fury they would attack their enemies but also everything
else in their path, sometimes even their own people and allies.
Theories to explain berserker behavior
Proponents of the drug theory favor ergotism or the use of the fly agaric
mushroom. Drunken rage would do as well. It is also possible that
berserkers worked themselves into their frenzy through purely psychological
processes i.e., frenzied rituals and dances. According to
<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Saxo-Grammaticus>Saxo Grammaticus
they also drank bear or wolf blood.
Berserk rage called berserkerganga could also happen in a middle of daily
work. It began with shivering, chattering of the teeth, and chill in the
body. The face swelled and changed its color. Next came great rage,
howling, and indiscriminate brawling. When the rage quelled, berserker was
exhausted and dull of mind possibly for several days. According to sagas,
many of their enemies exploited this stage to get rid of them.
>
U.S. professor Jesse L. Byock claims (in Scientific American, 1995) that
berserker rage could have been a symptom of Paget's Disease. Uncontrolled
skull bone growth could have caused painful pressure in the head. He
mentions the unattractive and large head of Egill Skallagrimsson in
Egilssaga. Other possibilities are mild epilepsy and hysteria.
Today the word "berserker" applies to anyone who fights with reckless
abandon and disregard to even his own life i.e., "goes berserk".
4. Brit-Am Needs:
Brit-Am needs money for several obvious reasons including:
Day to day functioning the same as any business, research body, or
charitable institute.
rent, electricity, etc.
In addition we also employ from time to time people to help us with
research, transcribe sources, translate sources,
general office work, etc. In the past I would do everything myself and
still do more than 90% of it but employing others helps
free time and energy to concentrate on areas that others cannot really work
in and that are more vital to Brit-Am.
We also need money to advertise and to publish and to remove debts
accumulated in the early stages of our
enterprise when very few recognized us. The sums concerned in this matter
and all the other points are not enormous
but they are significant and taken together with everything else they add up.
We hope to begin advertising our works both in Hebrew and English.
We should be placing more emphasis on the Hebrew-speaking sector
but need some finance in this regard.
We also want to advertise Brit-Am more in English.
With the relatively little we have received until now we have done
reasonably well on most points
and made progress as well as preparing a foundation that can be relied upon.
Brit-Am has the following unique characteristics:
a. We are in Israel, Jewish, and use Hebrew sources.
b. We have revealed Some Scriptural Insights of our own and access to
others that otherwise may not have come to light.
c. We have Research advantages in the general sphere. Through Divine
Providence and our own efforts we came up with valuable reliable
information on this subject
[Other researchers also have insights of great value and we acknowledge
their contributions. Not only that but through our
magazine, "Brit-Am Truth" we are providing a forum in which all the best
researchers will eventually come together.
We hope to put the magazine out frequently. At present we charge a
relatively high price and it still does not pay though it justifies itself
in other ways. In principle I would like, if it ever became possible, to
send the magazine out at a low price or even for free
to all those who may be interested in receiving it. ]
d. People identify with us who may not have felt easy identifying with others.
e. A functioning framework that has proven itself and could easily expand
quickly given the opportunity.
Some people do not like us. In a few cases this may be partially our fault.
A human organism is never perfect
and mistakes are almost inevitable. This factor makes our need for your
assistance even more important.
This is God's work. The Almighty helps us. People help us.
You too should help us if you can.
You should help us for Biblical religious reasons, patriotic purposes, and
your personal interest.
God bless you
Yair Davidiy
5. Dan-Tanais-Denmark
[Genesis 49:17] DAN SHALL BE A SERPENT BY THE WAY, AN ADDER IN THE PATH,
THAT BITETH THE HORSE HEELS, SO THAT HIS RIDER SHALL FALL
BACKWARD.
<<DAN SHALL BE A SERPENT BY THE WAY>>: Just as a snake leaves the sign of
his wriggling belly in the dust of the path over which he passes so too did
the Tribe of Dan leave the name of their forefather in the way they went.
[Joshua 19:47] AND THE COAST OF THE CHILDREN OF DAN WENT OUT TOO LITTLE FOR
THEM: THEREFORE THE CHILDREN OF DAN WENT UP TO FIGHT AGAINST LESHEM, AND
TOOK IT, AND SMOTE IT WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND POSSESSED IT, AND
DWELT THEREIN, AND CALLED LESHEM, DAN, AFTER THE NAME OF DAN THEIR FATHER.
[Judges 18:12] AND THEY WENT UP, AND PITCHED IN KIRJATHJEARIM, IN JUDAH:
WHEREFORE THEY CALLED THAT PLACE MAHANEH-DAN UNTO THIS DAY: BEHOLD, IT IS
BEHIND KIRJATHJEARIM.
<<MAHANEH-DAN>>: The Camp of Dan. The Danoi from Dan also invaded Greece.
Astor (Black Athena) suggested that the term Mycenae (a major center of
Classical Greece) derives from the Hebrew "Machaneh" or "encampment" as
in MAHANEH-DAN.
Danites also settled in south-east and southern Turkey (the Dannunnu) and
in Cyprus which was named Ydana or Isle of Dan.
[Judges 18:29] AND THEY CALLED THE NAME OF THE CITY DAN, AFTER THE NAME OF
DAN THEIR FATHER, WHO WAS BORN UNTO ISRAEL: HOWBEIT THE NAME OF THE CITY
WAS LAISH AT THE FIRST.
We see that dan had a habit of leading his namesake everywhere he went.
Don, Danaper (Dnieper), Danaster, and Danube, all bear witness to the
presence of Dan.
So does Denmark, and the Tuatha de Danaan (Tribe of Dan) in Irish Mythology
and the People of Don in Welsh tradition.
You have many place names containing the element Dan in Ireland as well as
the song "Danny Boy".
Tanais was a city (now called Azov) in southern Russia where the River Don
enters the sea of Azov which joins onto the Black Sea.
The people of Tanais were Scythians. Tanais was identified (by Snorre
Sturlasson) as Tanasvkil or Asgard where the ancestors of
the Scandinavians had once dwelt. the ancestors of the Scandinavians were
also the forefathers of the Angles and Saxons and related peoples.
We showed in our book "Origin" how in Tanais they revered "Joseph" and had
a whole cult centered around Joseph.
We based most of what we had written in that case on an academic paper by
Irma Hynaman.
We also showed how individual names from Tanais as well as Jewish tradition
proved the Don River to be the
Sambation River mentioned by the Talmud as one of the areas to which the
lost ten Tribes had moved to.
From this area in turn peoples moved into Western Europe.
An additional piece of information that may be of interest is that "Tanais"
was probably NOT the name the people
of that city originally employed for that center but rather the name had
been "Dan". "Tanais" is in effect a Greek
influenced version of the name "Danais".
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