↟ This is Scandinavia ↟

The North, The land and the people beyond the Northern Wind, Thule, Hyperborea – Scandinavia has since ancient times been mythical and unexplored.

❄️ Scandinavians was first mentioned by the greek historian Herodotos, who writes about Aristeas -a poet who lived 700BC. He told he had ventured the North which he called Hyperborea, and met the people who he called “Hyperboreans” or “The people North of the northern Wind”. This people is described to be quite tall with light skin and hair. They lived with harsh winters and decended from the northern wind itself, and are identified as today’s native Scandinavians.

❄️ Herodotos mention a snow nymph whom also decended from the northern wind -Skaði from Old Norse mythology. Skaði is the mythical goddess of the wilderness who hunts in the Scandinavian mountains Scandes, with a bow and cross-country skis. She lived among frost giants in Trymheim and Jotunheim, and the giant Tjasse is her father.

❄️ Skandin-av/skandinav means Skaði’s people. “Skaði” in particular means injury or harm and the name has the same etymology origin as the English “scatche”. Scandinavian winters can be both wild, brutal and untamed -just like Skaði. Scandinavia can be referred to “Dangerous Island” which is a good translation as it was very dangerous for southern people to travel to Scandinavia during winter.

❄️ Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian born 63BC, and other historians for a long time believed that Scandinavia was an island by southern people called Skaði’s island. Therefore the name Scania which is the origin of southern parts in Sweden.

❄️ The North Germanic ethnic groups that inhabits Scandinavia to this day and the countries that includes in present day in Scandinavia is Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The countries that includes in the Scandinavian Peninsula is Sweden, Norway and the northwest areas of Finland. Let us face ourselves. We are Hyperboreans. Beyond the north, ice, and death. Our life, our happiness. Beautiful satellite photo over Scandinavia taken in February 2003 (clouds are unfortunately covering major parts of Denmark).

↟ We are the North – This is Scandinavia ↟