Goths

a Germanic tribe. The Goths became established on the Lower Danube in the third century. An earlier home has been assigned them, not with certainty, however, on the shores of the Baltic. The king of Sweden is styled "King of the Swedes and the Goths." The Goths are described by writers of the time as tall, athletic men, with fair complexions, blue eyes, and light hair, not unlike many Scandinavians of the present day. The Goths invaded the Roman Empire at various times. They became converted to Arian Christianity. Historically, about 369 they divided into Visigoths, or western Goths, and the Ostrogoths, or east Goths. The Ostrogoths settled on the Black Sea; the Visigoths, on the Danube. A portion of the Bible was translated into the Gothic language by the great Visigothic apostle, Ulfilas. Six different manuscripts have been found. One of these is now possessed by the University of Upsala, Sweden. It is a beautiful parchment, written in letters of gold and silver. From a literary point of view, as well, it is considered one of the most precious treasures in the possession of any library. It is the oldest known literary fragment in a Germanic language. It is studied by scholars who desire to know what the Germanic language was like at that early day. The Visigoths migrated westward and formed a kingdom in southern France and Spain. Later, the Ostrogoths for a time established a kingdom in Italy. The pointed style of buildings used very generally in the noted cathedrals of Europe is called Gothic architecture. See Theodoric; Alaric; Rune; Arianism