The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

When the modern day term “Gothic” is heard, images of gargoyles and vampires jump into our heads. What we do not consider is “Gothic” also refers to an extinct Germanic tribe, who spoke Goth, believed to be a family of the Indo-European East Germanic and Germanic Goths. They where also known as “Goths”. It split itself into two divisions, into Italy and Iberia, establishing the very powerful successor states the Roman Empire needed in the 5th and 6th centuries. Surprisingly the Gothic language can still be found where it is least expected.
Gothic was a language used throughout the mainland of Europe beginning around the 4th century. Wars and a massive conversion of the people into more of a Latin speaking Roman Catholic language showed a huge decline of the usage of the Goth language by the mid-6th century. Originally the Gothic language could be found throughout Europe between the 4th and 5th centuries, but was officially extinct by the 18th century.
One of the more lengthy texts is known mostly from Bishop Ulfila’s 4th century translation of the bible, “Codex Argenteus”. It was also known as the “Silver Book”. The full book no longer can be found.
The language itself exists in only fragments of text today. The biggest known to be written originally in the Gothic language is the “Skerreins” which are a few pages of commentary on the Gospel of John.
Unfortunately, there are simply not enough existing documents to completely reconstruct the “lost” language. In order to actually see one of the original fragments, one would have to visit the Caroline Rediva Library in Uppsala, Sweden where they have a permanent document on display. Go, gaze at the fragmented translation of the bible and wonder, wonder what time will tell for our own populations and cultures.