#sibbe

Doing some drawing on the subject of my book helps me visualize what’s in my mind. This is a drawing of “de kleine sibbe”, the small Germanic house near lacus Flevum where the protagonist of my story grew up….

Concept of a Sibbe

One's own sibbe/clan was the most important aspect in the life of a Germanic. The word itself comes from a proto-Germanic term Sebjo which refers to a band of people bound by a treaty or oath. A sibbe did not necessarily just consist of people who were related by blood. 

A sibbe was a community of people which usually included no more than 50 families. This community was everything in the eyes of a Germanic. The source of one's energy, purpose and goals was not directed by the Gods but the sibbe in which the person lived. To be banned from their sibbe because of a crime was one of the worst punishments possible. 

The sibbe also determines the characteristics of the people living in it. Each sibbe had their own special focus per example: courage, poetry, justice, jurisdiction. The kind of work you did, all depended on the focus of your own sibbe. 

Each individu in a sibbe lived to honour their sibbe by his/her deeds. Even one's morality was determined by their sibbe and not by their own morality. Honour was very important as noticed in the Havamal: "Cattle die, kinsmen die the self must also die. I know one thing which never dies, the reputation of each dead man"

The construct of a sibbe also has a weakness. One's bad deed could bring down the reputation of an entire sibbe. Some concepts of a sibbe were adopted by Christianity per example, cheating was a punishable crime, homosexuality was seen as unclean, bastard children were seen as unlucky and a shame in the family. France per example, which was former Celtic territory, did not shame their bastard children.

The whole concept of a sibbe was either introduced in Western and Northern Europe by the proto-indo Europeans in the bronze age or a concept which started with the practice of agriculture. The whole idea of a clan working together in order to maximize the chances of survival is actually much older and dates back to paleolithic times. Even the Neanderthals lived in small communities. 

Another important aspect of living in such a close community is ancestor worship, which actually predates the worship of any God. I will also write an article about ancestor worship because it is closely connected to the whole idea of a sibbe and an incredibly important part of the Germanic faith. 

I have to add that these sibbe laws which were taken over by Christianity that I described, do not reflect the opinions of me about them. I have nothing against homosexuality or bastard children. I'm merely just describing the situation 2000 years ago. 

An oldie but a goody, here’s Sibbe (as a Vampirate for Halloween)

DOS2 armor slaps lmfao not a scrap of it protects anything vital, not even her knees are spared!