Scyldings and Shields
Robert L. Ramsay
INTHE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF Names Dr. Kemp Malone, whose word is law in all, matters connected with Teutonic antiquity, has declared (p. 152) the utmost consideration that he believes me wrong a statement I made our first number 27): namely, Danish Scyldings got their name from shields. The explanation which proceeds to make his interesting and scholarly article has, confess, left puzzled as just where considers be mistaken. He tells us, of course Klaeber correctly pointed out edition Beowulf) Danes are repeatedly called poem by extension applied royal family, for whom signified descendants Scyld, traditional founder dynasty. But goes on say King Scyld was merely legendary figure, creation poets, who gave him ideal name, means 'shield,' an epithet signifying 'protector' people. So tribal does come shield after although perhaps over-hasty omitting certain steps its semantic development. What puzzles whether Malone blames those steps, or thinks about order Does really believe mythical all received then went to' call dynasty, finally nation, ancestor they had invented-and without giving thought fitness warlike people? That would imply, what can hardly believe, rejects usual such unhistorical ancestors eponyms. invention eponyms, i.e., names personages '\vhom were quite mistakenly supposed have been derived, whereas reverse actually case, world-
Names: A Journal of Onomastics