The Eow or Auiones (*Awioniz meaning "iland folk") were one of the Nerthus-worshipping teutonish folk spoken of by Tacitus in Teutonland, and this folk most likely lived on Öland (Kendrick 1930:71).
- After the Langobardi come the Reudigni, Auiones, Angli, Varni, Eudoses, Suarines and Nuithones all well warded by eas and wolds. There is nothing outstanding about any of these folks unless it be the shared worship of Nerthus, that is Earth Mother. They believe she is beredesome in men's doings and works among them. On an iland in the great sea there is a holy grove wherein sits a holy wain, hidden by a cloth. (Teutonland)
Schütte (English) bemarks that they are spoken of in Widsith as Eowan. It is not only the meaning Iland dwellers that links them to the iland Öland (meaning "Iland land"), but also the Old English name for the iland which was Eowland (spoken of by Wulfstan of Hedeby), "the land of the Eowan".
Stems[]
- Kendrick, T.D. (1930), A History of the Vikings, New York, Charles Scribner's Sons.(English)