#tamfana

[fernthewhimsical]

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[tamfana]

Tamfana

I wanted my first post on this blog to be related to the name of it, so I’m going to discuss the Goddess Tamfana first.

Tamfana is a Germanic Goddess of the Marsi Peoples. They settled between the Rhine, Lippe, and Danube. A feast to her was invaded and the events are detailed by Tacitus. Nobody was spared- women, children, elderly, or hale.

Her name has a few different etymological properties, the ones I prefer to use relate to “Tanne” and “Fanum”

Tanne is the word for Fir Tree in Dutch and German, and Fanum means a temple in Latin. We know Tacitus views these people through a Roman Lens, so it’s entirely possible that he is responsible for the addition of ‘Fanum’ (later shortened to Fana) to the original name of Tam or Tanne.

When we look at Tacitus' wording when mentioning Tamfana by name, he uses 'templum quod Tamfanae vocabant solo aequantur.' or 'the temple of Tamfana, as they called it, equalized (I.E, leveled to the ground.)' I'm of the personal speculation that he could have instead said 'templum quod Tam fanae', Templum being the nominative singular and Fanae being the plural. This interpretation of mine would suggest that there were many places where Tam was worshipped, but the passage refers to one of her temples that was destroyed. (or that the place where Tam was worshipped did not encapsulate only a temple, but lands around the temple, perhaps a sacred Grove.)

If we make the assumption that this observation is the truth, we can then make out a few things about her. She’s related to fir trees, her name is just Tanne or Tam, and it’s possible the song “O, Tannebaum” is or was about her at some point. Tannebaum just means Fir tree or Fir bundle. If we don't assume that her name is split strangely, we can still keep the Fir Tree part but we can add in the belief that she might be a goddess of Sacred Spaces, or have the ability to create sacred spaces.

Some other attestations include an now discredited poem discovered in the 1800s and claimed to hark from the 1300s (the man who 'discovered' it has been found lying about other anthropological finds) in which Tamfana is said to "send sheep overhead". There's an inscription of her name in Central Italy in Terni; Tamfanae Sacrum but I couldn't find photos of it online, and there's also a seal from 1336 that supposedly depicts her holding a fir branch, flanked by the sun and accompanied by a cat and an eagle (but this is thought to also be St. Brigid.)

Some other Scholars have tried their hand at different etymological interpretations, most of which resulting with meanings of fullness, bounty, expenditure, unthrifty, lavasciousness, feasting, stuffed (like a feeling after eating a large meal). Justus Lisipus, a sixteenth century scholar likened her name to the Celtic root 'Tan', meaning Fire.

The time of the massacre (and subsequent time of her feast) are said to have happened in autumn, furthering her possibility of being a Harvest Goddess. Some people today place her feast day on November first.

Tamfana is ultimately a mystery, as are most goddesses of the German Tribes. In short: Tamfana is represented by the Fir and by feasts, her feast day in in November, she's a goddess of abundance and fullness, and possibly of fire.

[coinandcandle]

Deity Guide - Tamfana

Tanfana (sometimes spelled Tamfana) is a Germanic Goddess. Not much is known about her, so this deity guide is going to look much different than my others.

Who is Tanfana?

The little that we do know about Tanfana comes from Tacitus’ writings in the context of the Romans attacking and destroying the Germanic tribe they called the Marsi. In this attack, the Romans destroyed a temple or shrine likely dedicated to this deity we call Tanfana.

If we’re being honest, there isn’t much reason to believe that Tanfana is even a goddess, considering the only evidence of this is the name.

The strongest evidence of Tanfana being a deity is also the name: Tan likely coming from the old Germanic word for pine; and Fan meaning Deity, however this theory was debunked by folklorist Jacob Grimm.

She was likely associated with water or nature. Jacob Grimm suggested that she may be an Old Germanic Mother-Goddess or an epithet for Perchta.

Others say she may have been a Goddess of the harvest or of bounty.

Modern Deity Work

Honestly, since there is so little known about Tanfana, I don’t have many sources for any type of offering.

If she is a water deity, you could offer her things from bodies of water similar to other water deities. Such as:

Shells

Fresh water

Fish

If the name is simply another epithet for Perchta, you could go off of deity guides for her.

Ultimately, if you're interested in learning more about this little-known deity, I would suggest you take a look at the section below or even try to reach out to Tanfana on your own, if you're comfortable with that.

References and Further Reading

Tanfana

Tamfana - Wikipedia

Tamfana - thimsternisse

[orderinthequartz]

I recently ordered a beautiful print of the Goddess Tamfana from Grace Palmer and set it up on a backdrop of scrap leather I had on hand. The leather happened to match the colors of Her hair and fringe perfectly. An offering bowl I’d picked up with Her in mind actually compliments the colors of the waters in the painting very well too. So, this altar came together surprisingly quickly.

I am fairly new to honoring Tamfana. Honestly, She had politely but firmly introduced Herself one night when I’d woken up and was thinking about the painting by Grace Palmer, which really spoke to me in a deep way. I explained that I was sworn to a Frisian God (Fosite) and checked in with Him before continuing with Her any further. But things turned out to be in order, and I now have an altar to Her.

Here is some gnosis and other thoughts that may or may not resonate for others: I personally see Her as a Goddess who is very wise in the ways of patterns. She can read the movements of leaves in the wind, the ripples and currents of waters, and can tell a person a great deal about their own history and wyrd. She sees clear answers and paths in that which seems obscure or abstract. 

In my experience so far, Tamfana seems to really like gold, especially beaten gold jewelry. I think Her people once made beautiful crafted pieces... this is an impression from interacting with Her.

From another person who did a reading for me, I gather that She could have ancient connections to aurochs and cattle... which were very much connected to prosperity in their day. For that reason, the leather felt very appropriate for Her altar. I am reminded a bit of both the Norse legend of how a cow is ultimately mother of us all, and likewise of a Frisian sculpture, “Us Mem” (Our Mother) by Gerhardus Jan Adema, which is a prominent sculpture of a cow located in the provincial capital of Ljouwert. 

Again, a lot of this is gnosis and/or personal extrapolation. I share these thoughts here since Tamfana probably does not yet have many people actively honoring Her. I hope that this situation will change over time. So far, I have found Her to be a remarkably sweet and astute Deity. She is very approachable. 

Here is some more information about Her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamfana

Hail to Tamfana, Goddess of waters!

[fieldsofstone]

To Tamfana

I call to Tamfana of the evergreen grove, granter of good, gracious one of fest and fair. The children of the ash are yours, O goddess, those bold ones who would thrive wherever they set their feet, those valiant, heedless ones, their warriors long dead, their gods long forgotten but for you, Tamfana. Once, long ago, your people fell to slaughter, your temple burnt to cinders, crushed to dust, but never did they yield--rather did they rise together, dreadful in battle, terrible in vengeance. Tamfana who never forgets, goddess firm and faithful, goddess of many blessings, I praise you.