Here is a passage from "The Forest in Folklore and Mythology" by Alexander Porteous, referring to about the 1st CentAD, perhaps after Tacitus:
*Within the sacred groves of Germany the natives kept their battle standards, which appear to have been images of wild animals, or, perhaps, of the whole animal, and it is considered that they were representative of their deity, as it was held to be degrading to the latter to represent him in human form, or to confine him within walls. When a war was about to be waged these images were brought froth from the grove and carried before the army*
It seemed to me that this might be the earliest reference to the "Wappentier" or heraldic-beast, in regards to the Germans.
One might assume that the raven or wolf would be for Woden, the boar for Frey, and so forth - as per Voelkerwanderung and Viking boar-crested helms.
I had a volume of "Wappengilde" which had Crusader Era great-helms with all sorts of outlandish beast upon the top.
Any thoughts guys?
JH
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