Mannus, according to the Roman writer Tacitus, was a figure in the creation myths of the Germanic tribes. Tacitus is the only source of these myths. This is a university textbook and exists in several variants printed for different major institutions. Reprinted 2007, .
Tacitus wrote that Mannus was the son of Tuisto and the progenitor of the three Germanic tribes Ingaevones, Herminones and Istvaeones. In discussing the German tribes, Tacitus wrote:Tacitus, Germania, chapter 2. Quoted in:
Several authors consider the name Mannus in Tacitus's work to stem from an Indo-European root.
The Latinized name is evidently a cognate of Proto-Germanic , 'man'.
Mannus again became popular in literature in the 16th century, after works published by Annius de Viterbo and Johannes Aventinus purported to list him as a primeval king over Germany and Sarmatia.
In the 19th century, F. Nork wrote that the names of the three sons of Mannus can be extrapolated as Ingui, Irmin, and Istaev or Iscio.Populäre Mythologie, oder Götterlehre aller Völker, p. 112, F. Nork, Scheible, Rieger & Sattler (1845) A few scholars like Ralph T. H. Griffith have expressed a connection between Mannus and the names of other ancient founder-kings, such as Minos of Greek mythology, and Manu of Hindu tradition.
Guido von List incorporated the myth of Mannus and his sons into his occult practice, which were later adopted into Nazi occult beliefs.
See also Manu (Hinduism) 'Man', with several theological meanings Manu and Yemo – reconstructed Proto-Indo-European creation-myth figures Man (word) Ask and Embla - the first humans in Norse mythology Mannaz – 'man', name of the /m/ rune in the Elder Futhark Tvashtr – Vedic artisan god (cognate with Tuisto) Frankish Table of Nations - Mannus's sons are mentioned
References
Tacitus. Germania (1st century AD; in Latin).