1. Who are we Europeans? From what people did we descend and under what circumstances? These questions are examined by Prof. Dr. Anton Perdih. He relies on the opinion of specialists who maintain that all available data must be utilized in the process. Results of archaeological and linguistic and genetic methods of research should be included. He draws our attention to details which have so far not been considered, and which give us a considerably different picture of the origin of Europeans. His new working hypothesis is designed to encourage researchers to reexamine the existing materials and to supplement them with new discoveries. (pp. 11-21)
2. The latest method of study of the origin and relationship between various peoples recognizes genetic makeup. What do researchers say about the genetic background of European nations? This fascinating data is examined by Joseph Škulj. P. Eng. (pp. 22-28)
3. The Slovenian term dezela (land) is the primary designation for a state, according to Dr. Jozko Šavli. Interestingly, this term is not found in any other European language, which includes all other Slavic languages. This piece of information indicates a connection between the Slovenian language and the pre-Indo-European period and the migration of Veneti as far as India, where the term dezela (desh) is still used to designate different parts of the country. Inasmuch as a dezela (land) becomes a reality only when a people are economically and socially organized, we can presume the word's existence as late as the Lusatian culture, from within which emerged the Veneti. The term dezela came to India only during the second immigration of the Aryans (Veneti). This we can determine from the oldest Vedic texts (Rig-veda), and a general advancement of the areas where they settled, including the spiritual advancement. (pp. 29-43)
4. In this chapter Dr. Šavli continues to investigate the ancient origins of the Slovenian language, which express themselves also in numerous place-names in North Africa, proving the ancient exchange of cultures and languages between Africa and Europe. Archaeological findings and linguistic realities prove that people moved from Africa to Europe, particularly through the Middle East. The differences in writing styles probably originated in the period when agriculture developed and spread into pre-Indo-European (Hamitic) Europe from Semitic Mesopotamia. Dr. Šavli discusses many names which can still be verified. Notable in this connection are the Hamitic "h" and Semitic "s", which are found in the names of these two linguistic groups; they became part of the European designation of language groups known as the kentum and satem groups. The original kentum language in the Veneti territory is represented by place-names such as Hall and Halle, places where salt was extracted during the period before the letter "h" was changed to "s". The dissimilarity between the kentum and satem groups of languages extends only to pronunciation of the two letters and is, therefore, linguistically of limited importance. It is noticeable among the Hamitic herdes in North Africa (in contrast with the Semites, the first agriculturalists in the Middle East). It is also found in European languages to some extent. The Indian languages with Sanskrit base, which are generally considered as belonging to the satem group, also included some kentum elements; e.g., hima (cold) and Himalaya. The Venetic language, as known from the Venetic inscriptions, has the satem character, although linguists include it (without knowing the language) in the kentum group together with the Romanic and Germanic languages. (pp. 50-61)
5. The contribution of the Russian scholar, Prof. Pavel V. Tulajev, is an exhaustive presentation of the Venetic question in relation to the ethnogeny of Slovenes and Slavs in general. His intention is to present the reader with an overview of existing Russian literature on the subject, and to compare the discoveries of Russian scholars with the findings of Slovenian researchers. Examining old myths, he arrives at the Russian position regarding the origin of the Veneti and Slavs. Then follow the earliest accounts of the ancient homeland of Slavs in Russian sources, and the views of Russian historians of the past centuries. Next is a review of research by other Slavic scholars involving the origin of Slavs and their relation to the Veneti. In the second half of his paper. Prof. Tulajev deals with the book, Veneti: First Builders of European Communityby Bor, Savli and Tomazic,(1996), and examines the work of its three authors. He expresses hope for further cooperation between Russian and Slovenian researchers and concludes: "Where else would the authors of the book meet with an open acceptance, if not in Russia? The history itself, our language, our very life, appear as travel companions of the inquisitive reader." (pp. 62-100)
The second part of the present anthology treats a variety of views on the Veneti problem.
6. Why, after so many years of polemics, haven't the proponents and opponents of the Veneti theory come to a resolution? The cause is perhaps in the very nature of historiology, its facts and interpretations. The opponents of the Veneti theory, that is, those who promote the arrival of Slavs in central Europe in the 6th century (for which they have no historical evidence), have to depend on various historical events, which are open to misinterpretation. The defenders of Slovenian autochthony often utilize the same historical events but interpret them differently. They also have on their side a number of concrete historical facts and linguistic evidence; for example, the numerous toponyms. The opposition, on the other hand, utilizes Miklošic's rule which states that "no place-name can be interpreted as Slavic unless it is known that Slavs lived there". These and other arguments are closely examined by Prof. Perdih. (pp 102-1 1 1)
7. Prof. Dr. Charles Bryant-Abraham, an American, reviews the book. Veneti: First Builders of European Community by Bor, Šavli and Tomazic,(1996), in the international journal, The Augustan. As a linguist, he deals mainly with a variety of linguistic problems. He understands the book as a serious challenge to the official historiography, not only Slovenian, but generally western (German) and eastern (Russian). The literary and other shortcomings of the book are, according to him, counterbalanced by the importance of materials presented. It should be added that Veneti was written for the general public and, therefore, in a nonacademic language. (pp. 112-122)
8. Rhetoric is the art or science of using words effectively: it has been handed down to us in various writings since antiquity. This subject is analyzed by Dr. Boris Grabner in his book Zgodovina retorike / The History of Rhetoric. In one of the chapters he directs his attention to the first known Slovenian speech, delivered by Langobard Duke Radoald in the year 642. One entire chapter is dedicated to the meaning of the Venetic inscription on the jar from Škocjan, Slovenia. His thoughts are taken from the above book. (pp. 124-129)
9. An interesting piece of information from Paulus Diaconus's. The History of Langobards, is related by Ivan Gorenc, P. Eng. Diaconus writes that the Langobards brought to Friuli people of other nationalities, among them Pannonians and Noricans. Who were these people? Were they not Slovenes from Pannonia and Noricum? This came about at the time when there were no Slavs in the said territories, according to official history. The Gorenc's contribution forms one of the chapters of his forthcoming book. (pp. 130-135)
In the third chapter, Dr. Šavli presents a number of details from the history of the Slovenian Duchy of Carantania and the general problem regarding Slovenes in the Middle Ages.
10. In European history writing, and even Austrian history writting, Carantania has been kept a secret, as if it never existed. Also Greater Carantania, from the middle of the 10th century on, has been pushed into oblivion, regardless of the fact that Austria's own statehood derives directly from it, when the Bamberg ruling family came to power in the 12th century. This was accomplished on the basis of the indigenous Carantanian, Slovenian legal system (Institutio sclavenica). Carantanian saints - St. Modest, St. Domician, St. Liharda - were also disregarded or had German nationality imposed on them; e.g., St. Hema, a Slovenian noblewoman. The intention here was to deny or remove all traces of Slovenian identity. (pp. 136-149)
11. This distorted Slovenian history also emphasizes that Slovenes never had their own aristocracy which, during the Middle Ages, referred to the leading class of the nation. Hence, the Slovenes were condemned to a subservient role and eventual, near total, disappearance from the area of present-day Austria. In his contribution, Dr. Šavli draws attention to the sources of Slovenian statehood and its continuation during the Middle Ages. (pp. 150-168)
12. The same fate overtook the symbols of Carantanian/Slovenian statehood - the Prince's Stone and the Ducal Throne. In Austrian history writing, both of these have been alienated from their rightful owners, the Slovenes. The inscriptions on the Ducal Throne are Venetic/Slovenian. Some of the letters have been chiselled from Venetic to Latin script but, even so, the original text is still readable: Tu don muji dux. In translation: Here resounds my spirit. See Veneti: First Builders of European Community pp. 313-318. (pp. 168-170)
13. The name Slovenia was already being used in different forms in the early Carantanian period. At the beginning of the 9th century we find the names Sclavinia, Slavinia and Slougenzin marcha (Slovenian region). (pp. 170-172)
14. It is almost unknown that Carantania gave the Roman Church Pope Gregory V in the 10th century. He was the son of a Carantanian/Slovenian mother and, in all probability, was born in Carantania. From documentary sources, we know that he spoke, besides Latin and Frankish, the "people's language". What could this language have been if not Slovenian? His job was not easy, but he was nonetheless generous towards his opponents, and remained faithful to apostolic teachings. (pp. 172-178)
15. Closely connected with the memory of Carantania is the great Slovenian priest and university professor, Dr. Lambert Ehrlich, from Kanalska dolina (now in Italy). One of the first victims of the Communist revolution, he was a protagonist of a free, independent Slovenia. (pp.179-181)
Historical truth is often clarified through simple stories and in the meanings of single words, as is shown in this chapter by Dr. Šavli.
16. There is evidence that St. Martin of Tours proclaimed the holy Gospels also among the Slovenes in Pannonia. Folk stories about the Attila speak of Slovenes in his time. Mythological stories about Belin, Triglav, and Zlatorog express a living connection between Slovenes and the ancient history. (pp. 182-186)
17. Next are linguistic parallels with Baltic, German, Romanian, Greek and Albanian words. (pp. 187-192)
18. Then follows a lengthy list of words, each containing a treasure of historical memories tied to the Slovenian language of the past. (pp. 193-217)
19. In conclusion, there are some additional surnames and a description of the mountain gonic or driver of wildlife which, with the Norican horse and cow, constitutes the remains of old Norican hunting and farming culture. (pp. 217-222)
20. This chapter is closed by Vojko Rutar, who explains the words brajda and the placename Kobarid. (pp. 223-228)
In chapter V, we introduce a book by a Canadian Slovenian attorney, Anton Ambrozic. The chapter ends with evidence proving that the concepts "continuity" and "discontinuity" in no way contradict the thesis about the autochthonous status of Slovenes.
21. It is well-known that traces of the ancient Veneti still exist in the French province of Brittany, but we would not know how many had not Ambrozic discovered them for us. He published a book entitled Adieu to Brittany (May 2000). Within its pages are presented many old inscriptions and toponyms and other names with traces of Slovenian linguistic elements. (pp. 240-251) JUST RELEASED! After Ivan Tomazic published this book, Anthony Ambrozic released his second book on this topic Journey Back to Garumna (December 2000)
Responses and commentary
22. During the five years since the publication of the last volume of Venetic Anthology, many articles were published about the Veneti in connection with Slovenian ethnogeny but, due to lack of space, we mention only a small number of them. (pp. 252-261)
23. We received many messages of praise for our endavours in promoting research on the true identity of Slovenes. Our findings concerning the origin and development of the Veneti were extremely well received in Italy. We were given much approval when we presented the Italian edition of our book Veneti in the cities of Venice, Verona, Padua, and Vicenza. Understandably, the Italian Venetologists object to our findings; otherwise, they would have to adinit that their interpretation of the Venetic inscriptions is entirely wrong. (pp. 262-266)
24. One of the principal arguments used by proponents of the theory that Slavs arrived in our territory at the end of the 6th century is their use of terms "continuity" and "discontinuity". With these, they want to make clear that the traditional Slovenian territory was continuously occupied by Romanized people till the arrival of the Slavs, and their arrival enforced discontinuation. In truth, this question is not related to the presumed arrival of Slavs. The subject is clarified here by Alojz Wagner's contribution, which he supplements with many quotations. (pp.268-294)