Scandza

[5] The first attested written use of the name for a Northern European island appears in the work of Roman Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia of c. AD 77.

When Scandinavian scholars became familiar with the Roman records in the Middle Ages, Scandiae was used as an alternative Latin name for Terra Scania.

[1] He also referred to Pomponius Mela's description of Codanonia (called Scatinavia by Pliny the Elder) which was located in the Codanian Gulf (probably Kattegat).

In the 16th century, Olaus Magnus, a Swedish cartographer familiar with Pliny's writings, created a map where he placed the name "Scandia" in the middle of today's Sweden.

In Olaus Magnus' map, the name denotes an area including "Svecia" (Svealand), "Gothia" and "Norvegia" (Norway), where he places various tribes described by the ancient geographers.

Jordanes names a multitude of tribes living in Scandza, which he described as a "womb of nations" (loosely translated), and says they were taller and more ferocious than the Germans.

Other tribes were the Ahelmil (identified with the region of Halmstad);[15] the Finnaithae (Finnhaith-; i.e., Finnheden, the old name for Finnveden); the Fervir (the inhabitants of Fjäre Hundred); and the Gautigoths (the Geats of Västergötland), a nation which was bold and quick to engage in war.

[16] Beyond them, there were the Ostrogoths (Östergötland), Raumarici (Romerike), the Ragnaricii (probably Ranrike, an old name for the northern part of Bohuslän) and the most gentle Finns (probably the second mention of the Sami peoples[17] mixed for no reason).

In the same area there were the Granni (Grenland),[21] Augandzi (Agder),[21] Eunixi, Taetel, Rugii (Rogaland),[21] Arochi (Hordaland),[21] and Ranii (possibly the people of Romsdalen).