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Bestla
Bestla (Old Norse: ) is a jötunn in Norse mythology, and the mother of the gods Odin, Vili and Vé (by way of Borr). She is also the sister of an unnamed man who assisted Odin, and the daughter (or granddaughter depending on the source) of the jötunn Bölþorn. Odin is frequently called "Bestla's son" in both skaldic verses and the Poetic Edda. Bestla is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds. Scholars have commented on the obscurity of the figure's name and have proposed various theories to explain the role and origin of the giantess. Name The meaning of the Old Norse name ''Bestla'' remains uncertain. Scholars have proposed potential meanings such as 'wife', or 'bark, bast'. It might stem from ''*Bastilōn'' (perhaps a yew goddess, originally a 'bast-donor'), or from ''*Banstillōn'' (via an intermediate form ''*Böstla''), relate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bölþorn
Bölþorn (also Bölþor; Old Norse: , "Evil-thorn") is a jötunn in Norse mythology, and the father (or grandfather) of Bestla, herself the mother of Odin, Vili and Vé. The figure receives mention in the ''Poetic Edda'', composed in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the ''Prose Edda'', compiled by Icelander Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Scholars have noted that the ''Poetic Edda'' mention may mean that he is the father of the wise being Mímir. Name The name is attested under two variants. ''Bölþorn'' is used in ''Gylfaginning'' (The Beguiling of Gylfi), whereas ''Bölþor'' occurs in ''Hávamál'' (Sayings of the High One).' The Old Norse name ''Bölþorn'' has been translated 'Evil-thorn'.' The variant form ''Bölþor'' would have had no clear meaning to medieval Scandinavians.' Attestations In ''Hávamál'' (Sayings of the High One), Bölþor receives his only mention of the Poetic Edda. ''Gylfaginning'' (The Beguiling of Gylfi) mentions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Borr
In Norse mythology, Borr or Burr (Old Norse: 'borer' sometimes anglicized Bor, Bör or Bur) was the son of Búri. Borr was the husband of Bestla and the father of Odin, Vili and Vé. Borr receives mention in a poem in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, and in the ''Prose Edda'', composed in the 13th century by Icelander Snorri Sturluson. Scholars have proposed a variety of theories about the figure. Attestation Borr is mentioned in the fourth verse of the '' Völuspá'', a poem contained in the ''Poetic Edda'', and in the sixth chapter of '' Gylfaginning'', the second section of the ''Prose Edda''. ''Völuspá'' ''Gylfaginning'' Borr is not mentioned again in the ''Prose Edda''. In skaldic and eddaic poetry, Odin is occasionally referred to as ''Borr's son''. Scholarly reception and interpretation The role of Borr in Norse mythology is unclear. Nineteenth-century German scholar Jacob Grimm proposed to equat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mímir
Mímir or Mim is a figure in Norse mythology, renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, who is beheaded during the Æsir–Vanir War. Afterward, the god Odin carries around Mímir's head and it recites secret knowledge and counsel to him. Mímir is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the ''Prose Edda'', written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson of Iceland, and in euhemerized form as one of the Æsir in ''Heimskringla'', also written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Mímir's name appears in the names of the well Mímisbrunnr, and the names Mímameiðr and Hoddmímis holt, which scholars generally consider to be names for Yggdrasil. Scholars have proposed that Bestla may be Mímir's sister, and therefore Mímir would be Odin's maternal uncle. Etymology The proper names ''Mímir'' and ''Mim'' present difficulties for historical linguists. However, the most generally accepted etymology among philologists is that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ymir
In Norse mythology, Ymir (), also called Aurgelmir, Brimir, or Bláinn, is the ancestor of all jötnar. Ymir is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, in the ''Prose Edda'', written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century, and in the poetry of skalds. Taken together, several stanzas from four poems collected in the ''Poetic Edda'' refer to Ymir as a primeval being who was born from atter (), yeasty venom that dripped from the icy rivers called the Élivágar, and lived in the grassless void of Ginnungagap. Ymir gave birth to a male and female from his armpits, and his legs together begat a six-headed being. The grandsons of Búri, the gods Odin and Vili and Vé, fashioned the Earth—elsewhere personified as a goddess named Jörð—from Ymir's flesh; the oceans from his blood; from his bones, the mountains; from his hair, the trees; from his brains, the clouds; from his skull, the heavens; and from his eyebro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Óðrerir
In Norse mythology, Óðrerir, Óðrørir or Óðrœrir refers either to one of the three vessels that contain the mead of poetry (along with Boðn and Són) or to the mead itself. Attestations Poetic Edda Óðrerir is mentioned in two ambiguous passages of the ''Hávamál''. In a first stanza (107), it is sometimes assumed that Óðrerir is synonymous with mead of poetry,Simek 1996. but both interpretations are possible. :Of a well-assumed form :I made good use: :few things fail the wise; :for Odhrærir :is now come up :to men’s earthly dwellings : ::—''Hávamál'' (107)Thorpe's translation In another stanza (140), the meaning of Óðrerir depends on the translation. In most translations, Óðrerir seems to refer to a vessel, but other interpretations of ''ausinn Óðreri'' are possible, which can lead to understand Óðrerir to be the mead itself. Prose Edda For Snorri Sturluson, Óðrerir is the name of the kettle in which Kvasir's blood was mixed with honey to create ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Odin
Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Empire's partial occupation of Germania ( BCE), the Migration Period (4th–6th centuries CE) and the Viking Age (8th–11th centuries CE). Consequently, Odin has hundreds of names and titles. Several of these stem from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym ''Wōðanaz'', meaning "lord of frenzy" or "leader of the possessed", which may relate to the god's strong association with poetry. Most mythological stories about Odin survive from the 13th-century ''Prose Edda'' and an earlier collection of Old Norse poems, the ''Poetic Edda'', along with other Old Norse items like '' Ynglinga saga''. The ''Prose Edda'' and other sources depict Odin as the head of the pantheon, sometimes called the Æsir, and bearing a spear and a ring. Wid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vili And Vé
In Norse mythology, Vili ( ; Old Norse: ) and Vé ( ; O.N.: ) are the brothers of the god Odin (from Old Norse ''Óðinn''), sons of Bestla, daughter of Bölþorn; and Borr, son of Búri. Name The Old Norse theonym ''Vé'' (or ''Véi'') is cognate with Gothic ''weiha'' ('priest'), both stemming from Proto-Germanic *''wīhōn'', itself from the adjective *''wīhaz'', meaning 'holy' (cf. Goth. ''weihs'', Old High German ''wīh'')''.'' A related noun, *''wīhan'' ('sanctuary'), can also be reconstructed on the basis of Old Norse ''vé'' ('sanctuary'), Old English ''wēoh'' ('idol'), and Old Saxon ''wīh'' ('temple').' ''Vili'' transparently means 'will' in Old Norse. It stems from the Proto-Germanic noun *''weljōn'' ~ *''weljan'' ('will, wish'; cf. Gothic ''wilja'', Old English ''willa'', and Old High German ''willo''). Attestations In Proto-Norse, the three brothers' names were alliterating, *'' Wōdinaz, Wiljô, Wīhaz'', so that they can be taken as forming a triad o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hávamál
''Hávamál'' ( ; Old Norse: ''Hávamál'',Unnormalised spelling in the Codex Regius:''Title'': hava mal''Final stanza'': Nv ero Hava mál q''ve''ðin Háva hꜹ''l''lo i [...] classical pron. , Modern Icelandic pron. , ‘Words of Hávi [the High One]’) is presented as a single poem in the Codex Regius, a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking age. A scholarly estimate of Hávamál's age dates the poem to between 900 and 1000 A.D. The poem, itself a combination of numerous shorter poems, is largely gnomic poetry, gnomic, presenting advice for living, proper conduct and wisdom. It is considered an important source of Old Norse philosophy. The verses are attributed to Odin; the implicit attribution to Odin facilitated the accretion of various mythological material also dealing with the same deity. For the most part composed in the Meter (poetry), metre Alliterative verse#Ljóðaháttr, ''ljóðaháttr'', a metre associated with wisdom verse, ''Hávamál'' is both practi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Numbers In Norse Mythology
The numbers 3, three, 9, nine, and other multiples of three are significant numbers in Germanic paganism. Both numbers (and multiples thereof) appear throughout surviving attestations of ancient Germanic folklore, in both mythology and Germanic paganism.. Along with the number 27, both numbers also figure into the lunar calendar, lunar Germanic calendar. Examples Emphasis on the numbers three, nine, and multiples of three occur frequently in the ancient Germanic record. Examples include: West Germanic ''Old English'' *''Æcerbot'': A charm that describes a ritual wherein the speaker should bow nine times to the east. *''Nine Herbs Charm'': A charm focused on nine plants, using the number nine extensively and featuring the Old English extension of the Germanic god Odin. ''Old High German'' * Merseburg Charms: Two Old High German charms stemming from the pagan period mentioning at least six pagan Germanic deities and other beings. According to Patricia Giangrosso, "the second Mers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galdr
A (plural ') or (plural ) refers to a spell or incantation in Old Norse and Old English respectively; these were usually performed in combination with certain rites.The article ''Galder'' in ''Nationalencyklopedin'' (1992) Etymology and or ' are derived from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic ''*galdraz'', meaning a song or incantation. The terms are also related by the removal of an Indo-European ''-tro'' suffix to the verbs and , both derived from Proto-Germanic ''*galaną'', meaning to sing or cast a spell. In Old High German the ' suffix produced ' instead. The German forms were Old High German ' and Middle High German (MGH) ' "song, enchantment" ( Konrad von Ammenhausen ''Schachzabelbuch'' 167b), surviving in (obsolete or dialectal) Modern German ' (witchcraft) and ' (witch). From these terms are descended words such as the Icelandic verb ' "to sing, call out, yell", "magic" and as a component of ''nightingale'' (from '), related to ', the verb ancestral to Modern E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benjamin Thorpe
Benjamin Thorpe (1782 – 19 July 1870) was an English scholar of Old English language, Anglo-Saxon literature. Biography In the early 1820s he worked as a banker in the House of Rothschild, in Paris. There he met Thomas Hodgkin, who treated him for tuberculosis. After studying for four years at Copenhagen University, under the Danish philologist Rasmus Christian Rask, Thorpe returned to England in 1830. In a few years he established a reputation as an Anglo-Saxon scholar. In recognition of unremunerative work, Thorpe was granted a civil list pension of £160 in 1835, and on 17 June 1841 this was increased to £200 per annum. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Munich, and of the Society of Netherlandish Literature at Leyden He died at Chiswick in July 1870. Bibliography In 1830 Thorpe brought out at Copenhagen an English version of Rask's ''Anglo-Saxon Grammar'' (a second edition of this appeared at London). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their Viking expansion, overseas settlements and chronologically coincides with the Viking Age, the Christianization of Scandinavia, and the consolidation of Scandinavian kingdoms from about the 8th to the 15th centuries. The Proto-Norse language developed into Old Norse by the 8th century, and Old Norse began to develop into the modern North Germanic languages in the mid- to late 14th century, ending the language phase known as Old Norse. These dates, however, are not precise, since written Old Norse is found well into the 15th century. Old Norse was divided into three dialects: Old West Norse (Old West Nordic, often referred to as ''Old Norse''), Old East Norse (Old East Nordic), and Old Gutnish. Old West Norse and O ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
