German Myths and Legends Midterm
Skuld
-Daughter of Helgi and Elf Girl. -Becomes Queen and plots to avoid paying tribute to Hrolf and raise an army to battle Hrolf, which she loses. She now works on her magic to send shit against Hrolfs forces.
gunnlod
-Daughter of Suttung. -Suttung leaves mead in the cave Hnitbiorg. Gunnlod was in charge of guarding it
1014
Irish King Brian Boru defeats Norse in battle of Clontarf (mentioned in Nijals Saga)
Ale kenning
men-ale gods-beer vanir-liquor giants- clear brew hell-mead sons of suttung-feasting
night kenning
men-night gods-darkness mighty powers-masker giants-unlight elves-joy of sleep dwarfs-dream goddess
Havamal
"Sayings of the High One" -A collection of Sayings rather than a single poem. -Represents Folk Wisdom from Odin
Skirnir
(The shining one) Freyrs servant who does all the work for Freyr and Gerd. and helps Freyr get and obtains a horse, sword, golden apples, Draupnir the arm ring. His flattery doesnt win Gerd so he uses threats of life which she shrugs off, Then he threatens to pervert her future.
Skaldskaparmal
- Author:Snorri Sturlson -Inside the Snorra Edda -Language of Poetry -Contains discourse between Aegir (god of sea) and Bragi (god of poetry) about origin and language of poetry in Scandinavia. -Aigir sits by Bragi and they drunkely tell stories. First is Theft of Idunn (Giant Thiassi steals Idunn but is tricked and killed. Skadi and her search for search for compensation of death. The second is the inheritance of Olvaldi.
King Adils
- King os Sweden marries Yrsa without her consent, which upsets Helgi. Has beserkers ambush Helgi after they feast and Helgi dies.
the norns
- are female beings who rule the destiny of gods and men. They roughly correspond to other controllers of humans' destiny, such as the Fates, elsewhere in European mythology.
cosmogonic myth
- creation myth symbolic narrative of how the world began and first inhabitants within a PREEXISTING universe
Beowulf
- had close affinities to Hrolfssaga. -Anglo-Saxon epic written before 10th century CE -describes the adventures of a great warrior of the sixth century and is the oldest surviving epic in English literature. Beowulf exists in only one manuscript. This copy survived both the destruction of religious artifacts during the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and a fire which destroyed the library. -recount events that take place in the Danish kingdom of the Skjoldungs -describe a voyage from Gautland in Sweden to Denmark and the exploits of a great, bear-like hero - Bjarki and Beowulf. PLOT: Hrothgar son of Healfdan rules Denmark from a great hall called Heorot. A sinister creature called Grendel comes from a nearby fen and attacks Hrothgar's men while they are sleeping in the hall, killing 30 men, whom he carries off and devours. Grendel returns in subsequent nights, killing and feasting on Hrothgar's men; no one can stand against the monstrously strong beast. Beowulf of the Geats in Southern Sweden hears of the monster Grendel and decides to slay the beast for his own glory. Beowulf takes a select party of 14 men to Hrothgar's hall, makes a grand entrance, boasts of previous adventures, makes friends and enemies. Since Grendel fights with bare arms, Beowulf declares that he too will fight the demon without a weapon - in bear-like fashion? Grendel attacks that night, killing one of Beowulf's men, but Beowulf seizes him and begins a desperate fight. Beowulf manages to tear one of Grendel's arms from his body, mortally wounding the monster. Grendel flees in agony to his lair beneath a lake. Beowulf has Grendel's arm to prove his victory, and there is great rejoicing in Heorot. A bard (Anglo-Saxon Scop) sings a poem praising Beowulf's great deed, comparing him to the great Germanic hero Siegemund (Sigmund). Sigmund and his adventures are recorded in the Norse Volsungasaga, and were later reworked by Richard Wagner in his Ring-Cycle operas. The Sigmund legend was combined in the Volsungasaga and the German Nibelungenlied with material from the Völkerwanderung, Theoderic of Verona and Attila the Hun. Beowulf is rewarded with precious treasures for his bravery in slaying Grendel. The poem hints that King Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf (Norse Hrolf Kraki) will one day betray his uncle and take his throne (this reference is somewhat controversial). While the men sleep, Grendel's mother, uglier and meaner than her son, makes a surprise appearance, kills one of Hrothgar's men in vengeance then leaves for her watery lair.Beowulf vows to kill Grendel's mother; he tracks her to a lake and dives in, finding a vaulted chamber beneath the lake. He fights with Grendel's mother, but his weapon is useless; he seizes a sword crafted by a giant and slices off her head. Beowulf locates the deceased Grendel and cuts off his head. He returns to the surface with Grendel's head as a trophy. Beowulf has successfully slain both Grendel and mother, and avenged the death of one of his men.Back in Heorot there is rejoicing and celebration. Beowulf announces his departure and is given more gifts from King Hrothgar and his wife. Beowulf returns to Geatland, where, after many of his relatives have died, he is made King of the Geats. Beowulf rules Southern Sweden for 50 years as a wise and powerful king. His epic ends with the story of his glorious death.At the end of Beowulf's reign, a slave finds a dragon's hoard in a cave by the sea; he steals a cup while the dragon sleeps - a motif used by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Hobbit (Tolkien was a well-known Beowulf scholar). The dragon awakes, smells the man and notices the missing cup, and in a rage he flies over the land breathing fire on towns and villages. Dragons usually wingless in Norse legends; original term related flying/fire-breathing beasts to lightning in the sky. Common mythical beast. Sadly, the dragon had pierced Beowulf's coat of mail, biting him in the neck and shoulder. As the dragon's poison takes effect, Beowulf realizes he is doomed. He asks Wiglaf to show him the dragon's treasure. He bestows a gold collar on the young hero and then expires. Wiglaf mourns the dead Beowulf and rebukes the cowardly warriors who had fled earlier. Wiglaf throws the dragon in the sea, burns Beowulf on a great pyre and buries the treasure.
Ilmarinen
-"everlasting craftsman," who forges the mysterious Sampo for Louhi, mistress of Pohjola and also has marital woes.
Proto-Indo-Europeans
-(PIE) an inflected language. Originated around 4500 BCE. By 2500 BCE this language separated into various dialects that gave rise to a large number of daughter languages. First postulated in 1786 by Sir William Jones
Hugin and Munin
-2 ravens owned by Odin
Geri and Freki
-2 wolves owned by Odin
Sleipnir
-8 legged horse owned by Odin
Proto-Germanic
-A language that was developed after the Sound Shift, which made Pie stop consonants and obsolete.
Lonrott, Kalevala (1835)
-A national epic for Finland that was first published by Elias Lonnrot. -Lonnrot (1802-1844) was portrayed on Finnish currency. He was an early Finnish nationalist who wanted to create originality and give national pride through a collection of epics for Finland. -Lonnrot compiled the verses of the Kalevala wrote 3% of the Kalevala Himself, the rest is original.
Angles, Saxons, Jutes
-ANGLES AND JUTES: from northern Denmark to Britain Saxons: from north Germany to Britain
Freyr
-Alfheim ruler. -God of male fertility and wealth. one of Vanir -Son of Niord and Skadi -name means lord -brother/husband of Freyja -owned ship Skidbladnir (can be folded up in pocket) -chariot with 2 boars (Gullinbursti and Slidrugtanni) -known as Yngvi (legendary progenitor of Swedish Royal Family) -In love with Gerd so sits on Odins throne. Gets help from Skirnir
Jormugand/ midgard serpent
-Battles with Thor, nearly killed but goes back into water when Hymir saves him. -child of Angrboda and Loki -is cast into the ocean, where it grows so large it eventually encircles the earth. -slayed by thor in Ragnarok, He kills thor from the grave with his venom
Euhemerism
-Christian Rationalization of pagan belief
Arminius/Hermann
-During the reign of Augustus (31 BCE to 14 CE), continual warfare in central Europe led to the apparent subjugation of the Germanic tribes. -Augustus envisioned a northern border of the Empire on the North Sea or along the Elbe river. -In they year 6, Publius Quinctilius Varus was appointed governor of Germania, with the command to transform the conquered territory into a regular Roman province, as had been done earlier with Gaul. -In 9 CE, the Cheruscan chieftain Arminius (Hermann) annihilated Varus and his three Roman legions in the battle of the Teutoburg forest- near modern day town of Kalkriese. -Most devastating defeat of a Roman army in the classical era. -Rome never again attempted to colonize Germanic territory; the Roman border remained the Rhine river to the west and the Danube (or the Limes defensive wall) in the south. -German tribes had a much contact with Rome in later years; trade along Rhine river was important.
fialar and galar
-Dwarves who killed Kvasir. They mix his blood with honey and brewed mead which they used to make Odrerir, Son and Bodn. -They kill Gilling and his wife (Giants) and Gillings son Suttung comes for vengeance but leaves with the mead, which he hid in the cave Hnitbiorg. Daughter Gunnlod was in charge of guarding it
Eiriks Saga rauoa
-Eirik the Red' Saga -events in 970-1030 written 1220-1280 CE -written independently (recorded oral history) -Recounts tales from the Greenlanders, but differs slightly. Eiriks father leaves for Norway and Eirik is then involved in multiple homicides. Eirik seeks the land sighted by Gunnbjorn Ulf Crowsson. He spends 3 days exploring Greenland from (981-984). He names the island Greenland because he believe it will attract people. The first years are difficult, Thorbjorn and Gudrid go. Little Prophetess tells Gudrids future. Is made a missionary to greenland by King Olaf Tryggvason. Converts mom Thjodhild to Christianity. Thorstein and Gudrid marry then he dies and contacts her beyond the grave. The all put faith and trust in christ and are suddenly blessed with food, and fishing. Thorhall the Pagain dies after being shipwrecked on Ireland and enslaved.
Baldr and Loki
-Fairest Aesir -Binding of Loki as vengeance for Baldr Baldr is rebirthed from ashes -Baldr dreams of the Doom of Gods -Son of Frigg -Loki Tricks Hod (Baldrs blind brother) into playing a dart game which kills Baldr instantly, His wife Nanna Dies of Grief and is put on his boat -Hermod the Bold agrees to ride to Niflheim to get Baldr back.
Great Consonant Shift
-First Consonant Shift What distinguishes Germanic languages from other Indo-European languages. Occurred by 500 BCE -Jacob Grimm described the sound shift, now named Grimm's Law
King Helgi
-First thing he and his bro do in their duty as princes is get revenge for Fathers death -rules Denmark, while King Hroar travels to England and marries Ogn. First affair:determines to marry Olof. Helgi invades the country and "invites" Queen Olof to provide him a feast; she cannot refuse. At the feast, Helgi makes a quick marriage proposal (12f.). That night, things do not go as planned. Helgi leaves in disgrace. He gets revenge on Olof by hiding treasure in the woods in Saxland. He acts like a beggar and kidnaps her and keep her on his ship for nights then lets her go. -Second Affair: Marries Yrsa, and Olof allows it to shame Helgi. -Brother of Hroar. Hroar is killed by Saevils son Hrok who wants Helgis fathers ring. Hrok takes Hroars ring and throws it into the sea. Helgi messes up Hroks legs and arms as revenge. -Has a third affair with an elf girl in Yuletide and births SKULD. Is killed when he feasts at adils place.
Fairy Tale and Folklore
-Folktales refer to stories about common people like peasants and villagers (fantastic elements common but not main feature -NO historical basis to folk tales, as they are timeless and far away -Folk tales represent PEASANT PERSPECTIVE
Franks and Allemani
-Franks, from central Germany to France -Allemanni, to south Germany, Switzerland
Lief the Lucky
-From Brattahlid in Greenland was eager to explore the new land; he purchased Bjarni's boat and persuaded his father to lead the expedition.
Age of migrations or Volkerwanderung
-Germanic tribes spread beyond their borders and overrun the Roman Empire. -Traditional date for the beginning is 375 C.E. with the appearance of the Huns from central Asia, who pressured the Germanic tribes from the east. -Actually, many earlier, smaller migrations such as Cimbri and Teutoni several centuries earlier
Skadi, Gefion
-Giantess whos father Thiassi was killed by Thor, wanted compensation for her death so she chose her husband by feet. She originally wanted Baldr but got Niord (sea God) -Lived in Snow mountains, loved to hunt ski and listen to wolves howl. Divorced Niord -Gefion: Goddess who tricked the king of Sweden into letting her keep all land she can plow, which she succeeded. The land became sjaelland in denmark
Wodan/ Odin
-God of magic,secrets,wisdom war death -sacrifices eye for drink of wisdom mimirs well -usually interrogator -worship was less widespread than Thor -God of the elite, treacherous -Hanged god, leader of the Aesir. -Known as: allfather, ygg,Grimnir -has 3 halls in Asgard, Gladsheim, Valaskialf and valhalla -2 ravens Hugin and Munin -2 wolves Geri and Freki -8 legged horse Sleipnir
Gudrid and Thorfinn
-Gudrid was originally Thorstein Eirikssons wife, but he dies and she marriesThorfinn Karlsefni and Those two become the Greenlanders at Vinland. -Have a son Snorri -Gudrid called the Well Traveled and is paralleled bu Freydis
frost Giant Angrboda
-Has a relationship with Loki -gives birth to Hel,Jormungand and Fenris wolf
Helluland, Markland, Vinland
-Helluland and Markland are named and found by Karlesefni and his men and Gudrid on trip to Vinland. Vinland is what is known as GreenLand and there is where Eirikson and others had christinity, Found grapes and traded with natives
Dietrich/ Theoderich
-Hildebrand a famous "Degen" (Thane) of Theoderich. -Theoderic of Verona (Dietrich von Bern) Ostrogothic chieftain, assassinates Odovacar in 489, rules all of Italy from Ravenna until 526. -Many legends are recorded about the exploits of Theoderic and his dealings with the Huns and with other Germanic tribes.
Song of Hyndla
-Hyndluliod contains 2 separate poems. -Hylanda flattered by Freyja but sees through her enticements. -Freyja is there to discover the truth of Ottar the Foolish's lineage. Hyndla notices that the boar Battleswine is Ottar transformed and she tells them the ancestry anyways. Hyndla curses Freyja but Freyja blesses Ottar
Gylfaginning
-In Snorra Edda dealing with art of medieval Scandinavan court poetry. -Opening section of Edda. -King Gylfi impressed by Gegions accomplishments, and he tests powerful newcomers. Disguised as Gangleri, he goes to Aesir and tries to test Odin.
Einherjar
-In Valhall leave their fighting and feasting and take the field to fight against the giants in Ragnarok
Gullveig (Shining one)
-In Voluspa myths, Goes into Odins hall and causes mischief for the First War
Lombards, Suebi
-Langobards, from Sweden to central Europe to north Italy. -The language of Hildebrandslied is writted in Langobard dialect -Suebi, from central Germany to Spain and Portugal
Finns (hw)
-Language: Finno-Ugric or Uralic. Distantly related to Sami languages, but cultural and racial differences separate the people, even though they are geographically close to each other. -Not Germanic.
Indo-European
-Linguistic that describes the languages that descend from a common tongue (PIE) -polytheistic system -"Human-like" gods -struggle with monstrous beings -favorable attitude towards human affairs -amoral -not omnipotent
Lokasenna
-Lokis Quarrel, a poem presenting the flyting between gods and Loki Begins with a prose intro,
Fimbulvetr
-Might Winter lasting 3 years without a summer, apart of Ragnarok
Thrymskvida
-Mjollnir is missing and loki is blamed. Loki helps thor by taking him to Freyja. Freyja lends Loki her feather cloak, he flies to Thrym in Jotunheim and Thrym tells him hell exchange the Hammer for Freyja in marriage. Thor goes as Freyja in disguise he has the Necklace of Brisings. Thor and Loki goes to Thrym in disguise. Loki apologizes for Thors behavior and when Thrym brings out the hammer, Thor
Hrani
-Name assumed by ODIN. -Owns a farmstead where Hrolf and his company stay -Hrani tests the company three nights in a row: 1. first with cold (57) 2. then with thirst (57) 3. finally with fire and heat (57) Each time Hrani suggests that they send home the warriors who cannot tolerate the tests placed before them. King Hrolf is left with only his 12 greatest champions. After Hrolf returns from victory, Hrani offers weapons which is refused so Hrani no longer grants Hrolf victory.
Skraelings
-Natives of Greenland who were originally scared of a Bull, traded with The Greenlanders and then are scared away
L'anse aux Meadows
-Near this, ruins of an ancient Norse Village was unearthed on the north coast of Newfoundland
dark elves
-Never explained but believed to be pitch black, and live in Svartalfheim
Frigg
-Odins Wife -has contests/ arguments with Odin in Grimnismal
Lemminkainen
-Osiris figure, because He was chopped up and thrown into the water, but later reassembled and returned to life. wanton loverboy and full blooded rogue.
Attila and Ildico
-Ostrogoths defeated by Huns, but recover quickly after Attila is defeated by combined Roman-Germanic force at Catalaunian Fields (451) and dies on wedding night to German girl Ildico (453). -Ildikó was the last wife of the Hunnic ruler Attila. Her name is East Germanic and suggests a Gothic origin
Goths, Vandals
-Ostrogoths, Visigoths and Vandals were East Germanic-speaking tribes from Sweden that settled in southeastern Europe, near Bulgaria. -Contact with Eastern Roman Empire led in 341 to the conversion of the Visigoths to Christianity through the missionary Ulfilas. -He translated the bible into their Gothic language, the first and best documented record of an early Germanic language. -Ulfilas was an adherent of Arianus (256-336 in Constantinople, declared heretic at Council of Nicaea in 325). "Aryan" = Christian sect. Pressure from the Huns from 375-455 CE forced these tribes into conflict with Rome. 378 CE Visigoths overrun Roman army at Adrianople, devastating defeat, beginning of the end of Roman Empire. Visigoths continue west, sack Rome in 410, on to Spain where a Visigothic kingdom lasts until 711, when they were defeated by Islamic (Moorish) forces from Africa.
Lay of Hildebrand
-Part of a larger cycle of heroic songs about Theoderic of Verona. -Fragment represents the absolute beginning of recorded German literature. -Written in Old High German by two monks in monastery in Fulda around the year 810, under Charlemagne (Frankish king). -Hildebrand a famous "Degen" (Thane) of Theoderich. Warrior honor code, heroic tragedy -Form of alliteration known as "Stabreim"
Futhark and Runes (HW)
-People began use of runes during:1050 CE -Tacitus suggests carved marks on wood used for: divination -name of the Runic alphabet is:Futhark -Runes were ceased to be used because:Church clerics took over most writing in Skandinavia after the Viking age. -Odin learned the secrets of the runes:In the land of the dead by sacrificing himself. -The early Elder or Germanic Futhark with 24 characters, is usually divided into three groups of eight runes (called aetts) -reduced later in Scandinavia to 16 characters (Younger Futhark). The younger Futhark was the form used during the Viking age.
Voluspa
-Poem "Prophesy of the Seeress" -first poem contained in the Codex Regius manuscript of Elder Edda. Discovered in Iceland -records the central elements of Norse cosmology, cosmogonic or aetiological poem.
Ragnarok
-info about this comes from Volsupa and Gylfaginning -starts with fimbulvetr, then battles and anarchy, wolf swallows sun, another wolf swallows moon and the stars disappear. Earthquakes will rattle earth and Loki and his children will be free
Groenlendinga saga
-Saga of the Greenlanders - events in 970-1030 written 1220-1280 CE -written independently (recorded oral history) -earns the name Leif the Lucky when he rescues men on a skerry. -Brother named Thorvald -Begins with voyage of Bjarni Herjolfson who doesnt land but finds a forested land to the west. Lief Eiriksson of Brattahlid in Greenland purchased Bjarnis boat. His horse slipped as he was leaving his farm and threw Eirik - he took this as an omen and stayed behind in Greenland. Lief finds glaciers he names Helluland and Baffin Island, goes south and finds Markland (Labrador). His foster-father discovers grapes and names the land Vinland (Newfoundland). Thorvald returns to Vinland with 30 men and they kill men in hide-covered boats from Dorset culture in Canada. Thorvald- arrow under armpit and burried at Krossaness. Thorstein Eiriksson takes 25 men and his wife Gudrid to Vinland to retrieve his brothers body. He spends the winter with Thorstein the Black who both him and his wife Grimhild dies of sickness. Eiriksson returns from the dead to give Gudrid a prophesy (long and happy Christian life in Iceland and abroad). Karlsefni marries Gudrid and gets 60 men and 5 women go to Vinland and feast on a stranded whale. Native Americans trade with the Greenlanders for food. After fight with natives, Karlsefni and Gudrid return to greenland with wealth and renown
Sami (HW)
-Sami groups inhabit northern Finland.
Germanic Sound Shift
-Separates High German from Low and North Germanic and accomplished by 300 AD -Phonological developments (sound changes) from the Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) to Proto-Germanic
King Hrolf Kraki
-Son of Helgi and Yrsa. -Ruler of Denmark who accepts Svipdag and his brothers to his forces. Gets inheritance from Yrsa in Sweden. -Decides to battle Adils with warriors and left with 12, with adivce from Bodvar. Earns nickname Kraki from Vogg. Defeats Adils and they take Adils horses and arms.
Grimms Law
-Sound Shift made by Jacob Grimm -Describes the inherited PIE stop consonants as they developed Proto-germanic
For Scirnis
-Story of how Skirnir (servant) helps out Freyr get Gerd. For more information check out the definition Freyr
Surt
-Surt Kills Freyr in Ragnarok because Freyr gave sword to Skirnir, Surt flings fire over world and burn it down in Ragnarok
German Legacy (HW)
-The Anglo-Saxons, who came to dominate the island of Britain after the withdrawal of the Roman army around 410 CE, were one of many Germanic tribes that left their homeland in Northern Europe at the time of the Great Migrations, about 375-550 CE. The language and customs of the Anglo-Saxons shared similarities with the other Germanic tribes, and many of these customs survived to the modern era and were brought to America with the British colonies.
Flyting
-The flyting of Loki is the Codex Regius, a poem in a eries of formal insults between Loki and the rest of the Aesir
Hildebrand, Hadubrand
-The language dates to around 800 in Old High German (probably a Langobard dialect).
Merseburg Charms
-The only purely heathen texts to survive from the middle ages in Old High German. -Copied down in the early 10th century on the reverse pages of a church manuscript, probably by a monk in Fulda. -The language dates the original works to sometime prior to 800 C.E.
Lay of Harbard
-Thor and a ferryman BS to each other and ferryman shuns Thor for fighting women
Karlsefni
-Thorfinn Kalsefni marries Gudrid, gathers 60 men and 5 women and travel to Vinland. -Son is Snorri -Travel to Norway and settles down in Iceland.
Aino
-Threw herself in water because she wanted to escape marriage to Vainamoinen -With the stone of many colors sank poor Aino to the bottom of the deep and boundless waters, like a pretty song-bird perished. - Sister of Joukahainen who offered her to vainamoinen in marriage.
Runes and Rune Stones
-Used in the Germanic Religion. -Runes were probably first carved or scratched on wooden sticks. -carved into wood, few of these have survived. what we have today represent only a very small percentage of what originally existed. -Tacitus notes that the Germanic tribes use something akin to runes in their attempts to divine the future -Most of the well-known rune inscriptions are from runestones, usually erected in memory of a notable man by his family. The carving was left to a professional runemaster who often recorded his name as the maker of the memorial. Probably few people could use runes
Slave, Carl, and Earl
-Viking Social Classes
Seeress/ Volva
-Volva is a seeress -Odin and Seeress talk about Baldrs death and doom of the gods
Queen Olof
-Warrior Queen In Saxland, Beautiful yet arrogant. -gives birth to Yrsa who is treated with neglect.
Alvismal
-Wisdom Contest between Thor and an All-Wise Dwarf. The dwarf wants Thors daughter, Dwarf wins but is turned to stone by sun
bolverk
-Worker of Evil -Odin in disguise when he quests for the mead of poetry from Suttung -First kills 9 slaves -Goes to Baugi (Suttungs brother) and offers to work in place of the dead slaves in return for mead drink. after doing the work, he gets Baugi to drill in mountain with auger named Rati. He transforms into a snake and gets inside the bored hole. Seduces Gunnlod, drinks all of the mead and eagles to Asgard and spits the mead into vats at Asgard. -Gives mead to favorite mortals. -Odin bestows the mead on his favored mortals - poetry is thus a form of divine inspiration or intoxication associated with the wisest and craftiest of all the gods. Odin's booty or Odin's find Odin's gift Æsir's drink
kennings
-an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech, used instead of an ordinary noun in Old Norse
Fenrir/ Fenris Wolf
-child of Angrboda and Loki -required a special binding because he was too dangerous to let run free. The god Tyr loses his hand by pledging falsely that they would not try to capture him. Swallow Odin in Ragnarok, and is torn apart by Vidar (odins son)
Hel
-child of Angrboda and Loki -takes her place in Niflheim as guardian of the dead - those who died without glory.
Codex Regius
-contains the poem Lokasenna -does not contains Baldrs death and doesnt have his draumar
creation of the world
-created by the Odin and his bros, from Ymirs dead body
Yrsa
-daughter of QUeen Olof, and is treated like shit, not told of her true parentage because Olof is ashamed. -marries Helgi after he snatches her up.
Vafthrudnismal
-devoted to a wisdom contest between Odin and wise Giant Vafthrudnir. -Odin disguised as Gagnrad -Odin and the Giant go through answering questions and Vafthrudnir states how he knew Odin behind the disguise
ask and Embla
-driftwood that are given life by gods and are the first man and woman
Cow Audhumla
-emerged after Ymir from the ice; her milk fed Ymir. Audhumla licked Buri from the ice. His son Bor married giantess Bestla, gave birth to the three gods Odin, Vili and Ve.
Donar/ Thor
-favorite god of vikings, protector of ordinary man, widely worshipped -son of Odin and Iord(earth) -God of thunder and chief enemy of the giants -wielded Mjollnir -rode a wagon with 2 goats and thundered when he rode. -Sif (golden hair) is his wife -live in Bilskinir hall in Thruthheim
Hymiskvida
-fragmented and badly preserved, Written by Snorri and filled in gaps. Gods feast with Aegir as host. Thor goes with Tyr to Hymir (Tyrs giant father) to look for a vat large enough to hold all their mead. Thor eats 2 of Hymirs Oxen for dinner and they go fishing with the ox head as bait. Thor almost kills the Midgard Serpent when Hymir cuts the line. Thor goes through a test of strength (smash a goblet against Hymers head). Thor carries the cauldron over his head
Burgundians
-from south Sweden to Belgium and France - Eastern Germanic
Saxo Grammaticus
-has own version of Baldrs death in his History of the Danes compilation, Different from Gylfaginning
Lif and Lifthrasir
-hidden and unharmed in ragnaroks final battle. -Food is dews of morning -mankind after ragnarok will descend from them
1262
Iceland come under Norwegian rule, end of Republic
Freydis Eiriksdottir
-makes arrangements with Icelanders Helgi and Finnbogi to sail to Vinland. Quarrels with the brothers and Freydis axes the 5 women. Escapes but people mark her as evil.
kvasir
-man created by a magic liquid by Aesir and Vanir who spat into a kettle to seal truce after war. -Wise and eloquent. -treacherously killed by dwarves Fianlar and Galar. His blood was made into a mead, and whoever drank it would speak poetry. Suttung Drank it
Billings Daughter
-myth about how gods are not omnipotent. -She is humorous at Odins Expense.
Eirik the Red
-originally sentenced to Lesser Outlawry he leaves to Greenland to settle. He starts a colony there with Gudrid, Thorbjorn. Converts his mom to Christianity
Rigsthula
-other name for Heumdall, check his term out for more information
Grimnismal
-poem that has an argument with Odin and Frigg. -Odin is for Geirrod -Frigg is for Agnar -King Hraudung has 2 sons (Agnar and Geirrod) the two fish and crash. They stay at Odin and Friggs place. They return home and Geirrod beomes king, while Agnar marries a giantess in a cave. Frigg sends Fulla to Geirrod to warn him of a wizard, Geirrod then imprisons Grimnir whos held between 2 fire for 8 nights. Geirrods son Agnar frees Odin and becomes king as Geirrod slips on his sword.
Vainamoinen
-shamanistic culture hero who lost his bride (aino) to the "deep and boundless blue sea" in the "Kalevala" -Will return to Finland only when he is needed again. -sometime water god, singer, magician. . , . , won a WISDOM contest against Joukahainen and made him sink with singing. Joukahainen saved himself by giving him his sister in marriage as payment.
days of the week
-shows our german heritage. -Sunday: Sun's day -Monday: Moon's day -Tuesday: Tyr's day -Wednesday: Woden's day -Thursday: Thor's day -Friday: Frige / Freya's day -Saturday: Saturn's day
Freyja
-sister/wife of Freyr. Goddess of fertility
Cimbri and teutoni
-small migration that occured several centuries earlier than 375 C.E - became relevant in 120 BCE -Some time before 100 BC many of the Cimbri, as well as the Teutons and Ambrones migrated south-east
suttung
-son of Giant Gilling, who was killed by dwarves Fiarlar and Galar. -Takes their poetry mead as retaliation and hides it in cave Hnitbiorg with daughter Gunnlod on guard
Queen Hvit
-sought out by King Hring. Rules Norway while Hring is absent. -Lusts after Bjorn who refuses and is turned to a bear -Witch
Legend and History
-stories of gods or heroes -generally more historical than divine -tend to focus on mortal heros -legend is regarded as history by preliterate people
aetiological myth
-study of causation or origination. -intended to explain a name or create mythic history for a place or family or origin story
Myth
-traditional story of gods used to relate worldview of a people or explain a practice, belief. Hardly written down, only by Christian Authors.
Bodvar Bjarki
-without blemish, loved most by Bera. -Eating the (bestial) flesh of her husband caused some sort of mutation in the developing boys. -Third brother, he plots vengeance against Hvit. He beats and drags her out of her chambers in a leather bag and kills her. -He becomes king after, and marries his mom to a Yarl, and leaves with inheritance and a magic sword. -visits Elk-Frodi who makes him drink his own blood. -visits THorirs-hounds foot, and sleeps with brothers queen. He pulls Hott from bone pile and has a viking food fight. They become friends and Bodvar and Hott kill a Troll and Hot gains strength and courage from eating its heart and blood. -Marries Hrolfs daughter Drifa.
Helge Ingstad
-worked with Anne Stine in locating remains of Viking settlements a L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland in 1960 -unerthed the ruins of an ancient Norse Village
Svipdag
-young hero in mountains who wants to make have Wise and Advice to his name, so he kills 4 of Adils beserkrs which leads to the outlaw of the beserkers.
Germanic Tribes
1. Northern Germanic (Scandinavian languages) 2. Eastern Germanic (Goths, Vandals and Burgundians, all extinct groups) 3. Western Germanic (English, Dutch, Low and High German and their ancestors) -The Germanic language probably split from Indo-European around 2500 BCE. By around 500 BCE Germanic people were living in their "homeland," southern Sweden, Denmark and northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). Germanic tribes enter the historical record when they make contact with Rome; the Bastarnians early in the 2nd century BCE, and the Cimbri and Teutoni in 120 BCE.
930
Althing established on Iceland, beginning of the Icelandic Republic. Erik Bloodaxe King of Norway.
Asgard is realm of AESIR Asgard homes Alfheim (home of light elves) Asgard home of the gods. Well of Urd. Three Norns have a hall beside the well (Urd [weird], Verdandi, Skuld). Asgard homes Valhalla and Vigrid Vanaheim-Original home of Vanir (Freyr Freyja)
Asgard and Vanaheim
451
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Attila defeated by combined Roman/German army.
1876
Bayreuth Fespiel opens with a production of the entire Ring Cycle by Wegner.
Buri, bor and bestla
Buri- Father of BOR and Licked from ice by Audhumla Bor- son of Buri and Husband of Bestla Father of Odin, Vili,VVe Bestla- wife of Bor
9CE
Cheruscan chieftain Arminius (Hermann) defeats Roman legions commanded by Publius Quinctilius Varus, end of Roman attempts to conquer Germania.
1593
Christopher Marlowe writes Tragicall History of Life and Death of Dr. Faustus (first published after Marlowes death in 1604)
1270
Codex Regius manuscript of Elder Edda written down, containing older Norse myths and many of the poetic lays which form the basis for the prose Volsunga Saga
1000
Conversion of Iceland to Christianity
trolls, dwarfs
Dangerous. Dwarfs offer lust for goddesses, only have luck when they have goods to trade.
mjollnir, Draupnir
Draupnir- Odins magic arm ring Mjollnir- Thors hammer
985
Eirik the Red sails from Iceland with a group of settlers headed to Greenland.
Gerd, Nanna Ran
Gerd is a giantess who obtained Freyrs attention. -Daughter of Giant Gymir -Nanna is Baldrs Wife
Alliteration
German poetry emphasizes this rather than end rhyme
tiu/ tyr
God of war son of hymir (Giant)
skidbladnir, gungnir
Gungnir- Odins spear that always hits mark skidbladnir-best of ships in Norse mythology.
1450
Gutenberg invents the printing press with movable type
1066
Harold Hardrada killed at battle of Stamford Bridge in England William the Conqueror, great great great grandson of Rollo, Conquers England End of Viking Age
1960
Helge Ingstad and anna stine discover Norse settlements at L'anse aus Meadows in Newfoundland
Donar (Thor) Roman equivalent:
Hercules
Heumdall, Hod, Hoenir
Heumdall-Rig, Celtic for King,visits 3 families and engenders 3 classes (lord,slave and farmer).He cares for Lord -Enemy of Loki Hod- Baldrs blind brother who was tricked by Loki into killing Baldr with dart. Rebirth from Ashes Hoenir- obscure aesir god Rebirth from Ashes
ibn Fadlan, Risala
IBN Fadlan- Arab Chronicler sent in 921 CE by Caliph of Baghdad to the Bulgars of the Middle Volga. Risala- is an account of IBN's journey with the embassy. It is our principal source for the history and culture of the tribes who populated Inner Asia. Great Value.
1954-1955
J.R.R Tolkein published The Lord of the Rings, the most important work of fantasy literature in the 20th century
1812-1814
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm publish Childrens and Household Tales
1808
Johann Goethe publishes Faust, The Tragedy Part 1
1587
Johann Spies publihes Volksbuch, Historia von D. Johann Fausten in Germany
- land of the Frost-Giants, located far to the east and north, beyond mountains.
Jotunheim
light elves
Live in Alfheim
Tyr Roman equivalent:
Mars (God of War)
Wodan (Odin: god of secrets and magic) Roman equivalent:
Mercury (God of commerce, travel, thievery, science)
Home of men Contains : BITFROST SPRING OF MIMIR (Mimirs well) NIDAVELLIR (dwarves) SVARTALFHEIM (dark elves) JOTUNHEIM (frost giants)
Midgard/ Middle Earth
550
Migration Period ends. Beginning of early medieval societies and states in Europe. Old High German language period (until about 1100).
1210
Nibelungenlied composed by unknown poet in Southern Germany or Austria
Realm of the dead home of fog Contains: Hel Spring of Hvergelmir Nidhogg (Giant dragon gnawing on yggdrasils roots) Muspell (land of fire) Naglfari (largest ship built)
Niflheim/ Mist hell
1300
Njals Saga composed
Njord, Bragi, Ægir
Njord- god of sea, of warmth and bounty and life Aegir- God of Ocean Bragi- God of Poetry
1845
Norwegian Folk Tales published by Asbjornsen and Moe
Hjalti the Magnanimous
Origianlly named Hott, food battles with Bodvar. IS originally Cowardly. -Bodvar and Hott kill a Troll and Hot gains strength and courage from eating its heart and blood. -Gains courage and "slays" the troll in front of the king and is named Hjalti afterthe kings sword. -Refuses to taunt or kill those who threw bones at him previously. -Finds Bodvar asleep and rouses him from a trance to undo shamanistic magic during the Great Battle (between Hrolf and Skuld)
1220
Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson Composed
Old High German
Rad the language of southern Germany up to c. 1200, from which modern standard German is derived.
476
Scirian chieftain Odovacar deposes emperor Romulus Augustulus, signaling the end of the Western Roman Empire
Sif, Idunn, Sigyn
Sif- Thor's Wife Idunn- goddess associated with apples and youth (kidnapped by Thiasi) Sigyn- Lokis Wife
wind weaver kenning
Sky
frost Giant Hymir, Hrungir, Thrym, Thiassi Svadilfoeri
Svadilfoeri- horse that hauls huge blocks of stone in place, lured into the woods by Transformed Loki so no work is completed. HYMIR- giant, father of the god Týr. HRUNGIR- engaged in a wager with Odin in which Odin stakes his head on his horse, Sleipnir, being faster than Hrungnir's steed Gullfaxi. During the race, which Sleipnir wins, Hrungnir enters Valhalla, and there becomes drunk and abusive. After they grow weary of him, the gods call on Thor to battle Hrungnir. Thrym- Stole Mjollnir in exchange for Freyja as wife, killed by Thor, THIASSI- kidnapps idunn and is killed by Loki (burning feathers)
100 CE
Tacitus writes Germania, describing the lands and tribes of the Germanic tribes.
-Odin and his brothers slay Ymir, fashion the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos from his body. -All can be seen on Hlidsskialf, Odins Throne -
The Nine Worlds
- hall of the slain warriors (Einheriar), half chosen by Odin, others to Freja (Volkfangr).
Valhalla
870
Vikings begin settlement of Iceland.
793
Vikings loot the Holy Island, Lindisfarne, off the coast of Britain. Beginning of Viking age in Europe. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records almost annual events in next century
1280
Vinland sagas (eirik the Reds Saga and the Saga of the Greenlanders) written down
1260
Volsunga Saga composed by unknown poet in Iceland. The only manuscript still in existence dates from c. 1400
375
Völkerwanderung begins. Huns appear in Europe and overrun the Ostrogothic King Ermenrichus. He is the basis for Jormunrek of the Volsungasaga
1937
Walk Disney Releases Snow White and the 7 dwarfs, first full length animated feature film based on a fairy tale
Great Ash, World Tree center of Norse cosmos(3 levels). Links all the 9 worlds together. -Suffers much from snakes and Nidhogg. -Source of 3 sacred wells, in Asgard, Midgard, and Niflheim
Yggdrasil
-Created at the Ginnungagap where fire and ice meet -was fed the milk of Audhumla -slayed by Odin and his bros to make the 9 worlds from Ymir's body
Ymir, the first frost giant
What is the first Merseburg charms good for?
escape from bonds and get away from enemy
fire kenning
bane of wood
odin, vili and ve
birthed by Bor and Giantess Bestla
valkyries
choosers of the slain
Aryan Christians
christian section
Cloud kenning
clouds-men hope of showers-gods wind floaters-Vanir Hope of dew-giants power of storms- elves
Whom does Odin question on his ride to NIflheim?
dead searess
-Fire and Ice at Ginnungagap created warmth and the possibility of life: First Frost-Giant Ymir.
ginunngagap
wife kenning
girl of the houses
Krakis seed kenning
gold
Berserkrs
guard King Adil, and after 5 get killed by Svipdag, they are outlawed and raid the kings territory. They are defeated by Svipdag and his brothers.
The Pathfinder
legend of a boy in the sami tribe
mythical source of earthquakes
loki writhing in pain
2001-2003
peter jackson films Lord of the Rings
Anglo-Saxon
relating to or denoting the Germanic inhabitants of England from their arrival in the 5th century up to the Norman Conquest. Old English
ship
sea steed
gold kenning
seeds of Freyis Wolds serpents lair sifs hair
Sampo
something that Ilmarinen smiths, but no one knows what it really is. -Louhi sets off in pursuit and transforms herself into a giant bird of prey. In the ensuing battle, the Sampo is smashed and falls into the sea. Some of the fragments remain in the water, but others wash ashore and bring Finland good fortune and prosperity. Louhi is left with only the worthless lid of the Sampo and the now barren land of the North.
battle kenning
spear din
Sun kenning
sun-men sunshine-gods everglow-giants lovely wheel-elves all-shining- sons of Aesir
Middle English
the English language from c. 1150 to c. 1470.
Middle/New High German
the language of southern Germany from c. 1200 to 1500. Follows old high german
serpent
valley trout
Odin
victory-tyr hanged-tyr cargo-tyr hanged god of corpses
Bifrost - the rainbow bridge (flaming bridge) connects Midgard to Asgard. Vigrid - a vast plain, stretching 120 leagues in every direction, site of Ragnarok
vigrid, bitfrost
war
weather of weapons
Wood kenning
wood-men mane of valleys-gods slope seaweed-humankind fuel-giants lovely boughs-elves wand-Vanir
what will never die?
words of glory, for the one who gets a good name.
