Wednesday, 11. January 2006
Norse Mythology / Nordische Mythologie

Norse mythology, sometimes also referred to as Viking mythology or Scandinavian mythology, consists of the beliefs that once existed in the Scandinavian countries before the people there were converted to Christians. The Scandinavian countries consist of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and in some aspects, Finland.

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Most of what we know about Norse mythology comes from the two Eddas. In layman's terms, the word Edda means "a collection of what is told".
The first Edda, also the more ancient one, is the Prose Edda by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson.
The second Edda, called the Poetic Edda, is written after the Prose Edda and whose author(s) is unknown. Some of the sagas(a story told in narrative style) in the Poetic Edda obviously appeared to have been influenced by Christianity.

The Norse myths make mention of the nine worlds. The limbs of this giant ash tree holds all the nine worlds together.


Each race of being dwell in a world of their own. Humans live in Midgard, the Aesir gods in Asgard, the fire giants in Muspellheim and so on.

Norse mythology at Norse-Myths. (English)

Odin

Old Norse Óðinn.
Leader of the Aesir. Odin had a myriad of names including Allfather, Ygg, Bolverk [evil doer], and Grimnir. He also had many functions including being a god of war, poetry, wisdom, and death. His halls were called Gladsheim Valaskjalf and Valhalla. Odin's high seat, Hlidskialf, was in Valaskjalf. It was from this throne that he could see over all the world. Valhalla is where he gathered his portion of the slain warriors, Einheriar (Einherjar), whom the valkyries had chosen.

The valkyries would serve mead which forever flowed from the udder of Odin's goat, Heidrun. They also served the warriors meat that came from the boar Saehrimnir, which the cook Andhrimnir would prepare for eating by boiling it in the cauldron Eldhrimnir.

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The boar magically came back to life before the next meal. After eating, the warriors would go outside the hall and fight each other to the death. They were, of course, brought back to life before the next feast. All of this fighting was practice for when Odin would lead the Einheriar in the final battle, Ragnarok.

Norse Mythology by Nicole Cherry. (English)

Here you may find images of Germanic / Norse Gods and Goddesses, Valkyries, Heroes, Giants, Dwarfs, Mermaids and other Wights, Heathen Rites, and Places of Heathen mythological, ritual, and historic significance.

Norse Mythology Pictures

A-Z Encyclopedia: Norse Mythology by CyberSamurai. (English)
Another A-Z Norse mythology by Encyclopedia Mythica. (English)

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Das strahlende nordische Licht über Jotunheim, die Hochebene von Hardangervidda im Süden Norwegens, die fantastische Bergwelt, die Schärengebiete und die Finnmark im Norden; die Wälder und Seen Schwedens und die mächtigen Vulkane und heiße Springquellen (Geysire) in Island gaben den Anlass für die nachfolgenden Arbeiten über die nordische Mythologie und deren "Nebengebiete". Hier ist die Heimat der Götter und Riesen; hier sind die reißenden Ströme und die tosenden Wasserfälle, hier finden wir die Trolle und Zwerge, hier ist die Unterweltsgöttin Hel zuhause.

Nordische Mythologie von Rainer Lausmann und Karl Speiser. (German)


Edda (nord. "Urgroßmutter"), ist eine Sammlung nordischer Dichtungen, die in zwei grundsätzlichen Versionen vorliegt.

Der Name Edda wird zunächst für das Werk des isländischen Dichters und Historikers Snorri Sturluson benutzt. Er verfasste um 1220 auf Island ein umfangreiches Werk über Mythen und Dichtkunst, es ist unter den Bezeichnungen „Prosa-Edda”, „Jüngere Edda” oder nach ihrem Verfasser „Snorri-Edda” geläufig. Die "Snorri-Edda" besteht aus drei Hauptteilen, nämlich Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál und Hattatal. Das Werk Gylfaginning musste sich allerdings der christlichen Zensur beugen, und so wurden die Götter als Könige dargestellt, die ihrer asiatischen Herkunft wegen Asen hießen.

Um 1270 (1240?) niedergeschrieben wurde die „ältere Edda” („Lieder-Edda”, „Poetische Edda”, fälschlich dem isländischen Gelehrten Sæmundur zugeschrieben, daher auch „Sæmundar-Edda”), sie ist somit jünger als Snorris Edda. Sie wird aber deshalb "ältere Edda" genannte, weil sie auf ältere gesicherte Quellen zurückgeht. Die "Lieder-Edda" besteht aus drei Hauptteilen, nämlich Götterdichtung, Spruchweisheit und Heldengsang.

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Die faszinierende Welt der nordischen Mythologie von Mathias Stefan Pietsch. (German)
Category: Mythology & Epics |




Hot News or Hoax?

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Symbols on the Wall Push Maya Writing Back by Years by The New York Times. (English)
A vertical column of 10 glyphic words, uncovered last year in ruins in Guatemala, is unreadable even by the most expert scholars, but they know what it means - that Maya writing is older than they once thought.


The Power Of Mozart by TIME Europe Magazine. (English)
Over the past decade, Mozart has increasingly been placed in a role that is perhaps the most controversial of all: as healer of mind and body. In this New Age interpretation, Mozart is the ultimate composer-therapist whose music can help treat ailments ranging from acne to Alzheimer's disease and even, it is claimed, make you and your kids smarter.

Bigfoot where are you? by Electric New Paper. (English)
This is Bigfoot sighting season. The latest was reported just across the Causeway last month. And in November last year, three fish farm workers apparently saw two hairy beasts about 3m tall and a smaller, younger one, near Kota Tinggi. These unconfirmed sightings have excited a group of Singaporeans. In two weeks, 20 of them, members of the Singapore Paranormal Investigators (SPI), will head to the jungles of Johor.

Some news-links do not last long. In this case please send me a note.
Category: News & Stories |


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