The most complete picture of German-Scandinavian mythology can be found in the Edda. Originally, Edda was one of the works of the Icelandic scientist and statesman Snorri Sturluson, which contained an exposition scandinavian myths and a description of the techniques of poetry. In 1643, Bishop Brignolve Sveinsson discovered an ancient manuscript containing the texts of songs about gods and heroes and found in it coincidences with a number of poetic fragments quoted by Snorri. Sveinsson decided that this work was written by the legendary Icelander Samund the Wise (1056-1133); although this opinion was later refuted, the poetic manuscript began to be called "Edda Samund", "Poetic Edda", "Elder Edda", or simply "Edda", and Snorri's book - "Edda Snorri", "Prose Edda", or "Younger Edda ".
According to ancient Germanic ideas, at the beginning of the universe lay the interaction of two opposite principles: the first of them - Muspelheim, absolute top, source of fire, light, masculine principle; second - Niflheim, absolute bottom, source of cold, feminine principle. In the beginning there was the black abyss of Ginungagap, to the north of it lay the kingdom of mists Niflheim, and to the south - the kingdom of fire Muspelheim. In the kingdom of mists, the spring Hvergelmir gushed out and twelve powerful streams took their origin from it. The water in Niflheim turned into ice, but the spring beat incessantly and the ice blocks moved towards Muspelheim. Finally, the ice came so close that it began to melt. The giant Ymir and the cow Audumla emerged from sparks and melt water. Audumla licked the salty stones to feed Ymir with milk from her breasts. So she licked Storms - the powerful first man. Son of the Storm - Ber took the giantess Bestla as his wife, and she bore him three sons-aces: Odin, Vili and Ve. Ber's sons killed Ymir, and from his body they created the Earth: bones became mountains, veins - rivers, stomach - sea, hair - forest, skull - vault of heaven, brain - clouds. Having created the world, Odin and his brothers decided to populate it. The gods created the first people: from ash - a man named Ask, and from willow - a woman, calling her Ebla. They built a city for people - Midgard, in order to protect them from the spirits of the wild, from the giants - Jetuns and from dwarfs - zwergs, gnomes, etc.
It is interesting that the world according to Scandinavian mythology has two projections - horizontal and vertical. The horizontal projection contrasts the central world inhabited by people (Midgard-land) to the outlying lands (Jotunheim in the east, Niflheim in the north, Muspelheim in the south). Around the earth is the Ocean, where the world serpent Jormungand lives. The basis of the vertical component is the Yggdrasil tree, connecting all the worlds with each other (Midgard, Asgard, Muspellsheim, Niflheim, etc.). In the first song of the Elder Edda, "The Divination of the Volva", the nine worlds on the World Tree are described.
Vanaheim is a world where baths live.
Jotunheim - the world of giant jotuns, located east of Midgard (space behind the fence).
Utgarde is a transcendental world, "external" in relation to the earthly, material world, called Midgard, it is assumed that it is located in Jotunheim.
Liesalfheim - world light alves.
Midgard - the middle world inhabited by people (Earth)
Muspellheim is a fiery country, at the entrance to which the giant Surt (Black) sits. During Ragnarok, the "sons of Muspell" will ride along Bivrest and from their race it will collapse.
Niflheim is a world of eternal ice and darkness that existed in the abyss even before the beginning of creation.
Svartalfheim is an underground country of zwergs.
Helheim is the underworld, the kingdom of the dead, the domain of Hel.
The divine pantheon of Germanic-Scandinavian mythology is divided into two camps: the ases - the highest gods living in the city of Asgard, located in the sky, and the Vanir - gods associated with fertility, and living in the country - Vanaheim, located west of Midgard and Asgard. Ases and Vans were at enmity for some time, but later.
Ases
Andhrimnir is a kind of cook god who feeds the Einherians (warriors who fell in battle who ascended to Valhalla): he prepares for them the meat of Sehrimnir's boar (which comes to life every time after being eaten by the inhabitants of Valhalla) in the cauldron of Eldhrimnir.
Balder is the son of Odin and Frigg, god of spring, dying and reborn nature, patronizes agriculture and vegetation in general. With his death, Ragnarok will begin - the end of the world.
Ber is the son of the Tempest, the father of Odin and his brothers.
Bragi is the god of poetry and eloquence, skald, the husband of the goddess Idun. According to legend, Odin stole a magic drink - "Poetry Honey" from Guttung (one of the giants), and when he reached Asgard, he poured it into golden vessels, which he then gave to his son Braga. Since then, it is believed that true talent has been bestowed only on a select few.
Storms are the ancestor of the Aesir. In Scandinavian mythology, a mighty first man, Beur's father and Odin's grandfather.
Vali is the son of Odin the giant Rind. God of vengeance.According to the myth, being born, he fully matured in one day.
Var - the goddess of truth listens to and writes down the oaths and promises of people, and also takes revenge on those who break them. She is also the goddess of love vows and marriage unions. Her name is rarely mentioned in Scandinavian myths.
Ve - one of the three sons of Ber (Vili, Ve and Odin), who created Midgard, the world of people. We are often viewed as one of the incarnations of Odin. However, Loki's Bickering and the Yngling Saga indicate that Wili and Ve ruled in Odin's absence and slept with his wife Frigg
Faith is the goddess of omniscience. She is very wise and nothing can hide from her insight and intuition.
Vidar is the son of Odin, the god of silence, during Ragnarok he has to kill the wolf Fenrir, thereby avenging him for the death of his father - Odin
Vili is the son of Beur, brother of Odin and Ve.
Clay is a goddess who protects people from physical danger. Frigga's companion.
Gna is the goddess, companion of Frigga. Used by the latter as a messenger and messenger. Also known as the goddess of transformation, who raises consciousness to unattainable heights.
Gefyon (Gevion) \u200b\u200bis the goddess of virtue. Known as "supportive" or "giver". As a gift from her, you can receive a bodily or spiritual talent. Gevion is associated with farming, virginity and good luck. Girls who died virgins became her entourage in the afterlife. She was also considered the goddess of fertility. In addition, "Gefn" is one of the names of Freya, the goddess of fertility, love, beauty.
Yord is actually a Yotun (giant) but, like other Yotuns in connection with the gods, is considered a goddess. Mother Thor, goddess of the earth.
Idun is the goddess of eternal youth. Known as the keeper of apples, on the possession of which the eternal youth of the gods depended, the wife of the god Braga.
Lefn - sanctifies marriages between people.
Loki is the god of fire. Not an ace, but lives in Asgard. Mentioned as giving people "warmth and blush to faces." Loki is often considered deceitful, but this is not entirely true: the concepts of "lie" and "truth" are simply absent for Loki. He caused many troubles to other Aesir, in particular, led to the death of the god Balder. On the other hand, the Aesir often resorted to his services in cases where it was necessary to show cunning. Loki had the ability to change his appearance.
Magni - the son of Thor and the giantess Yarnsaxa, grew up in three days and saved his father, who was crushed by the defeated enemy. On the day of Ragnarok, Magni is destined to master Thor's hammer.
Modi is the god of military fury. Son of Thor and Seth.
Nanna is Balder's wife. She lived with her husband in the Breidablik Palace in Asgard. After Loki tricked the blind Hood into killing Balder, she threw herself into Balder's funeral pyre.
Odin (Wotan is a Germanic name, Svafnir) is the father of the Aesir and the wisest of them, the inventor of poetry and magic, an expert in runes and tales, the god of thunder and lightning, the supreme god and king of the Aesir, the master of Valhalla and the lord of the Valkyries. God of war and victory, patron of the military aristocracy.
Saga - serves Frigga and carries out her orders.
Sin - Protects people's homes from thieves, that is, is responsible for the safety of the house and household. Xing does not have a husband and is not anyone's mother. She is a minor goddess in legends, however she was worshiped in order to obtain her protection.
Seth (Siv) is the goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. It was considered the second most beautiful after Freya. Known for her magical golden hair.
Snotra - goddess of reason
Sjofn is the goddess of love and friendship. They call upon her when they want to attract the attention of a loved one or beloved.
Rig is the father of people.
Thor (Donar - Germanic name) - the god of thunder, with his hammer Mjellnir, plunging the giants - the enemies of the Aesir, the patron saint of blacksmiths, the protector of gods and people. Some Vikings (for example, the Danes, was considered the supreme god instead of Odin). The eldest son of Odin and the earth goddess Yord.
Tyr is the god of war, the keeper of military traditions, the patron saint of military meetings and battles, the son of Odin. Notable for the fact that his right hand is missing. Tyr lost his hand when the sir decided to chain the huge wolf Fenrir with a magic chain. According to one version, Tyr put his hand into Fenrir's mouth as a sign of the absence of bad intentions. When the wolf could not free itself, he bit off Tyr's hand.
Ull is Thor's stepson. Wonderful archer. All of his arrows hit the target, no matter how far and small it may be. Ull is also the fastest skier. People also learned this art from him. Patronizes athletes and healthy lifestyles and archers.
Forseti is the son of Balder and Nanna. God of justice and fairness, resolving disputes and restoring consent to disputants.
Frigga (often confused with Freya) is Odin's wife. Supreme Goddess. She patronizes love, marriage, home, childbirth. She is a seer who knows the fate of any person, but who does not share this knowledge with anyone.
Fulla is the goddess, servant of Frigga, who knows her innermost thoughts. She looks like a young maiden with her hair loose and a golden headband.
Hod is the son of Odin, the blind ace, the god of winter. Known for killing Balder with an arrow placed in his hands by the fire god Loki. For this he was killed by the ace Vali before he had time to say about his innocence, and went to Hel. According to legend, on the day of Ragnarok, he will return to the world of the living and will be among the new gods who will survive the last battle.
Heimdall is the son of Odin, "the most luminous of the Aesir", the guardian of the gods, guarding the Bivrest rainbow bridge on the border of Asgard and Midgard from the giants-jotuns. He sees day and night at a distance of a hundred miles and hears the leaves fall, the grass grows in the field and the wool on the sheep. He is a reliable guard, since he does not need sleep at all. From his belt hangs the golden horn of Gjallarhorn, the sound of which will be heard in all corners of the world. The sound of a horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.
Hoenir - referred to as breathing soul into people.
Hermod is the son of Odin and the brother of Balder, after whom he traveled to the kingdom of the dead on Sleipnir.
Ayr is a healing goddess, so she has no right to inflict physical harm. Eir emerged from the ninth nipple of Audumla and is one of the elder goddesses.
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Van
Compared to the number of Aesir, the baths are a rather small group.
Gullveig is an evil witch sent by the Vani to the Aesir. Represents the power of gold. The Ases tried to kill her several times (with spears and fire), but she lives now. Gullveig herself belonged to the van and knew how to use their magic. Her appearance in Asgard provoked a war between the Aesir and the Vanir - the first war in the world.
Njord is the father of Freyr and Freya. Njord represents the wind and the sea, but, like the other Vanir, is primarily the god of fertility. After the war of the Aesir and Vanir, he remained a hostage of the Aesir. Njord patronizes seafaring, fishing, and hunting for marine animals.
Freyr is the god of summer, harvest, wealth and peace. Freyr is subject to sunlight, he sends people rich harvests, does not like wars and quarrels and patronizes peace on earth, both between individuals and between entire nations.
Freya is the goddess of love and beauty. Despite the fact that Freya is from the Vanir, she lives in Asgard. There is no equal to her in beauty either among gods or among people. Freya has a magical falcon plumage that can be worn to fly in the form of a falcon. When Freya cries, golden tears fall from her eyes. Besides love, Freya is "responsible" for fertility, harvest and reaping. Harvests vary, and Freyja sometimes has seizures that make it permissible for her to reap a bloody harvest. Thus, Freya can bring victory in battle. In addition, Freya is the leader of the Valkyries.
In the German-Scandinavian epic, in addition to the divine ases and the Vanir, there are other mythological representatives of the world:
Tours - giants, are divided into several genera.
Rime giants- the first living beings (Ymir and his children) that appeared in the world even before the gods and people. During the murder of Ymir by the ases, almost the entire family of frost giants perished. It is believed that only Bergelmir survived with his wife.
Bergelmir, the only giant who survived the murder of Ymir, became the founder of a new kind of giants, the Jotuns. The Ases created a country (Jotunheim) for Bergelmir to the east of Midgard.
Bestla is a giantess, wife of Beur, mother of the Aesir.
Bölthorn is Bestla's father.
Ymir is the first living being.
Skadi is the daughter of Tiazzi. According to Scandinavian myths, when the ases killed her father Tiazzi, Skadi armed herself and went to avenge him in Asgard. However, the Aesir offered Skadi to choose one of the gods as their husband as a ransom for his father. She agreed, setting a condition: the aces had to make her laugh, which until then no one had succeeded. Loki tied a goat's beard to his scrotum and rode like that in front of Skadi. She burst out laughing, followed by all the other aces. Then Skadi was asked to choose a husband. She had to choose, seeing only the bare feet of the aces. The giantess pointed to one of them, believing that it was Balder, but her chosen one was Njord
Thiazzi - the lord of winter storms, with the help of Loki kidnapped Idun and her golden apples, was killed by Odin, who made stars from the eyes of a defeated enemy.
Trudgelmir is a six-headed giant, the son of Ymir, the father of Bergelmir.
Yotuny - descendants of Bergelmir - residents of Jotunheim.
Angrboda is a giantess who gave birth to three monsters from Loki: the wolf Fenrir, the serpent Jormungand and the blue-white death - Hel.
Baugi - the son of Gilling, the younger brother of Guttung, helped Odin to get the "honey of poetry".
Buleist is Loki's brother.
Billing is Rind's father.
Vafthrudnir is a giant who competed with Odin in wisdom.
Gerd is Freyr's wife.
Gilling is a giant who was killed by the minions Fjalar and Galar because of the "honey of poetry".
Gimir is a giant with whom Thor sailed to "catch" the serpent of Jormungand and from whom he later took the cauldron for a feast.
Girokkin is a giantess who helped the Aesir launch Balder's burial ship.
Grid is a giantess who gave birth to Odin's son Vidar; helped Thor.
Grungnir - one of the princes of the giants, who has a stone head and heart, was killed by Thor in a duel.
Gunnled is the daughter of Guttung, who guarded the "honey of poetry".
Guttung is the son of Gilling, who took the "honey of poetry" from the dwarves.
Lauweya is the mother of Loki, Buleist and Helblindi.
Kati is a giant identified with the wind.
Loki - yotun, accepted by the Aesir in Asgard for his intelligence and resourcefulness; a rogue and a joker, the cause of most of the troubles of the Aesir, Loki will cause Ragnarok and the death of the world, since he retained the malice and cunning inherent in the giants-yotuns. A cultured hero with negative coloration, a rogue trickster.
Mani is the moon god who controls the course of the stars.
Mimir is the blind keeper of the Source of Wisdom at the roots of the world ash Yggdrasil, to whom Odin gave one of his eyes for the right to drink from the source.
Modgud is a giantess, Hel's maid.
Mokkurkalfi - a giant sculpted by giants from clay to help Grungnir in the battle with Thor, was killed by Thor's assistant Tialfi.
Mundilferi, the father of Mani and Sol, was punished by the aces for his pride.
Narfi is the father of the Night (Nótt).
Ran, the wife of Aegir, helps her husband by collecting the bodies of drowned people.
Rind is Vali's mother.
Skrymir is a giant encountered by Thor during his journey to Utgarde.
Snor is a giant identified with snow.
Suttung is a giant.
Salt (Sul, Sunnah) is the sun, sister of the month of Mani.
Tokk is the giantess Loki turned into in order to prevent Balder from returning from the realm of the dead.
Trim is the thief of Thor's hammer.
Utgard-Loki is a giant from Jotunheim (Utgard), possibly one of the incarnations of Loki.
Farbauti is Loki's father.
Fjalar is the giant who will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.
Forgniet is the father of Kari, Logi and Aegir.
Hel is the offspring of Loki, a monster that personifies death, the mistress of the kingdom of the dead.
Helblindi is Loki's brother.
Hrod is Gimir's wife.
Moody is a giant who controls Naglfar, the ship of the dead.
Hraesvelgr is the ruler of the winds.
Egir (Agir) - sea giant, lord of the sea, friend of the Aesir.
Ellie is a giantess who, in a duel with Thor, forced him to drop to one knee.
Jarnsaksa - beloved Thor, gave birth to his son Magni.
Hrimturs is a giant who built Asgard by order of the Aesir. Loki was deceived and killed by the Aesir.
Fire giants - in German-Scandinavian mythology, giants, inhabitants of Muspelheim. They are practically not mentioned in the legends. All the inhabitants of the Tierra del Fuego (Muspelheim) are considered to be fire giants, and it is believed that no one else can live there. Lord of the fire giants Surt. Legends say that on the day of Ragnarok, he, along with his army, will oppose the Aesir. He himself will die, but his flaming sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil.
Logi is a giant identified with fire. Logi is mocking, cunning and mischievous, but can be mysterious and majestically mysterious. Logi is blood related to Odin, but they are antipodes. Wotan seeks to bring order to the world, the troublemaker Logi destroys it.
Muspell - the lord of Muspelheim and the ancestor of all fire giants, is most likely identical to Surt.
Sinmara is a giantess, a friend of Surt.
Surt is the lord of Muspelheim and the leader of the fire giants. His name means Black (Swarthy). On the day of Ragnarok, his hordes will move north to fight the Aesir gods. In battle, he will die, but his flaming sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil, and this will be the beginning of the death of the whole world.
Alves - in Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. Initially, the alves personified the souls of the dead, but gradually their role in the hierarchy of divine beings underwent changes.
In early Scandinavian-Germanic mythology, the Alves are an ageless, magical, beautiful race that lives like humans, either on Earth or in the world of the Alves, which was also described as existing quite realistically.
The "Younger Edda" mentions the division into dark (living underground) and light alves (living in the heavenly palace). In the late Germanic-Scandinavian sagas about the creation of the world, it is said that the alves were created by the first aesir (Odin, Vili and Ve) from the worms that appeared in the meat of Ymir. The dark (or underground) alves were given the kingdom of Svartalfheim, and the light ones - Liesalfheim.
Bright alves(elves) are skilled blacksmiths, wizards and musicians.
Völund - Lord of the Alves, a fine blacksmith
There are also some little-known ones, about which only the names of the light alves are mentioned - Baila, Biggwir, Dyokkalfar, Svartalfar
Dark alves (dwarves) are also skilled blacksmiths and sorcerers.
Alvis is a wise dwarf who wooed Thor's daughter and turned to stone by cunning.
Andvari is a dwarf who owns the treasures of the Nibelungen.
Brock - helped Sindri in the work, without ceasing, fanning the fire with blacksmith bellows.
Bil is the son of Widfin.
Widfin is a dwarf who sent his sons to get honey from the honey fountain.
Galar - referred to as the manufacturer of "poetry honey".
Dwalin - Forged the Gungnir spear, the Brisingamen necklace, the Skidbladnir ship, and the golden hair for Loki, who then gave them to Sif.
Otr is the son of Hreidmar.
Regin is the son of Hreidmar.
Sidri - Forged Mjöllnir's hammer, Gulinn-bursti boar and Draupnir's ring.
Fafnir is the son of Hreidmar.
Fjalar - referred to as the manufacturer of "poetry honey".
Hreidmar is a hero-sorcerer, to whom the Aesir handed over the treasures of the Nibelungs, cursed by Loki, as a ransom for the murder of their son.
Huke is the son of Widfin.
Eitri is the brother of Sidri and Brock.
Valkyries - ("choosing the slain"), in Scandinavian mythology, warlike maidens participating in the distribution of victories and deaths in battles, Odin's assistants. Originally, the Valkyries were ominous battle spirits, angels of death who relished the sight of bloody wounds. In horse ranks, they swept over the battlefield like vultures, and in the name of Odin they decided the fate of the soldiers. The chosen heroes of the Valkyries were taken to Valhalla - "the palace of the slain", the heavenly camp of Odin's warriors, where they improved their martial arts. In later Scandinavian myths, the images of the Valkyries were romanticized, and they turned into the shield-bearers of Odin, virgins with golden hair and snow-white skin, who served food and drinks to the chosen heroes in the banquet hall of Valhalla. They circled over the battlefield in the guise of charming swan-maidens or horsemen, galloping on magnificent pearl cloud horses, whose rain manes irrigated the land with fertile frost and dew.
Brunhild is a Valkyrie deprived of immortality, a warrior maiden, beloved of Sigurd and wife of King Gunnar.
Geirskogul.
Göndul.
Hun.
Lyod is the daughter of the giant Grimnir, wife of Wolsung.
Trud is the daughter of Thor and Seth.
Skogul.
Hild.
Sigrdriva.
Svava.
In German-Scandinavian mythology, there is also a prophecy about the end of the world - Ragnarok. The prophecy about Ragnarok was uttered by a dead seer (velva), whom he had specially summoned from Odin's grave for a while.
The forerunner of Ragnarok was the death of the god Balder, and then the violation of ancestral norms, bloody feuds of relatives ("children of sisters"), moral chaos. The Speeches of Vafthrudnir (The Elder Edda) and the Younger Edda also mention the three-year “giant winter” Fimbulwinter (Fimbulwinter), preceding Ragnarok.
According to the prophecy, on the day of Ragnarok, the monstrous wolf Fenrir will swallow the Sun, plunging the world into darkness, and the sea will overflow its shores when the world serpent Jormungand emerges from the depths. They will be joined by the fiery giant Surt with a flaming sword that will burn the earth, and the ruler of the afterlife Hel, and the insidious fire god Loki, along with frost giants - Khrimtus and Jötuns. From Helheim, the ship of the dead, Naglfar, arrives. All the Aesir, led by Odin, and all the Eincherias, who are summoned by the guardian of the gods Heimdall, will oppose them, trumpeting the Gjallarhorn - "loud horn". Before the battle, Odin goes to Mimir, the owner of the source of wisdom, asking him for advice.
One will fight in the battle with Fenrir and will be killed by him, but Odin's son Vidar will immediately break the wolf's mouth (or pierce him with a sword). Thor will fight the Jormungand snake and kill him, but he himself will fall from his poison. God Freyr will fight with Surt and, having given his sword to the servant Skirnir, will die; Heimdall - from Loki; Tyr - with the dog Garm. Seeing that neither evil nor good can win, the giant Surt will gather all the deadly power of the fire subject to him and bring it down to the ground, thus ending the battle of Darkness and Light.
But the death of the world will be followed by its revival: the sons of Odin - Vidar and Vali, and the sons of Thor - Magni and Modi, who will inherit the hammer of Mjolnir, will survive and settle in the place where the Idavoll valley (in the center of Asgard) used to be. Return from the kingdom of the dead and reconcile between themselves Balder and his murderer - the blind god Hod. Survive, hiding in the grove of Hoddmimir, and two people - Liv and Livtrasir, who again give rise to the human race.
Alves. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. Essentially the same word "elves", only in the pronunciation of some Germanic-Scandinavian languages. Initially, the alves personified the souls of the dead, but gradually their role in the hierarchy of divine beings underwent changes. In early Scandinavian-Germanic mythology, the alves are an ageless, magical, beautiful race that lives like humans, either on Earth or in the world of alves (elves), which was also described as existing quite realistically. This idea of \u200b\u200bthe alves, partially preserved, reached the Middle Ages, remaining forever in the languages, names, culture and genealogy of European countries. In later myths, alvas, on the eve of Christianity, are represented as spirits of the earth and fertility. There was a special ritual for honoring these spirits. The word "alv" (elf) during this period began to generalize in essence completely different creatures - in fact, alves and dwarves. Alves began to have some similarities with both miniature dwarfs and vanes. AT " Elder Edda»There is a mention of the wonderful blacksmith Velund, who was called the prince of the Alves. In the "Elder Edda" they are opposed to the highest gods - the ases. The "Younger Edda" mentions the division into dark (living underground) and light elves (elves) (living in the heavenly palace). In the late Germanic-Scandinavian sagas about the creation of the world, it is said that the alves were created by the first aesir (Odin, Vili and Ve) from the worms that appeared in the meat of Ymir. The dark (or underground) alves were given the kingdom of Svartalfheim, and the light alves (elves) - Liesalfheim. The "lower" alves are the prototype of another mythological people, the gnomes. Celtic Sids
Andhrimnir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Einherian chef, preparing the meat of Sehrimnir's boar.
Asy. (Nor.; Sir) - in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the highest gods. Asses, in Scandinavian mythology, the main group of gods led by Odin, the father of most of the Aesir, who loved, fought and died, because, like people, they did not possess immortality. These gods are opposed to the van (gods of fertility), giants (etuns), dwarfs (miniatures), as well as female deities - dis, norns and valkyries. They lived in the heavenly fortress of Asgard, which was connected to the land of people, Midgard, the Bivrest rainbow bridge. Asams - the warrior gods were worshiped by heroes and kings. Asami, besides Odin, were twenty-seven warrior gods and twenty-two goddesses. In myths, the most famous are Balder, Borr, Bragi, Buri, Vidar, Vali, Ve, Vili, Dagr, Dellin, Loki, Magni, Nyord, Thor, Tyr, Forseti, Freyr, Head, Heimdall, as well as the goddesses Eir, Idunn, Nanna , Nott, Saga, Siv, Sighinn, Salt, Frigg, Freya. Actually, in Scandinavian mythology, there are two groups of gods - ases and vans. The Ases were constantly at odds with the Yotuns (giants). At one time the Ases were at enmity with the Vani (gods of fertility). Runa Ansuz is associated with the aces. Wikipedia mentions 41 divine as.
Balder. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of Odin and Frigga, god of spring; with his death, Ragnarok will begin - the end of the world. Maybe Boldyr.
Belobog. Heimdal. Germanic-Slavic mythology. One of the few reliable references to Belobog is the Mater Verborum information. What can be asserted with a high degree of confidence for the White God is his eternal opposition to Chernobog and his connection with benefits. Obviously, most of Belobog's properties are directly opposite to those of his opponent, Chernobog. The opponent of Chernobog is Bel-god. Since Heimdall is the main enemy of Loki, Heimdall can be called Bel-god. The White God is the rival of the Black God, possessing the attributes of whiteness or Light. The White God, like the Black God, belongs to the gods of the older generation. The white god opposes the world of the dead and death. The White God, as well as the Black God, is associated with the birth of new life and destiny. The White God participates in the creation of the World, or prevents the corruption of the world. Good in the world from Belobog. The White God is an enlightener, he obtains and gives knowledge to people and other gods. The white god comes to our world from his own world to perfect it. In competition with the Black God, the White God acquires integrity and removes his own inferiority. Sometimes the White God is associated with youth, and the Black God with old age, but these are images of the same antiquity. Sometimes the White God has an emphatically bright (sharp-sighted) gaze, and the Black God is completely or partially "blind".
Bur. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of the Storm, father of Odin and his brothers. Maybe Bor, Borey.
Bor. In German-Scandinavian mythology, his sons, according to the Younger Edda, created the First Triglav - the sons of Bor. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve.
Bragi. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. God of poetry and eloquence, skald, husband of the goddess Idun. Bragi, in Scandinavian mythology, the skald god, the son of Odin and the giantess Gunnhold, the husband of Idunn, the keeper of the rejuvenating apples. Bragi was born in a stalactite cave where his mother Gunnhold kept the honey of poetry. The dwarfs-zwergs presented the divine child with a magic harp and sent sailing on one of their wonderful ships. On the way, Braga sang the touching "Song of Life", which was heard in heaven and the gods invited him to their abode of Asgard. When Loki, with his usual dexterity, orchestrated the assassination of Balder and returned to Asgard, Bragi demanded that the vile instigator leave, since the gods did not want his presence. Loki called Bragi a braggart, and he threatened to turn Loki's head away. Despite Odin's attempts to calm the audience, Braga's words infuriated Loki. Having predicted the death of the gods in parting, he left Asgard. Perhaps Bragi, the god of poetry and eloquence, is a god of later origin, which is associated with the deification of poetic inspiration, because Skalds were revered at the Scandinavian royal courts in almost the same way as rulers. Braga was usually portrayed as a bearded old man with a harp, and solemn oaths pronounced over the so-called Cup of Braga were sealed with his name. According to some scholars, a connection between the skald god and the historical Braga Boddason (IX century) is possible here. Maybe Braga, Kvasura.
Storms. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Aesir ancestor, Odin's grandfather. Maybe Bor, Borey.
Vali. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The son of Odin, who grew up and turned into a hero in a day. According to the myth, he avenged the murder of Baldr at the age of one day old. He is destined to outlive Ragnarok.
Vana. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a small group of gods associated with fertility at one time feuded with the Aesir. They lived in Vanaheim, far from Asgard, the abode of the Aesir gods. The Vanir possessed the gift of foresight, prophecy, and also mastered the art of witchcraft. In addition, they were credited with incestuous relationships between siblings. The Vanam included Njord and his offspring - Freyer and Freil. Ancient legends told of a war that ended a golden age. The reason for the first war was the act of the evil sorceress Heida, who came to the settlement of the Aesir, who beat the sorceress with spears and tried to burn her three times at the stake, but the villainess again rose from the ashes. The beginning of the war was laid by the leader of the Aesir, Odin, who threw his spear in the direction of the Vans. The gods of fertility went on the offensive against the heavenly village of the ases, but the ases turned out to be stronger, and the struggle ended with the exchange of hostages. According to legend, the Vans were considered the keepers of the sacred honey. The Vanir sent to Asgard the god of the sea Njord and his children, the twins Freyr and Freyja, and with them Kvasir, a wise man created from the saliva of the gods, who spat into a jug as a sign of reconciliation between the Aesir and the Vanir. The Ases also sent hostages to Vanaheim: Hoenir, the brother of the god Odin, who gave the first people feelings, and the wise Mimir. At first, Hoenir and Mimir were warmly received by the Vanir, but soon they came to the conclusion that they had lost on the exchange with the Aesir. The indecisive Hoenir couldn't say a word if Mimir was not around. The Vans decided that Mimir was not only the voice of Hoenir, but also his mind. Enraged, they cut off Mimir's head and sent it to the Aesir. One embalmed the head of the unfortunate man, then cast a spell over it, restoring the gift of speech. Subsequently, Odin instructed the head of Mimir to guard the magical source under the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Wanting to gain some of Mimir's knowledge, Odin gave him one eye for permission to drink from the source of wisdom. Before the last battle of the gods and monsters, Ragnarok, Odin must go to the source and there seek advice from the head of Mimir.
Var. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. The goddess of truth, hears and records the oaths of people, takes revenge on those who break oaths and promises. Var assures vows and private contracts - "varar", especially those between men and women, and punishes those who break them. Her name may also have something to do with the term "varda", it is a legal term meaning a guarantee, guarantee or liability, akin to the English "ward", and more extended - "vardlokkur", "ward-song" is a protective song. Its functions are similar to those of the Greek Hestia, who lived in the fireplace and heard all the oaths. The protection of Var is morality that preserves the integrity of the spirit. Its authority lies in the words we use to make oaths or to articulate our intentions precisely. With the help of Var, the word-desire acquires an independent life. Her radiance sparkles in the fire of the hearth, which is the heart of the house, and she especially cares about those agreements that are not advertised in society, the unwritten obligations made by relatives to family members. Her symbol can therefore be a hearth or an oathring, and she can be presented with a ring made of herbs and ribbons on which oaths are written, which can then be burned, or passed to a place with a horn in a circle. Maybe Barbara Krasa Long braid.
Ve. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Beur's son, Odin's brother or his hypostasis. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or a spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Waters" wanders the worlds.
Völva. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Prophetess from Hel.
Bel. Thief. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of omniscience. She is very wise and nothing can hide from her insight and intuition. Maybe Loyalty, Vera. True.
Vidar. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The son of Odin, the god of silence, during Ragnarok he has to kill the wolf Fenrir. Maybe Vedun. That is why he is silent because he knows everything.
Wili. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. Beur's son, Odin's brother or his name. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or a spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Waters" wanders through the worlds. Maybe Vil, Pitchfork, Samovily
Water. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Son of Ber, brother of Odin or his hypostasis. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Water" wanders the worlds.
Thief. Bel. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, she is "a wise and perceptive Goddess, therefore nothing can be hidden from her. There is a saying that a woman begins to understand something (vor) when she finds something." Her name means awareness, the ability to learn and understand. A thief is thus the power of intuition, the power of knowledge and silence. In the outside world, she acts as the famous "female intuition", the ability to interpret subtle, subtle thoughts in order to understand what will happen next, especially those things that men would like to hide or do not know how to express in words. On the inner plane, she expands discernment, she is our guide into the realm of the unconscious, where we keep everything that we have forgotten, or suppressed, or are afraid to see. It reveals what is hidden and teaches us how to interpret the symbolic language of our dreams. She appears in long dark robes and her symbol is a dark veil. A Thief's work is the development of intuition through the interpretation of dreams, seid, or reflections.
Second Triglav. In German-Scandinavian mythology, according to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bor, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav did it. (Song of Riga).
Gevjun. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, she is a virgin, and who welcomes all who die unmarried. Her name means "giver," which is also Freya's epithet. In Heimskringla, she appears as an independent Danish goddess. In the Yngling story, Snorri tells us that Odin "... sent Gevion to the northeast to seek land; she then came to Gyulvi, who gave her fertile land. Then she went to the giant's house and bore four sons from him. She formed from them a team of oxen, harnessed them to a plow and plowed the land in the west of the sea opposite Odense, the land was called Zeeland, and there she later lived.Scyld Sceafing ... took her as a wife. So she gives us land by raising her from the bottom of the sea, working with the elements (with the elementals of the elements). With her help, an empty field becomes a tribal homeland, and the god of sheaves gives a bountiful harvest. Like Freya, she trades in her charms for a sacred necklace. Some say that her lover was Heimdal, who saved Brisingamen's necklace from Loki. In Old English, "geofon" is used in poetry as an epithet for the sea. But Odin attributes to her the same profound knowledge as Frigg. Gefion is the path where Freya and Frigga meet. But in Hall F. rigg Gevjon bestows as a mother does. Through her power, you achieve unlimited wealth and never feel need. We appeal to her to fulfill at least part of our needs. Its symbol is a basket or cornucopia. The ritual dedicated to Gevion includes the exchange of gifts: may each participant bless her gift, put all the gifts in a cornucopia and place them on the altar.
Gefyon. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of Virtue. Known as "supportive" or "giver". As a gift from her, you can receive a bodily or spiritual talent. Having received as a reward from Gulfi an allotment of land that could be plowed by four bulls in a day, she, with the help of her four sons-bulls, dug the Öresund Strait, forming the island of Zealand.
Clay. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The goddess who protects people from physical danger. Frigga's companion. Maybe Glossy.
Gna. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Goddess of Transformation. Raises awareness to dizzying heights. Frigg's companion or messenger. The gna travels across the sky and sea on a horse named Hoof-flourisher / Hofvarpnir, carrying Frigga's words throughout the worlds. Snorri says her name means take-off or tower, but it can also be associated with a word representing a horse whinnying. Gna - Frigg's ability to soar over the worlds and overcome the limits; Hofvarpnir carries her, just as Sleipnir carries Odin. She is freedom, the ability to take off without restrictions. She transfers the thought of the goddess to other worlds and returns with information. Through Gna, we contact the goddess and hear her answers. It could also be seen as the power of astral travel. She appears radiant and energetic, and her symbol is a statuette of a horse. Since Gna is Frigga's link with the world, honor her, we must also take the goddess with us from home to street to the workplace. Actually, Frigga may remain in her secret place, but through Gna she goes with us when we go out into the world. In Russian, there are many endings with Gna. Maybe it's oppressive.
Yord. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of the earth, mother of Thor, the Russian God. Can be Solid, Smerd, Dirt.
Yotuny. In German-Scandinavian mythology, giants are most often humanoid. Descendants of Bergelmir are residents of Jotunheim. Jotuns, turs, in the later Scandinavian tradition - trolls, in Scandinavian mythology - giants. They are presented in two ways. On the one hand, these are the ancient giants - the original inhabitants of the world, preceding in time to gods and people. This is Ymir and his direct descendants (the so-called frost giants - Khrimturs), including Bergelmir, according to the "Younger Edda", who escaped in the ark when the gods killed Ymir, and all the frost giants drowned in his blood. The concept of frost giants includes their great wisdom. Such are Bölthorn - the father of Odin's mother, who gives him magical runes, and Vafthrudnir - Odin competes with him in wisdom ("Speeches of Vafthrudnir" in the "Elder Edda"). Apparently, the owner of the honey source of wisdom, Mimir, is also a giant, with the head of which Odin consults. The giant, the builder of the heavenly village of the gods, Asgard, also belongs to the same category. The Egyptians are opposed to the gods - the ases not only in time, but also in space - as inhabitants of a cold rocky country on the northern and eastern outskirts of the earth (Etunheim, Utgard), as representatives of elemental, demonic natural forces. They are the enemies of the Aesir, eager to take away from their last wives - the goddesses Freya, Idunn and wonderful treasures - the attributes of the gods, for example, Thor's hammer, Idunn's rejuvenating apples. With Y. Thor is always fighting, protecting Asgard and the world of people - Midgard from them. Such are the giants: Hold, from which Thor and Loki cunningly take away the hammer of Thor that he had stolen; Humir, from whom Thor, after fabulous trials, obtains a boiler for beer; Tiazzi, who kidnaps Idunn and her apples, but is eventually defeated by the Aesir; Geirrod, who sought to have Thor appear unarmed in Etunheim, but was still defeated by him; Hrungnir, defeated by Thor and his companions, despite his stone heart; finally, Skryumir, who tried to create the illusion of failure in the ordeals to which the giants subject Thor and his companions (Tyalvi and Loki) in Utgard (for more details, see the articles Thor and Loki). Loki, willingly or unwillingly, acts as an intermediary in relations between the aces and giants (the builder of Asgard, Thrym, Tiazzi, Geirröd). One, outwitting the giants of Suttung and Baugi, extracts the honey of poetry, guarded by Suttung's daughter Gunnled. Along with the ugly giantess old women (like Tryum's sister or Angrboda - the mother of the chthonic monsters Ermungand and Fenrir), Scandinavian mythology knows the beautiful daughters of giants; love affairs and even marriages with them are not uncommon among the Aesir. Such is, for example, Skadi, the daughter of Tiazzi, whom Njord marries, or Gerd, the daughter of Gymir, to whom Frey is wooing.
Idun. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of eternal youth, keeper of "rejuvenating apples", wife of the god Braga. Idunn (renewing), in Scandinavian mythology, the goddess-keeper of wonderful rejuvenating apples. Her husband was the son of Odin, the god of eloquence of Braga. The magic apple tree was cherished and guarded by three wise norns. Only the goddess of spring Idunn allowed them to harvest the wonderful fruits. From her inexhaustible casket, Idunn distributed golden apples, thanks to which the gods retained eternal youth. These precious gifts wanted to steal giants who wanted to deprive the gods of their strength and youth. Once the fire god Loki was captured by the giant Tiazzi, and in exchange for freedom promised to steal golden apples from Idunn. Returning to Asgard, Loki told Idunn about apples, supposedly having even more miraculous properties, and found by him nearby; the trusting goddess went with him into the forest, where Tiazzi was waiting for her in the guise of an eagle. With clawed paws, he grabbed Idunn along with her apples and carried them to Etunheim, the land of giants. The loss of apples immediately made the gods old, their eyes became clouded, their skin became flabby, their minds weakened. The threat of death looms over Asgard. In the end, Odin gathered the remnants of his strength and found Loki. Threatening him with death, he ordered the traitor to immediately return Idunn and the wonderful apples. Loki, turning into a falcon, flew into the domain of Thiazzi, turned Idunn into a nut and returned home with her. The giant in the guise of an eagle set off after them and tried to overtake the fugitives, but, flying over the high walls of Asgard, burned in the flames of bonfires made on the walls and turned into a handful of ash. Loki returned Idunn to her true form, and she distributed apples to the sick gods. Legends about golden apples, a symbol of youth and fertility, are known in Greek mythology (apples of the Hesperides). Maybe the Witch.
Kwa; sir. Kva; zir (Old Norse. Kvasir) - in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a creature that arose from the saliva of the Aesir and Vanir, who performed ritual mixing of saliva in a bowl at the conclusion of peace. Perhaps he originally personified an intoxicated drink (mash or beer). Kvasir was so wise that he could answer any question. Having reconciled the Ases and the Vanans, he went to teach the people of wisdom, but they listened little to the words of the little sage. Then Kvasir went to Svartalfheim. There he met two brothers-zwergs - Fjalar and Galar. They killed Kvasir and made a drink from his blood. Everyone who tasted it at least once became a skillful poet, for which the drink was nicknamed "poetry honey". The Ases brothers convinced that Kvasir died of his own wisdom, which no questions could diminish in him.
Lefn. Lofn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Sanctifies marriages between people. Maybe Glorious, Alaf (Nart epic)
Logs. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Spirit of the flame. Loki competes with him during the famous trip to Utgard-Loki.
Lodur. Loki. Loki's other names are Lodur, Loft. Can be Crafty, Quitter, Quirky (Loft-Backlash).
Lodur. In German-Slavic mythology, the insidious Loki could be a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time.
Loki. Loki, Loke. The god of fire in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology. Agni in Vedic myths. Fire is in Russian-Slavic mythology. Not an ace, but lives in Asgard. Mentioned as giving people "warmth and blush to faces." He comes from the Jötun family, but the Aesir allowed him to live with them in Asgard because of his extraordinary intelligence and cunning. Loki's other names are Lodur, Loft. The son of the giant Farbauti and the giantess Lauveya. Before the giants started a war with the Asami, Loki lived for three years in Yotunheim with the giantess Angrboda. During this time, she bore him three children: a daughter - half red, half blue Hel (goddess of the kingdom of the dead), the giant snake Jormungand and the wolf cub Fenrir. In addition, he existed for about a year in the form of a mare and gave birth to Sleipnir, an eight-legged foal, which Odin later rode. He also has two children from Sigyn: Nari and Vali (in other versions: Nari and Narvi, Vali and Tsarvi). Loki's traits are characteristic of tricksters: duplicity, resourcefulness, cunning, deceit. Loki is often considered deceitful, but this is not entirely true: the concepts of "lie" and "truth" are simply absent for Loki. He caused many troubles to other Aesir, in particular, led to the death of the god Balder. On the other hand, the Aesir often resorted to his services in cases where it was necessary to show cunning. Loki had the ability to change his appearance. So, in the form of a mare, he lured a horse (Svadilfari) from a jotun-mason who built Asgard, thereby saving the Ases from the need to give the latter one of the goddesses to wife. Enraged by Loki's intrigues, the aces caught him and his two children, Nari turned into a wolf and he tore his brother apart. Vali Loki's guts and chained to a rock, to three stones. Skadi, avenging her father, hung a snake over his head, the poison of which continuously drips onto Loki's face. But the faithful wife of the god Sigyn holds a cup over him, into which the poison is collected. When the bowl is overflowing, Sigyn goes to empty it, while poison drips onto Loki's face, and he struggles in agony. According to myths, this is what causes earthquakes. Can be Crafty, Quitter, Quirky (Loft-Backlash). Loki - The Black God is a chthonic character, but besides the blackness under the ground, he is subject to blackness on earth and blackness in the sky. Loki is chained underground as punishment for his antics. Loki's face drips poison from the mouth of a snake, and his convulsive movements cause earthquakes. Loki's daughter, Hel, belongs to the Underworld. If Midgard is considered the land, Loki is represented there in the hypostasis of the World (Midgard) Serpent. If Asgard is counted as heaven, then he, of course, is a black man among the aces, as Loft is a "sower of strife." Loki is one of the oldest gods from the older generation. His Vedic predecessor is Agni. Under the name of Lodur, Loki enters one of the Eddic Triglavs. Loki is associated with death and the world of the dead. The death goddess Hel is the daughter of Loki. Like Lodur, Loki participates in the creation of the first humans. He is "the culprit of strife. Loki influences the fate of the world, acting as the initiator and executor (distributor) of various affairs. His connection with fate, as a trickster, is justified by A. Platov. For example, Loki is the initiator of the creation of magical things, the construction of a wall around Asgard and the culprit of the violation of this The aces of the oath. He is the inspirer of the murder of Balder. The Ases have often got into trouble because of him, but often he helped them out with his resourcefulness. Loki the Chernobog is associated with underground fire. There is a hint that Loki is generally a relative of Surt ( It is Loki who successfully competes with Logi - the spirit of flame (their names are not accidentally consonant, remember Agni) during the famous campaign to Utgard-Loki.The wolf Fenrir is the son of Loki.After the capture of Loki, one of his sons Narvi was turned into a wolf Loki is the vodchik of the Ship of the Dead - Naglfar according to the Elder Edda "Loki is followed by the companions of Hel" during the battle on the field of Vigrid according to the Younger Edda. Finally, Loki is the progenitor of all witches. Serpent Jormungand (Midga rdsky Serpent) - the son of Loki. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve. Loki according to "Loki's Bickering" is Odin's blood brother. In addition, “his brothers Buleist and Helblindi”, and Helbdindi (Slepo-Hel) is Odin's heiti from the famous enumeration in “Grimnir's Speeches”. This is suggestive of the comparability of the triads Odin-Lodur-Khenir and Helblindi-Loki-Bulleist. Loki, as A. Platov writes, is a crooked reflection of Odin. (The latter, by the way, does not prevent the wicked Loki from being a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time). Loki, in turn, spoils the world created by Odin, Vili and Ve (and acts here as a dark hypostasis of Odin). Loki - "evil ace", "sower of strife", "enemy of the gods", "slander and deceiver of the gods", "blacksmith of troubles". "He has a wicked disposition and is very changeable, he surpassed all people in that wisdom that is called deceit." Loki is the Black God. The opponent of Chernobog is Bel-god. Since Heimdall is the main enemy of Loki, Heimdall can be called Bel-god.
Lofn. Sjofn accompanies Lofn, who "... is so kind that she begs the Allfather or Frigga to create a union between a woman and a man, even if they were previously denied this. Therefore, the meaning of the word" lof, "(permission / permission ), as well as lofat - strong praise of something by people. " Lofn can now be contacted by gays and lesbians. But the concept of "allowing" is no less important outside the realm of love. Lofn can help us allow ourselves all those things that prevent us from fulfilling our complexes or public opinion. She is the door to freedom and access to joy. Its symbol is the golden key. Maybe Glorious, Alaf (Nart epic)
Loft. In German-Slavic mythology, God is a sower of strife. The evil Loki could be a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time.
Magni. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. The son of Thor and the giantess Yarnsaxa, grew up in three days and saved his father, who was crushed by the defeated enemy. Maybe Mighty.
Mimir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology. Uncle Odin. As a sign of reconciliation with the Vani, the Aesir sent hostages to Vanaheim: Hoenir, the brother of the god Odin, who gave the first people feelings, and the wise Mimir. At first, Hoenir and Mimir were warmly received by the Vanir, but soon they came to the conclusion that they had lost on the exchange with the Aesir. The indecisive Hoenir couldn't say a word if Mimir was not around. The Vans decided that Mimir was not only the voice of Hoenir, but also his mind. Enraged, they cut off Mimir's head and sent it to the Aesir. One embalmed the head of the unfortunate man, then cast a spell over it, restoring the gift of speech. Subsequently, Odin instructed the head of Mimir to guard the magical source under the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Wanting to gain some of Mimir's knowledge, Odin gave him one eye for permission to drink from the source of wisdom. Before the last battle of the gods and monsters, Ragnarok, Odin must go to the source and there seek advice from the head of Mimir.
Nanna. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Balder's wife. The Hyperboreans had the God of Heavens Anu, they also had the goddess Inanna, the foremother of the good land and steppe, the Hyperboreans also had the seven-headed goddess Nan-from the abyss, the wife of Anu.
Norns. Norns, in the Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the goddess of fate. The first burrow was the wise old Urd ("destiny"), reading a scroll of the past. The second was called Verdandi ("becoming"); she symbolized the present. The third, Skuld ("duty"), kept the scroll of the future. The Norns lived at the source of Urd at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil, which they sprayed daily with moisture from the source. It was believed that the norns only determined the fate of the gods, giants, dwarfs and people, but could not dispose of it, although, it happened, they portended misfortune. For example, Urd told the supreme god Odin that he was destined to die in the mouth of the terrible wolf Fenrir on the day of the battle of Ragnarok. There is a clear parallel between the norns, the Greek moirae and the Roman parks. The norn were probably also spinners originally. However, if the Greeks and Romans believed that goddesses spin threads of fate of a certain length for each mortal, then in German-Scandinavian mythology, such an idea of \u200b\u200bfate is absent.
One. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Wotan (Godan) is his Germanic name. His name was also Svafnir. Father of the Aesir and the wisest of them, inventor of poetry and magic, god of thunder and lightning, supreme god, king of the Aesir, master of Valhalla.
Auditorium. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Odr. The Slavs and Russians have a God named Oderyshek (his day is March 22, when he gets close to the back). Odradek - The creature resembles a flat toothed spool of thread. It lives in the attic or on stairs, in the corridors in the hallway. The Odris-Rus tribes are well known among the Thracians who settled from the Danube to Central Anatolia in Turkey. The region of Troas and the city of Troy are known during the decline of Ararat in the 3rd millennium BC. Bed - bed - foot - pard. Obviously, the word "Rus" meant the totem of a leo-parda-lynx, the image of which accompanied the "trotters" from the bas-reliefs of Chattal-Guyuk to the temple frescoes of Kievan Rus. The king of the Balkan Rus (Odris) Teres in the V century. BC. creates an independent state on the territory of modern Bulgaria, which existed until the beginning of a new era. (G. Klimov)
Ollerus. Ull. Saxon Grammaticus in the "Acts of the Danes" mentions Ollerus, who allegedly reigned in Byzantium after the expulsion of Odin from there. Maybe Oleg, Volga.
First Triglav. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the sons of Bohr. According to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bor, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav did it. "Song of Riga".
Riga. Scand. Rig. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. The father of people. Maybe Rzhitsa. Rzhanitsa. Rigach. Rizhnik. The Slavs have a Spirit living on strips of rye. “The Song of Riga” tells about him as an enlightener (“Rig knew how to teach them advice;”) and the founder of the three castes in the literal and figurative sense. Since then, according to the "Song of Riga", people are already being born as thralls, karls and jarls, ie. the direction of their fate is determined by this caste (and the corresponding physiology, which is most perfect among the Jarls). At the same time, Rig-Heimdall teaches his third son, Jarl, that one cannot simply pass on through heredity, as happens with the usual occupation.
Saga. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Serves Frigga and carries out her orders. Saga (Old Norse Saga) is a goddess of Scandinavian mythology about whom there is little data. According to the Icelandic Dictionary, the name Saga is akin to "segja" (to say), and "saga", which means story, tale, legend, history. The word itself owes its origin to the fact that the first historical writings were based only on tradition, stories were passed down as sagas or legends for writing. The recorded stories were not new, they were already familiar to many generations. Storytelling was one of the entertainments at public meetings in Iceland, at feasts, weddings, etc., traces of such entertainments are even mentioned in the meetings of the Icelandic Althingi. The narrator of the sagas is called s; gu-madhr ("husband of the saga") or s; gu-kona ("woman of the saga"). (Cleasby and Vigfusson, Icelandic Dictionary). Competitions were held: who will drink more beer and tell stories. The saga, which is also synonymous with history, knows the names of ancestors and all family histories. She is probably the one who gives advice to disams and speaks through every old grandmother who keeps a box of family photos and remembers old stories. A manuscript or a golden bowl seems to me to be its symbol. A saga can be called upon to help tell or write stories, legends, etc. It helps us remember and understand the past. She is interested in personalities, families, cultural history and oral tradition. To get in touch with her, collect your family history and write them down. The ritual in honor of the Saga could be the storytelling in a circle. Light a fire in the fireplace and pass the bowl or horn around. According to the Grimnism; l of the Edda, Saga dwells on Sokkvabekk and drinks there daily with Odin from a golden vessel. Apparently, Saga is just another name for Frigga, Odin's wife. Müllengoff sees in Cage the personification of the sun's reflection in the water. In Tibet and among the Mongols, there is a mythological Character Tsagan Gertu Khan, the "white-yurt khan". Among Genghis Khan's most revered banners was Tsagan Sulde - a white banner.
Sib (Sif). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. Siv in Scandinavian mythology is a goddess, wife of Thor. From her first marriage, she had a son, Uu, the god of archers and skiers. Siv was famous for her wonderful golden hair (apparently a symbol of fertility). There is a myth about how Loki cut her hair, and then, at the request of Thor, forced the miniatures to forge a magic wig of golden threads for Siv, which looked wonderful: even the weakest breeze waving thick golden strands, and, in addition, the hair itself grew on the head ... Deciding to please the gods and leave them in their debt, the dwarfs used the heat remaining in the forge to make the folding ship Skidbladnir for the fertility god Freyr and the magic spear Gungnir for Odin. Returning from the forge to the abode of the gods Asgard with a wig, a ship and a spear, Loki met the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. They appreciated the craftsmanship with which these wonderful things were made. Loki invited them to forge something better and even bet on his own head that they would not be able to surpass the miniatures. Hurt, the brothers made for Thor the magic hammer Mjöllnir, a storm of giants. The suffering of the beautiful Siv, who lost her thick hair at the evil whim of Loki, was identified by the Scandinavians with winter, when stubble remains in the fields instead of a golden cornfield. Sofiy, Sofia, Sif, North, North, Savir, Sybir, Siberia.
Syn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Protects their human homes from thieves. Sin is the one who guards our borders. In Fesalir, she guards the doors of the hall and locks the entrance to those who are not going to enter there. In meetings, she prepares to rebuff those issues that she wishes to refute. "Syn" equals denial by saying no. Xing is the one who guards the doors we want to keep locked, whether they are physical doors or gates to our inner world. She is the power that allows us to understand what is true and what is not, and gives us the power to say no to what can humiliate or hurt us. She can be called to defend a home or sacred site, or to create a shield that can withstand physical or mental attack. In our meditations, she appears at the door of Frigga Hall, dressed in gray and holding a shield. Its symbol is a birch broom, which is hung on the door to ward off evil. In the ritual of worshiping her, we made our own sacred broom by imposing straw on a birch stick. Each woman, tying her bundle of straw, named the qualities that she wanted to give to this item.
Seth. Siv. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. Sofiy, Sofia, Sif, North, North, Savir, Sybir, Siberia.
Snotra. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of reason, wisdom and courtesy. She is smart and reserved, and wise women and reserved men are named after her. Snotra is given in the collection "The Vision of Gulvi" "The Younger Edda". At first glance, Snotra to some extent duplicates the functions of the wise Braga, but a close look reveals a rather important function in the characteristic of "restraint": mental balance, equanimity, which is one of characteristic features "Nordic character, firm" and is of high value in the system of personality assessment inherent in Asatr. Diana Paxton, in connection with the goddess Frigga, has a capacious characteristic of Snotra: "Snotra is wise, courteous, with gentle manners." In Old Norman "Snot" is a word meaning a bride or mistress. Snotra helps to acquire those qualities, social skills and morale that are necessary for a group of people to endure the long northern winter in each other's company. Snotra's lore goes beyond simple etiquette. She is the Great Lady, in her we find qualities that allow us to overcome physical and social adversity. She always knows how to do the right thing and has a deep understanding of human character and social relationships. She not only knows the rules of behavior, but also the reasons that give rise to them. In her character we find courage without bravado, nobility - a specific kind of courage that allows people of strong character and excellent upbringing to set a good example. Its symbol is a linen handkerchief.
Surt. Surtur. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the fire giant, the lord of Muspelheim. Surt rules the fire giants. His name means Black (Swarthy). In the "Divination of the Volva" ("Elder Edda") it is said that before the end of the world (Ragnarok). Surt comes from the south and its chthonic hordes, like the south wind, moving to the north, in the last battle they will fight the Asami Gods. In this battle, Surt, he kills the god Freyr, and then burns the world. According to legend, his sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil and this will be the beginning of the death of the whole world. Only the forest of Hoddmimir will remain as this is the only place where his fiery sword loses its power. Loki is probably a relative of Loki. Apparently, Surt sat on the edge of the Earth, Muspell, where he sat on the edge of this land of fire back in the days when there was neither Asgard nor Midgard (only Muspelheim and Niflheim). Chernobog (Loki Surt, Head). In the mythology of the Chuvash, the spirit is the patron saint of the house and family of Khert-Surt. This is a character of non-Turkic origin of the Finnish-speaking population of Eastern Europe.
Bohr's sons. In German-Scandinavian mythology, according to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bohr, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav (Song of Riga) did it. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve.
Sjofn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of love and friendship. The one that inclines hearts to love, both women and men. It is to her name that the meaning of the word "siafni", meaning affection, goes back. They call out to her when they want to attract the attention of a loved one or beloved. Her power extends far beyond passion or romantic love. Reflecting on her functions, it becomes clear that she manages a complex of loving relationships that women maintain family unity, including love for siblings, parents and children, and the affection that grows between those who work together. Her symbol is a pink stone heart on a gold chain. Sjofn collects and mixes hearts.
Tivaz. Tyr.
Shooting gallery. Tyr.
Tiu. Tyr.
Thor. (;; rr, Thor, Thunar, Donar). Thunderer. Donar is a Germanic name. God of thunder, with his hammer plunging giants - enemies of the ases and other monsters, patron of blacksmiths, protector of Midgard. Maybe Khor-Tor, Don from the Russians. In German-Scandinavian mythology, one of the aces, the god of thunder, lightning, storms and fertility. The eldest son of Odin and the goddess of the earth, Yord or Fjörgun. The name of the god's war hammer, Mjollnir, could once mean the word "lightning", forged for God by the dwarf brothers (zwergs), a symbol of creative and destructive forces, a source of fertility and good luck, had a massive firing pin, a short handle and always hit the target. Thor, the giants' worst enemy, had a lot in common with them. The red-bearded hero was very energetic and had an incredible appetite - he ate a bull in one sitting. Thor loved to measure strength with everyone. His huge bronze chariot was dragged across the sky by two goats called Tangniostr ("grinding teeth") and Tangrisnir ("grinding teeth"). With a red-hot hammer and a belt of power, Thor was invincible. True, he was unable to prevent Ragnarok, the day of general doom, but he was able to rid the world of the serpent Jormungand. Thor was constantly accompanied by the fire god Loki, who usually held on to the thunderbolt's belt. In some cases, Loki's resourcefulness and agility kept the giants on their guard. Thor's war hammer, Mjöllnir, served the gods as protection from giants and possessed many magical properties: it influenced fertility and death, could bring animals back to life, and blessed marriages. On the day of Ragnarok, Thor died at the hands of Loki's offspring, the Jormungand snake. The thunderer took off the ugly head of the monster and, moving only nine steps away from it, drowned in a stream of poison spewing from the open mouth of the dead creature.
Triglav II. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Second Triglav.
Triglav One. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the First Triglav.
Tridy (Third). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked to King Gulfi. Maybe one of the Triglavs.
Tours. (thurs). In German-Scandinavian mythology, giants are most often humanoid. Runa Turisaz is associated with turs. Scandinavian trolls. Corresponds to the titans in ancient mythology. Tours (giants) are divided into several genera, according to places of residence. Rime giants are the first living creatures (Ymir and his children) who appeared in the world even before the gods and people. Their direct continuation - the ice giants - the inhabitants of Niflheim. Jotuns, turs, in the later Scandinavian tradition - trolls, in Scandinavian mythology - giants. They are presented in two ways. On the one hand, these are the ancient giants - the original inhabitants of the world, preceding in time to gods and people. This is Ymir and his direct descendants (the so-called frost giants - Khrimturs), including Bergelmir, according to the "Younger Edda", who escaped in the ark when the gods killed Ymir, and all the frost giants drowned in his blood. The concept of frost giants includes their great wisdom. Such are Bölthorn - the father of Odin's mother, who gives him magical runes, and Vafthrudnir - Odin competes with him in wisdom ("Speeches of Vafthrudnir" in the "Elder Edda"). Apparently, the owner of the honey source of wisdom, Mimir, is also a giant, with the head of which Odin consults. The giant, the builder of the heavenly village of the gods, Asgard, also belongs to the same category. The Egyptians are opposed to the gods - the ases not only in time, but also in space - as inhabitants of a cold rocky country on the northern and eastern outskirts of the earth (Etunheim, Utgard), as representatives of elemental, demonic natural forces. They are the enemies of the Aesir, eager to take away from their last wives - the goddesses Freya, Idunn and wonderful treasures - the attributes of the gods, for example, Thor's hammer, Idunn's rejuvenating apples. With Y. Thor is always fighting, protecting Asgard and the world of people - Midgard from them. Such are the giants: Hold, from which Thor and Loki cunningly take away the hammer of Thor that he had stolen; Humir, from whom Thor, after fabulous trials, obtains a boiler for beer; Tiazzi, who kidnaps Idunn and her apples, but is eventually defeated by the Aesir; Geirrod, who sought to have Thor appear unarmed in Etunheim, but was still defeated by him; Hrungnir, defeated by Thor and his companions, despite his stone heart; finally, Skryumir, who tried to create the illusion of failure in the ordeals to which the giants subject Thor and his companions (Tyalvi and Loki) in Utgard (for more details, see the articles Thor and Loki). Loki, willingly or unwillingly, acts as an intermediary in relations between the aces and giants (the builder of Asgard, Thrym, Tiazzi, Geirröd). One, outwitting the giants of Suttung and Baugi, extracts the honey of poetry, guarded by Suttung's daughter Gunnled. Along with the ugly giantess old women (like Tryum's sister or Angrboda, the mother of the chthonic monsters Ermungand and Fenrir), Scandinavian mythology knows the beautiful daughters of giants; love affairs and even marriages with them are not uncommon among the Aesir. Such is, for example, Skadi, the daughter of Tiazzi, whom Njord marries, or Gerd, the daughter of Gymir, to whom Frey is wooing.
Tyr. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. God of war, keeper of military traditions, patron of military meetings and duels, son of Odin; he has only his left hand, for he sacrificed his right to bind the wolf Fenrir. Tyr, Tyr, Tiu, Tiwaz, in German-Scandinavian mythology "the god of battle", the son of Odin and his wife Frigg. His cult was closely associated with the cult of Odin, and both were sacrificed by the hanged. Probably, originally Tyr was the god of the sky, whose powers later passed to Odin and Thor. Odin's magic spear Gungnir, always hitting the target, may have once belonged to Tyr, as evidenced by the custom of the Vikings to throw spears behind the backs of opponents before the start of hand-to-hand combat, as well as the latest archaeological finds of magnificently ornamented spears dedicated to the "wise and bravest god" Tyr. One of the myths about Thur is associated with Fenrir. This monstrous wolf grew so strong that the gods decided to put him on a chain. Ordinary chains did not hold the beast, and in order for Fenrir to agree to put on magic chains, Tyur had to put his right hand in his mouth as a sign of trust. When the wolf realized that he could not break the bond, he bit off his hand, and the gods laughed for a long time at the suffering of Tyr. The demotion of Tyr in the hierarchy of the gods may be due precisely to the mutilation. A similar incident happened to the Celtic god Nuadu, who lost his hand in the first battle of Moyura and therefore ceased to lead the Tribes of the goddess Danu. In the last battle before the end of the world, Tyr fought the demon dog Garm, and they killed each other. In Roman mythology, Mars corresponds to the early image of Tyr. Maybe Khor-Tor, Tur.
Ull. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Not much is known about this ancient deity, but adherents of the Asatru religion find many attractive features in him. In kennings (poetic allegories), he appears as “as-archer”, “as-skier”, “as shield” (the shield is called “ash” or “Ull's ship”). As a skier god, Ull was repeatedly compared and approached Skadi. Ull has no myth of his own, but traces of the Ull cult have been found in Sweden and Norway. Ull, the god of winter, was the son of Siw and stepson of Thor (son of Siw from his first marriage to the star hero Orvandil). Thus, Ull belongs to the Vanir class. Ull, Like Orvandil, Ull appears to be much older than the Aesir and even the Vanir. Some researchers identify him with the archaic god of death, revered in Norway, where many settlements are named after him. The name "Ull" means "sparkling". In Scandinavia, it is associated with the northern lights. Ull appears to have played as important a role as Odin at some time, and was believed to rule Asgard during the winter months. Ull is a skier god, patron of winter. His weapon is a bow. His consort Skadi, whose name means “shadow,” was also once the local archaic goddess of death. According to other sources, Ull had a twin sister named Ullin. In all likelihood, Ullin is the Scandinavian counterpart of Holda, the goddess of snow. This hypothesis fits well into the general system of twin deities that stands out within the framework of northern mythology. When calling to Ull, one should turn to face north. His main rune is Eyvaz, an additional one is Vuno. Both of them will help to win the favor of this deity, but it is best to invoke Ullu using a linked rune consisting of these two runes. Ull was asked to grant victory in a duel, and he was also called to witness the oath. Therefore, one of Ull's attributes is the oath ring, which was placed on his altar. The Anglo-Saxons honored him under the name "Vuldor", meaning "sparkle" or "glory." Saxon Grammaticus in the "Acts of the Danes" mentions Ollerus, who allegedly reigned in Byzantium after the expulsion of Odin from there. Maybe Oleg, Volga.
Undines. Undines ("waves"), in the mythology of the peoples of Western Europe, are female spirits of water, inhabitants of streams, rivers and lakes. People believed that these beautiful girls, sometimes with fish tails, come out of the water and comb their loose hair on the shore. With sweet-sounding singing and beauty, they lured travelers to their kingdom, ruined them or made them beloved. It was believed that the undines could acquire a human soul by loving and giving birth to a child on earth. In medieval alchemists, undines are the spirits that control the water element, just as salamanders are the spirits of fire, sylphs are the spirits of the air, and gnomes are the spirits of the underworld. In Greek mythology, nymphs correspond to them, in Slavic - mermaids.
Forseti. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Chairman. Son of Balder and Nanna. Forseti is the god of justice and justice, arbitration and reconciliation. resolving disputes and returning consent to disputes. Forseti is the chairman of the aces dispute. Forseti was one of the wisest and most eloquent aces. Forseti ruled in Glitnir (Old Norse Glitnir - shining, so named because of the brightest shine of silver and gold from which it was made). Sitting in front of everyone. Court.
Fjergun. Germanic Goddess. This name is often compared with the name Perkun, which to some extent is preserved in the name of the mother deity of Germanic-Scandinian mythology - the mother of the Thunderer Thor is called Fjergun. At first glance, it is far from the original "Perk-un", but, according to scientists, descended from it.
Frigga (she is often confused with Freya). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Odin's wife, intercessor of people. The image of Frigga, whose name can be translated as "love" (frigu - love in Old English), which has come down to us from ancient times, is rather complex and versatile. Not only does she seem to take no offense at Odin's relationship with other women, she herself is said to live with his brothers while he wanders, and without objection from him. Indeed, the relationship between them is mutually respectful and their only known quarrels are political. In fact, the accusations made by Loki against most of the goddesses at the feast at Aegir suggest sexual freedom. So Njord says about Freya: "It is not a crime if a woman has a husband and a lover ..."
Fulla. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Faithful Servant of Frigg. She always helps the goddesses to cope with difficult work. Fulla is a virgin, with flowing hair intercepted by a golden ribbon. She wears Frigga's casket, takes care of her shoes and shares her secrets. Nanna sent her a ring from Hel. She may be the same Volla, named Frigg's sister, Grimm assumes her as a female counterpart of Foul, which may be the hypostasis of Balder (in this case, she was the daughter, not the sister of Frigg). Frigga sends her to mislead Geirrod. Fulla is the keeper of the Northern Feminine Mysteries. She is the threshold figure that holds the visible symbol of secrets. She is the one who can open Frigga's casket and give women access to treasures, keeping it in a place where no man can see it. Her symbols are a gold ribbon and a box that she wears. She presented herself as ice-cold as the moon, with long blond hair. To understand Fulla's powers, we must consider the treasures she guards. One way is to draw a box and write the names of our own resources and abilities inside it. Or you can take a real box and gradually fill it with items that symbolize the things we value.
Har (High). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked with King Gulfi. Presumably One. Maybe Khor, Khor-Tor.
Head. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Odin's son, blind ace, god of winter. Son of Odin and Frigga. Known for killing Balder with an arrow placed in his hands by the fire god Loki. For which he was killed by the ace Vali before he had time to say about his innocence. On the day of Ragnarok, he will return to the world of the living and will be among the new gods who will survive the last battle. Maybe Thin (sick, blind).
Heimdall. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. The son of Odin, "the most luminous of the Aesir," the guardian god of the rainbow bridge connecting heaven and earth. Heimdall is the guardian of the gods, who lives at the edge of the world and protects the Bivrest rainbow bridge from the giants-jotuns. He sees day and night at a distance of a hundred miles and hears the grass growing in the field and the wool on the sheep. His teeth are solid gold, and the golden horn of Gjallarhorn hangs from his belt, the sound of which will be heard in every corner of the world. The sound of his horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.
Hoenir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Mentioned as having breathed soul into people. Odin's companion and interlocutor. Together with Odin and Loki, he participates in the revival of the arboreal prototypes of the first people. According to the Divination of the Volva, he will live in the reborn world after Ragnarok along with Balder and Höd. The Hoenir crater on Jupiter's moon Callisto is named after this god.
Hermod. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of Odin and brother of Balder, for whom he traveled to the kingdom of the dead on Sleipnir. Hermod ("courageous"), in Scandinavian mythology, the son of Odin and brother of Balder, who acted as a messenger and messenger of the gods. In addition, Hermod, apparently, was related to the underworld, since it was he who was instructed to go to Hel to ask for the release of the deceased Balder. The brave god rode there on Odin's horse, the eight-legged Sleipnir. Arriving in Hel, Hermod learned that his brother had managed to occupy a high position in the kingdom of the dead. The messenger of the gods told Hel about the purpose of his arrival, and she agreed to let Balder go if all creatures and things in the world began to mourn him, and also allowed Hermod to return Odin's wonderful ring to Asgard, which he put on his finger in a fit of despair dead son... One day Hermod almost died on the way to Midgard, the land of people. Concerned about predictions about his future, Odin sent him to a foreign land to the Finnish sage Rosstof for advice. With the help of magic, Hermod was saved and hastened to return to Asgard in order to calm his father. In Greek mythology, to some extent, the messenger of the gods Hermes corresponds to him.
Hert-Surt. In Chuvash mythology, the spirit is the patron saint of home and family. The image of Khert-Surt is of non-Türkic origin and is apparently connected with the mythology of the Finnish-speaking population of Eastern Europe. (The spirits identical in functions to Hert-Surt with similar names were revered by the Finno-speaking peoples of the Volga region, for example, the patroness of the Kardaz-ava court among the Mordovians.) The word “surt” in the name of Hert-Surt is possibly related to the Russian “devil”. It was believed that Hert-Surt is usually invisible, and when shown to people, it takes the form of a woman or a girl in white. Hert-Surt lives on the stove (according to some myths, her mother Hert-Surt, Hert-surt amache lives on the stove, and Hert-Surt herself lives in the stable). At night, Hert-Surt spins yarn and sifts flour (the presence of mind can be detected by the noise that occurs during this process), braids pigtails in the manes of his favorite horses at the stable, and looks after cattle. Sensing trouble, Hurt-Surt groans or knocks. Hert-Surt does not like quarrels and abuse in the family; if Hert-Surt leaves his unloved owner, there will be no more happiness in his house. Moving into a new house, the owners invited Hert-Surt with them. Once a year or in several years, a holiday was celebrated in honor of Hert Surt, where small sacrifices were made to her: after the prayer and dinner, the hostess of the house put Hert Surt on the oven with a dish of porridge and cakes. In the morning, the porridge was warmed up and eaten by the whole family. Young women, visiting their parents' house soon after the wedding, brought Hert-Surt gifts so that they would be accompanied by happiness in married life. Hert-Surt in the mythologies of other Turkic-speaking peoples correspond to the Tatars. iyase, yort iyase, head. yort eyyape, karachaevsk, yu iyesi. Wed also brownies in the mythologies of the Finno-speaking peoples of the Volga region and the Eastern Slavs.
Hlin. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, she protects those whom Frigg wants to save, she is a refuge for those in danger. "From this comes the saying that he who escapes takes refuge (hleinir)." She appears in the place of Frigga in the following passage "Another grief Hlin experiences: when Odin goes forward to fight the Wolf" ("Volusp;": 52). Researchers generally agree that her first grief was Balder's death. Apparently, Frigga is identified with Hlin here, because in that case she was unable to protect the one she loved, Baldra, nor would she be able to help Odin when Ragnarok happened. Khlin provides personal protection and saves the victim from danger; she is a fugitive's refuge. If Sin's defense is protective, then Khlin's defense is more active, she fights for her charges and hides them from danger. She is the passionate rage of the mother, protecting her cubs. She defends against those who want to take advantage of a woman's vulnerability, as well as physical weakness in general. She is the Shield Thief. Her symbols are a blade or a shield.
Chernobog. In Germanic-Sandinavian mythology, Loki. Loki, as A. Platov writes, is a crooked reflection of Odin. (The latter, by the way, does not prevent the wicked Loki from being a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time). When creating a new World, Odin acts as Chernobog, he kills Ymir and violates the Order that was under Ymir, i.e. destroys the world that existed before Odin and consisted only of Muspelheim, Niflheim and the World Abyss. Loki, in turn, spoils the world created by Odin, Vili and Ve (and acts here as a dark hypostasis of Odin). Black Gods are dark characters associated with the lower world, the world of dead matter, they either come from the beyond world, or live outside our world and the hero comes to them; Their opponent turns out to be a hero, correlated with the White Light both literally (Lley - Balor's adversary has solar features) and figuratively; All of them lead by a force that opposes the Light - the world of the hero; Each of the opponents of the "whimsical character" is flawed in something. A meeting with the Dark enemy removes this "inferiority".
Eincheria. In German-Scandinavian mythology, "valiantly fallen" warriors, constantly after their heroic death living in the heavenly Valhalla and making up the squad of the god Odin. Carried away from the battlefield by the Valkyries, they spent their days in battles and nights in feasts, and the wounds they received in the daytime battle were miraculously healed by evening. On the day of the death of the world, Ragnarok Einherii will have to take part in the last battle of the gods with giants and monsters.
Eyre. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of Healing. An extremely good healer. "In" Svipsdagmal "Eir is the wife of Menglot, Living on Luffye, Mountain of Healing, concerning which it is said:" Luffa Mountain is high, the road up is not easy, the Sick halt can help. The healthy one will be able to overcome her, although the one who is subject to her height seems to be helpless. "Her name is also seen among the" handmaidens of Odin ", the Valkyries. Eir is the healer of the gods, her origin is mysterious and is associated with her skills in shaping destinies. Like many traditional healers, she goes where her services are required, acting as a family doctor. Apparently, she practices all the traditional medicine typical of women, based both on herbal knowledge and rules of healthy eating, and on spells. In our work with her, she seems strict but compassionate, its symbols are a stupa and a pestle.The ritual dedicated to Eyr may represent the making of amulets with medicinal herbs (angelica).
Elves. Him. elf - from alb - white. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a magic people in Germanic-Scandinavian and Celtic folklore. They are also known as alves (Swedish), sids (Irl.). In German-Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. Essentially the same word "flvy", only in the pronunciation of some German-Scandinavian languages. Elves were presented as anthropomorphic creatures of small stature, dexterous and agile, with long arms and short legs. Their occupations were determined primarily by their habitat. Elves living in the mountains were considered excellent gunsmiths and blacksmiths; and the elves who settled by the water were great musicians. In general, all these creatures were very fond of music and dancing. According to legend, the elves were a whole mythical people, divided into rich and poor. They could be good and bad. Like people, they were heterosexual and could bear children. There are legends about marriages between elves and humans. Like all spirits, elves were considered endowed with considerable supernatural powers. List of Alves in The Younger Edda: Light Alves (elves) are skilled blacksmiths, wizards, and musicians. Völund - Lord of the Alves, a fine blacksmith. Beila, Biggweer, Dekkalfar, Svartalfar. Dark alves (dwarves) are also skilled blacksmiths and sorcerers. Hreidmar is a sorcerer, to whom, as a ransom for the murder of his son, the gods-ases handed over the treasures of the Nibelungen, cursed by the minion Andvari. The sons of Khreidmar are Otr, Regin, Fafnir. Gandalf is a magician and sorcerer. Vidfin is a dwarf who sent his sons to get honey from Mimir's honey source of wisdom. Widfin's sons - Beale, Hewkie. Descriptions of elves in different mythologies differ, but, as a rule, they are beautiful, light creatures, spirits of the forest, friendly to humans. Many myths and writers do not distinguish between elves and fairies. In fantasy literature, elves are, along with gnomes, goblins and trolls, one of the "standard" races. In Germanic languages \u200b\u200bthere is a group of similar words "elf": Danish name "elv", Anglo-Saxon "aelf", Swedish "alv", Norwegian "alv" and Icelandic "alf-ur", which speaks of a single root, and therefore - about the former unity of ideas about elves among the ancestors of all modern Germanic peoples. The very origin of the Germanic word "elf" is much more difficult to understand, and hardly possible at all. Some researchers associate this word with the Romanesque root "alb" - "white", there is also an opinion that it comes from the Welsh or Scottish "ellyl" / "aillil" - "shining", going back to the Sumerian "ellu" - also "shining" (Elves from early legends were distinguished by their radiance, for an example see. the Anglo-Saxon word "shelf-science").
Yafnhar (Equal High). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked to King Gulfi. Presumably Loki.
Gulfi In German-Scandinavian mythology, the legendary Swedish king, originally a sea giant, who heard the stories of Gytheon about the Aesir and went in search of them; after long wanderings in the city, for his zeal, he got the opportunity to talk with three aces (Tall, Equal-High and the Third), who answered his questions about the origin, structure and fate of the universe.
SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY , mythological representations that existed before the 11th century. among Norwegians and related peoples - Swedes and Danes. In the 9-10th centuries. the Vikings brought these myths to Russia, the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland, but they survived only in Iceland due to its relative isolation and late Christianization.
Initially, the main ideas of this mythology existed among a group of related peoples (in particular, the ancestors of the present-day Dutch, Germans and Anglo-Saxons), who in the 1-5 centuries. migrated from Scandinavia south and west, to Jutland and the lower Rhine. It is through Scandinavian mythology that much more ancient myths have come down to us, once common to Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Icelanders, Dutch and Anglo-Saxons. The complex of myths that existed among these northwestern Indo-Europeans was never homogeneous, since the mythology of related tribes continuously developed until the Christianization of these regions (England in 597; Iceland in 1000). In the mythology of the northwestern Indo-Europeans, there are connections and parallels with the mythologies of the Greeks, Romans, Hindus, and also the Hittites. These connections can be illustrated by the example of the ancient Indo-European supreme deity - the Heavenly Father. The Indo-European form of his name is reconstructed as * Djevs (an asterisk indicates that the form is hypothetical). To the ancient Indians this god was known as Dyaus, to the Greeks as Zeus, to the Romans as Jupiter (Jovis), and to the ancient inhabitants of North-Western Europe as Tivas; the Goths called him Tiz, the ancient Germans - Ziu, the ancient Frisians and Britons - Tiu, the ancient Norwegians - Tyr. All variants of the name are unambiguously derived from the form * Djevs.
The two main literary sources of Scandinavian myths are -Elder Edda and Younger Edda by Snorri Sturluson (1178 -1241).
COSMOGONYThe ancient Scandinavians have repeatedly tried to explain the origin of the world. There are several conflicting explanations in Scandinavian mythology.
Allfather. In the beginning of everything was the All-Father; he lived at all times and had absolute power over his kingdom. He created the heavenly world, the earth, the firmament and the human race.
With all the similarities between the All-Father and the Christian God the Father, a number of modern scholars identify this supreme god of the ancient northerners with the ancient Indo-European Heavenly Father named * Djevs ("shining"), who was worshiped by approx. 3,500 years ago.
Ginungagap (Ginungagap). In the beginning there was the World Abyss - Ginungagap. Within it, in the north, lay a cold, misty, desert country called Niflheim ("the dark world"); in the south - the hot country Muspellsheim (Muspell sheimr, "land of fire"), where the fiery giant Surtr ("black"), armed with a fiery sword, ruled. In the middle of Niflheim gushed the great source of all rivers, the Hvergelmir ("boiling cauldron"). The northernmost part of Niflheim, shackled by a terrible cold, was ice fields and mountains that arose from the waters of Elivagar (livgar, "Stormy waves") - the rivers that have flowed there since time immemorial. The waters of Elivagar were poisonous, and when they froze, the poison froze to the surface. Where the smoky heat of Muspellsheim met the poisonous cold of Niflheim, the frost melted, and a giant arose, resembling a man in appearance. His name was Ymir or Aurgelmir. Ymir began to sweat, and a man and a woman grew up under his left hand; one leg conceived a son with the other: thus a tribe of frost giants appeared.
Ymir was milked by the primordial cow Audumla (uumla , "Nurse"), also arising from frost. The cow licked ice blocks that tasted salty: by the end of the first day, human hair had grown from the ice in the place she licked; on the second day - the head; on the third day a man appeared. It was Buri (B ri , "Parent"), handsome, tall, powerful. His son was Bor (Inrr , "Born"), who married the giantess Bestla, daughter of Bölthorn (B ltorn). The sons of Bor and Bestla were Odin (inn), Vili (Vili) and Be (V).
Bor's sons quarreled with the ancient giant Ymir, and three of Bor's sons killed him. From the wound gushed such a stream of blood that all the other frost giants drowned in it, except for Bergelmir (“howling like a bear”) and his wife. Odin, Vili and Be threw Ymir's body into the very depths of Ginungagap and made of it the earth: from the blood of a giant - the sea and all the waters; from flesh - the earth itself, from bones and teeth - mountains, boulders and stones. Like worms, dwarf zwergs crawled out of the earthen flesh, looking like little people.
From the skull of Ymir, the sons of Bor made the firmament, the corners of which were supported by four dwarfs. The earth was rounded, enclosed in a ring of the ocean. On the shores of the ocean, the sons of Bor assigned lands to giants (Yotunheim, "the land of giants"), and the whole world in the depths of the land was fenced with a wall from the centuries of Ymir and called this fortress Midgard (Migarr , "Middle earth"). Night, day, sun and moon.
The option outlined in both
The rapid movement of the sun and moon across the firmament is explained in the myth as follows: two monstrous wolves are chasing the heavenly bodies; the one that chases the Sun is called Deception (Skoll ), and the one that longs to swallow the Month bears the name Hater son of Hrodvitnir (Hti Hrvitnisson). Younger Edda
mentions the strongest of the wolves - the Moon Dog: "He will devour the corpses of all the dead and swallow the month."
Creation of the human race.
Elder Edda in songs Divination of the Völva (Vlusp 16-17) basically repeats the same story about the creation of people, but does not mention trees and clothes, and most importantly, the sons of Bor are called not Odin, Vili and Be, but Odin, Hoenir and Lodur (Lo urr): "... Odin gave his soul, Hoenir gave reason, Lodur gave blood and the color of the living ..."
COSMOGRAPHYIn the Viking era, a cosmography developed, where the World Tree - Yggdrasill ash - played the main role. Regarding the origin of YGGDRASIL, neither one nor the otherEdda do not give mythopoetic explanations, although there is a myth about the name of the tree. Yggdrasil means "Ygg's horse", and Yggr ("terrible") is one of the names of Odin.
Yggdrasil. The branches of the ash-tree of Yggdrasil are extended over all the worlds and rise above the sky. Of its three roots, one is in the world of the gods, the second is in the world of frost giants, and the third is in Niflheim. Under the last root is the source of all rivers, Hvergelmir, and the dragon Nidhogg (Ni h ggr) gnaws this root from below.
Under the root, which snakes towards the frosty giants, murmurs the source of Mimir, named after his guard, the supernatural being Mimir (M mir) - the archetype of wisdom.
Under that ash root, which ends in heaven, there is another source, the most sacred - Urd (Urr ). Near him live three norn sisters, goddesses of fate.
A squirrel named Ratatoskr ("gnawtooth") scurries up and down the trunk, carrying swear words from the eagle at the top to the dragon Nidhogg. Four deer - Dain (D inn), Dvalinn ), Duneyrr and Durathror (Dratrr ) - run along the branches of ash, eating leaves and bark. The wounds inflicted on Yggdrasil by the deer, the dragon Nidhogg and other snakes heal the norns: they draw water mixed with mud from the Urd spring and water the ash so that its branches and roots do not dry out and wither. An important mention can be found in the Eddic SongDivination of the Völva
: "... And I know nine lands - all nine from the tree of the root limit of the earth ..."
The "Nine Lands" are the worlds of the Aesir, Vanir, Light Alves, Dark Alves, Men, Giants, the sons of Muspell, the dead and, probably, dwarf zwergs. Yggdrasil should be seen as the structural basis of the matter of the universe. When Yggdrasil shudders, the end of the world will strike, Ragnar
Asgard (Asgar r). According to Snorri Sturluson, the order of creation was as follows: after the murder of Ymir, the sons of Bor created the earth, the seas, the sky, the land of giants, Midgard, clouds, people and, finally, Asgard, the home of the gods. It is a high citadel in the middle of Midgard, whose walls and towers reach the clouds, a citadel protected from giants by high bastions and sheer cliffs, but its roots are still in the ground.
All gods (except Thor, the thunder god) on the rainbow bridge Bivrest (Bifr st), which is sometimes called the Bridge of Ases, every day they come to the source of Urd, where they judge.
There are many wondrous chambers in Asgard, but the most famous palace is called Valholl, i.e. “The palace of the slain” - the men who died heroically on the battlefield. Access to Valhalla is blocked by the roaring Tund River (u ndr) and the locked gate of Valgrind (Valg i n r). The palace itself is huge, there are 540 doors in each of which 800 heroes can walk shoulder to shoulder. The killed soldiers can easily recognize these chambers, for their rafters are spears, their roof is made of helmets and shields, and the benches are covered with chain mail.
Hel (Not l). The people who inhabited the north-west of Europe in the era of the migration of peoples designated the underworld, the kingdom of the dead, with the word * halja, which was originally interpreted as a "place of secret refuge", ie. presumably a "grave". In Old Norse, this word began to sound like hel, and the Norwegians imagined Hel as the abode of fog and cold.
According to the lore of the Viking Age, those who were not chosen for Valhalla leave for Hel, where they drag out a miserable existence until Ragnarok; on this day the legions of the dead will leave Hel and, under the leadership of Loki, will oppose the gods.
Hel's descriptions are rather sparse. The entrance to Hel is a gloomy cave among rocks and abysses. According to some legends, this cave is guarded by a monstrous dog named Garm (Garmr ), sitting on a chain before the onset of Ragnarok. Further on the road to Hel flows the river Gjoll (Gj ll , "Terrible"). The bridge over Gyoll is guarded by the Maiden Modgud (M gur). Behind the bridge is the gate of Hel; the mistress of the chambers there - the offspring of Loki - is also called Hel.
Some sources also mention the Coast of the Dead (N strnd ) with a palace woven from living snakes: there are oath-breakers, murderers and adulterers who have to wade the Slid River (Slr, "Fierce"), where instead of water - daggers and sharp swords.
Hel is primarily a prison for those who break free and sow destruction in Ragnarok. These are the dead, Garm, the evil Fenrir Wolf, snakes and the dragon Nidhogg, as well as the main instigator of all deception - Loki.
Jtunheimr, the land of giants, different sources are placed in different places, although in the Viking Age two options dominate: either "in the east" or on the shores of the ocean surrounding the land. It is no coincidence that Jotunheim is also called Utgarde (Utgarr, "External limit"), i.e. land on the shores of the ocean, assigned to the giants by the sons of Bor.
Jotunheim was considered a country of high forests, mighty rivers, huge caves, gigantic mountains and gigantic distances - in other words, everything there was like in Scandinavia, only much more.
Midgard (Mi garr) is the world of people, located between Asgard and Hel, in the middle of the ocean, in which the World Serpent dwells. The path from Midtard to Asgard lies across the Bivrest rainbow bridge.
ASY AND VANAIn the era of migration of peoples, the ancient northerners called their gods asses (the word "as" -ss - and means "god"). In the Prologue toYounger Edda Snorri Sturluson is trying to build the word "asy" to "Asia", possibly based on the tradition according to which the cult of some gods came to Scandinavia from the south, more precisely from Asia Minor.
It is very likely that the gods really came from those lands, only not the Ases, but another divine tribe, in bothEddah called "vanami". The coming of the new gods is described in mythology as a war between the Aesir and the Vanir, in which there was no winner. As a result, some of the Aesir (Mimir, Hoenir) retreat into obscurity, while the Vana deities (Njord, Freyr and Freyja) enter the Scandinavian pantheon along with the Aesir.
One (inn) - the head of the gods and the father of the aces. His name goes back to the ancient northwestern European form * Wodenaz, which gave Vuotan in Old High German, Wodan in Old Saxon, Woden in Old English, and first Woden in Old Norse, and then Odin.
There are two equally valid explanations for the meaning of all derivatives of Indo-European * Wodenaz: one assumes that * Wodenaz was originally the god of wind or storm, who ruled over the dead, and the second that he was a divine magician and, sacrificing himself, bestowed wisdom on people. Father of the Aesir Odin has absorbed both qualities. As the god of the storm and the god of the dead, he is associated with his eight-legged gray horse, Sleipnir, who gallops mad in a leap, with Valhalla and the choice of the slain. As a god of selflessness and wisdom who suffered for the good of people, he donates one of his eyes to Mimir in exchange for a sip of wisdom from the Mimir spring and spends nine nights hanging from Yggdrasil, wounded, without food and water, “sacrificing himself” in order to acquire the runes of wisdom ...
The Eddic One also possesses the features of the ancient Indo-European Heavenly Father. “One,” writes Snorri, “is more noble and older than all the aces ... Odin is called the Allfather ...” The fight for primacy between the Allfather and Odin took place approximately in the 1st century AD BC, and the highest power * Wodenaz - under the Scandinavian name Odin - reached in the era of migration of peoples. Since his followers, the Vikings, were pirates and lived mainly by the force of their weapons, they especially emphasized Odin's belligerence, but this aspect naturally continues the long-standing view of him as the god of the dead, because he becomes primarily the god of the slain in battle. Now he leads the souls of the dead warriors, for whom he has prepared a palace - Valhalla. In fact, Valhalla is the place of the elect, for only those who fell the death of the brave could enter its gates.
As the patron of the Vikings, Odin wore a golden helmet. As a referee in battles, he was armed with a Gungnir spear that never missed its target. The second of Odin's wonderful treasures was the gold ring Draupnir, also forged by the dwarfs Brokkr and Sindri. Every ninth night, it gave birth to eight new rings. Odin put Draupnir on the chest of his son Balder when this light god lay on the Hringhorni funeral boat (Hri ngho rni). And then Hermod saw Draupnir on Balder's finger in Hel.
One Allfather, lord of the nine worlds, sat in the watchtower of Hlidskjalf (Hli skjalf ), where nothing could hide from his gaze. On the shoulders of Odin sat two crows: Huginn ("thought") and Munin (Muninn , "Memory"), whispering in his ear all the news that he heard flying around the world. Odin shares his food with two wolves - Gehry (Geri, "Greedy") and Freki ("gluttonous"). And Odin's food and drink is wine.
One often wandered incognito across nine worlds in the guise of an old man with a staff, one-eyed, gray-bearded, in a wide-brimmed hat.
Top (Trr ). The second most important after Odin “is Tor, who is also called Asa-Tor or Eku-Tor (“ Tor with a chariot ”). He is the strongest of gods and men. Trudvangar (Trvangar , "Fields of power") are called his domains, and his palace is called Bilskirnir ("indestructible" or "illuminated only for a moment") ... Thor has two goats - Grinding with his Teeth (Tanngnjostr) and Grinding his teeth (Tanngri snir) - and the chariot on which he drives; the goats are carrying this chariot ... He also has three more treasures. One of them is the hammer Mjöllnir (Mjllnir, "Lightning"). Rime giants and mountain giants smell the hammer, as soon as it is brought in ... And Thor owns another priceless treasure - the Belt of Power. As soon as he girdles them, the divine power will arrive twice. His third treasure is iron gauntlets. He cannot do without them when he grabs the hammer! "
Thor is the god of thunder. His hammer is a thunderstorm, a flash of lightning, a thunderclap; lightning and thunder are the sparks and thunder of his chariot being pulled across the sky by goats. The thrown hammer always returns to Thor's hands.
Thor is the patron of peasants and thrall slaves; it is very close to the ground. No wonder his strangely arriving power is calledjaramegin , "The power of the earth". According to bothEddam , Thor is the son of Jord (Jorr ), Mother Earth, and the husband of Sif, the golden-haired goddess of fertility. Thor also has other wives, he also has children: from the giantess Yarnsaxa (Jrnsaxa ) he has two sons - Modi (Md i , "Brave") and Magni (Magni, "strong"), and from Siv - the daughter Trud (Trr, "Strength") and Ullr's stepson.
Thor's main task is to protect Asgard and Midgard from the giants. Subsequently, the appearance of this god sometimes acquires comic features, and he himself becomes like a simple, stubborn, red-bearded giant. In Ragnarok, he dies, fighting side by side with Odin - he kills the World Serpent and himself perishes from its poison.
Balder (Balr ). At first it may seem strange that the Vikings, known in history as fierce and ferocious warriors, held the loving, beautiful god Balder so highly. “Odin's second son is Balder,” says Snorri. “Only good things can be said about him. He is the best, and everyone glorifies him. He is so beautiful in face and so bright that radiance emanates from him. He is the wisest of the aces, the most sweet-spoken and benevolent. He lives in a place called Breidablik (Brei ablik, "Wide brilliance"), in heaven. There can be no blemish in this place. "
Balder (meaning "lord") is one of the most attractive gods of the Scandinavian pantheon, and the myth of his life and death is very touching and beautiful. When Balder had a dream about imminent death, his mother Frigg took an oath from all things and from all living beings that they would not harm Balder. And since nothing could harm him now, the gods began to amuse themselves by throwing spears and shooting arrows at him. Seeing all this, the villain Loki took the guise of an old woman and visited Frigga, trying to find out from her that the insignificant mistletoe did not take an oath not to harm Balder. Loki quickly made a spear out of mistletoe and persuaded the blind god Hod (Hor ) throw it at Balder. Balder fell mortally wounded, and his shadow descended into Hel. Then Frigg asked the gods, which of them wants to win love and eternal gratitude, going down to Hel for Balder, and Hermod (Hermor, "Courageous") agreed to take Odin's horse Sleipnir and go to Hel. There he heard that Hel would let Balder go to Asgard if every creature in the world would mourn his death. Hermod returned with this news, and the messengers of the gods hastened to all the worlds, begging everyone to mourn Balder. And everyone mourned for him, except for an old giantess named Tyokk (Tokkr, "Thanks"), which was actually Loki's disguise. But since she did not want to mourn Balder, he had to stay in Hel. Such was the tragic event, the first in the chain of catastrophes that led to Ragnarok, the Doom of the gods.
Balder did not originally belong to the Scandinavian pantheon. Although the sources call him among the Aesir, as the son of Odin and Frigga, in fact he is from among the Vanir and his homeland is Asia Minor or Palestine. Like Adonis, he is a "bleeding god", a "lord" associated with fertility and arable farming.
Tyr (Tr). Tyr is unanimously considered one of the Aesir, but in fact he is one of the most ancient gods of North-Western Europe, Heavenly Father; however, by the end of the era of migration of peoples, he gave way to Odin.
Among the Aesir, Tyr looks like a rather vague figure; it is the god "whom the warriors must always call upon in their prayers."
The most important myth about Thur is associated with the monstrous Fenrir Wolf. When it became clear that this wolf would destroy the Aesir, the gods “occupied Fenrir Wolf in order to put the bonds of Gleipnir on him, he did not believe that he would be released until Tyr's hand was put in his mouth as a pledge. And when the aces did not want to let him go, he bit off his hand in the place that is now called the wolf joint. And therefore Tyr is one-armed. "
In Ragnarok Tyr kills the hellish dog Garm and dies himself from his fangs.
Heimdall (Heimdallr) is the son of Odin. This white ace is the guardian of the gods and dwells at the edge of heaven, guarding whether giants approach the rainbow bridge of Bivrest. Heimdall is associated with whiteness, clarity and good fire. He is also called Gullintanni because all his teeth are gold. He sees a hundred leagues away, night and day. He hears the grass and wool of sheep grow, and his loud horn called Gjallarhorn blows to the entire universe; with this horn, Heimdall will summon the aces for the last battle, when in Ragnarok he sees the approach of the forces of evil.
As a fire-carrying benefactor, Heimdall is the opposite of another fire-bearer, Loki, and sometimes the Skalds call him "Loki's terror." In Ragnarok, Heimdall will kill Loki and fall by his hand.
Wan: Niorr ), Freir and Freya. Even the main sources are perplexed about what happened before and after the war in heaven, but the results are clear: some of the Aesir went hostage to Vanaheimr, the land of the Vanir, and some of the Vanir remained hostage in Asgard. Then two aces - Hönir and Mimir - were exchanged for the hostages of Nyord, the father of Freyr and Freya, and he also remained to live in Asgard.
The hall of Njord in heaven is called Noatun (Natn , "Ship yard"). Snorri says of Njord: “He controls the movement of the winds and pacifies fire and water. He must be summoned on sea voyages and hunting for sea animals and fish. He has so much wealth that he can give land and all goodness to anyone who will ask him about it. " Married Njord to Skadi (Skai), the daughter of the giant Tiazzi, but she is not the mother of his two children.
At the time of the Vikings, Njord was defined as the god of the sea, but the ancient sea god of northwestern Europe was, apparently, Aegir (gir ), married to Ran (Rn ); Aegir does not actually appear in either one or the other.Edda , obviously already giving way to Njord. On the other hand, scholars believe that originally Njord was closely associated with the ancient German goddess Nertus, "Mother Earth." It turns out that the original deity was not masculine, but feminine and associated with fertility. In fact, the war of the Aesir and the Vanir is a war in human minds between the oldest religion Of the North and the cult of Njord, Freyr and Freya, who came from the south, from Asia Minor. Neither side won the victory, the northern and southern gods began to coexist.
Snorri says that "Njord had two children in Noatun: a son was called Freyr, and a daughter was called Freya." According toThe Yngling saga (Ynglinga saga ), these children were the fruit of Njord's union with his own sister, whose name is not named. Their marriage took place in Vanaheim even before Njord was taken hostage, and before his marriage to the northern goddess Skadi, who gave the name to Scandinavia. Frey and Freyja “were ... beautiful and powerful. There is no ace more glorious than Frey, he is subject to rain and sunlight, which means earthly fruits, and it is good to pray for him for the harvest and for peace. The prosperity of people also depends on it. Freya is the most glorious of the goddesses. And when she goes to the battlefield, she gets half of the killed, and the other half to Odin ... And she rides on two cats harnessed to a chariot. She is the most supportive of human pleas, and by her name, noble wives are called mistresses. She really likes love songs. And it is good to call on her help in love ... Freya is revered on a par with Frigga. She married a man named Od (r) ... Od went on a long journey, and Freya weeps for him, and her tears are red gold. "
Freyr and Freyja ("lady" and "lord") are associated with the Asiatic cult of "lord" exemplified by the cults of Baal, Adonis, Osiris and Tammuz. The core of their myth is the story of a god or goddess who was abducted into the underworld and remain in darkness while the upper world is in mourning. The time comes - and the deity returns, bringing with him fertility and light.
Other gods. Among the minor scandinavian gods Bragi, the god of poetry, husband of the fertility goddess Idunn (unn ); this also includes blind Höd, Balder's involuntary killer; and Vidar (Viarr ) is the son of Odin, who will avenge his father in Ragnarok by severing the jaws of Fenrir the Wolf. Ull, son of Siv, is particularly adept at skiing and archery; he patronizes soldiers who fight alone (perhaps Ull was once one of the incarnations of the ancient Heavenly Father Tivas). In addition to them, one can also name Forseti, the son of Balder, - this is the god of just judgment and law; Vali, or Ali (Vli, li), the son of Odin and Rind, who avenges Balder; Kvasir (Kvasir), the god of wisdom, in which the traits of the Aesir and Vanir were combined.
Three mysterious figures among the gods - Hoenir, Lodur and Mimir. Hoenir and Lodur, together with Odin, figure in the myth of the creation of the first humans, Ash and Willow. Lodur is mentioned only in connection with this act and only once - inDivination of the Volva ... Hoenir, too, soon disappears from the tradition, for he was given hostage to the Vans after the war in heaven: Njord takes his place in Asgard; but after Ragnarok, Hoenir, endowed with the gift of foresight, enters a new heaven. Mimir is the guardian of the source of wisdom; the Vans cut off his head and returned Odin, who "sang runes over her and thus gave her the strength to speak to herself, which allowed Odin to learn many secrets." Before Ragnarok, this head gave Odin advice of wisdom.
Goddesses. The oldest of the goddesses, apparently, was Mother Earth. Night (N tt) is also an ancient goddess, according to some reports she is older than Yord, in fact her mother. There are two more goddesses who claim to be the same age as Mother Earth. This is a solar goddess (for the Germans Sunna, for the Scandinavians Sol) and the sea goddess. Perhaps there was also a goddess of the underworld, some of whose attributes went to Hel.
Be that as it may, by the beginning of the Christian era, Mother Earth occupied the main place. In the era of the migration of peoples, Mother Earth became among the northerners a goddess named Yord, or Fjörgun (Fjrgyn ), later she takes the name Frigga. Frigga and her counterpart Freya are the fertile, joyful Mother Earth, while the rest of the goddesses of the Scandinavian pantheon are, in fact, just literary personifications of the qualities inherent in Mother Earth, such as wisdom or justice. These include Freya, Gevjun (Gefjun , "Giving"), Hlin (Hln , "Protector"), Saga (S ga, "Seer"), Eir (Eir, "mercy, mercy") and many others.
LOKI AND ITS SPIRITBoth people and gods were in a quandary when it came to Loki: who should he consider - god or devil? On the one hand, he seems to be an ace, on the other hand, he is imprisoned in Hel and will leave from there only to Ragnarok in order to take revenge on the ases.
Loki's father is the giant Farbauti (Frbauti , "Formidable striker"), and mother - Laufey (Laufey, "leafy island", ie tree), which suggests that Loki was originally the personification of a formidable fire that arises from a lightning strike in a forest tree. He is “handsome and handsome, but malicious in temper and very changeable. He surpassed all people with that wisdom that is called deceit, and he is cunning at all sorts of tricks. " Loki is a part of Asgard, but among the Aesir and Vanir he keeps himself apart, he is not their friend, his only goal is to destroy the gods and the whole universe. And here is the paradox: the gods know very well that there is evil among them and that they cannot cope with it, but they cannot do anything.
Loki's wife is called Sigyn, and his sons are Nari (Nari ), or Narvi (Narfi), and Vali (Vli). When Loki's machinations led to the death of Balder, the gods seized Loki, tied with the guts of Nari, torn apart by his brother Vali in the form of a wolf, and imprisoned him in Hel, where snake venom dripped onto his face. Faithful Sigyn, seeking to relieve her husband's torment, collects snake venom in a bowl. When the bowl is full and Sigyn needs to empty it, the poison falls on Loki's face and he convulses, causing earthquakes. Such confinement is quite a match for the evil spirit of fire.
Loki also had other offspring - the monstrous children of the giantess Angrboda (Angrboa , "Promising grief"), conceived in an outlandish way. Loki ate Angrboda's heart, which impregnated him, and gave birth to three chthonic monsters: Fenrir Wolf, World Serpent Jormungand and Hel. Loki's androgynous nature is manifested in myths more than once, because Loki, who turned into a mare, gave birth to Odin's horse - the eight-legged Sleipnir.
OTHER MYTHICAL BEINGSThere are a number of mythical creatures that are difficult to classify as gods, but they are more than characters in secular folklore.
Giants northern myths are not the same: these are frost giants hrimturs (hrimturs ) and later jotuns (jtunn),which can be called chthonic creatures, and fiery giants, embodying the destructive power of fire. In appearance, the giants look like giant people. By their grace, all natural phenomena and disasters occur: rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, forest fires, northern lights, frosts, etc.
Norns
(nornir) - ancient, powerful goddesses of fate, their names are Urd (Urr , "Destiny"), Verdandi (Verandi , "Becoming") and Skuld ("duty"). They spun the threads of human destinies and cut them off at the appointed hour. They were also called the keepers of the matter of all creation, because they irrigated the World Tree Yggdrasil with the water of the Urd spring, mixing it with mud so that the ash would not rot. Even Odin was subject to the norn; these deities are older than Odin, and possibly older than the Indo-European Heavenly Father himself. According to some scientists, the origin of the norn is associated with the phases of the moon. At the end of each day, darkness swallowed up Heavenly Father, giving the world over to one of the three hypostases of the Moon - a growing month (Urd), a full moon (Verdandi) or a waning month (Skuld).
Valkyries.
The Old Norse word "Valkyrie" (valkyrja) means "choosing the dead, the slain", and in the Viking era, the Valkyries were portrayed as warrior maidens: flashing with weapons, they raced on flying horses over the battlefield, deciding the fate of the war and taking the brave fallen by death to Valhalla. and then serving them at feasts in this palace. Sometimes the Valkyries are called the maidens of Odin.
But there is another tradition that depicts the Valkyries as creatures more primitive, unbridled, wild - not without reason they are called Hlekk ( Einheria
(einherjar), or the chosen dead warriors, live in Valhalla. After overcoming the Tund River and entering the gates of Valgrind, "the people killed by weapons" enter Valhalla, where the cook Andhrimnir (Andhrmnir
Ragnarok (Ragnark) is the scariest, creepiest and yet most poetic of the Scandinavian myths. The word "Ragnarok" literally means "the fate [death] of the gods." This concept includes the complete destruction of everything by the forces of evil, and in history there is perhaps no second equally gloomy concept of the fate of humanity and the gods created by it.
The prelude to Ragnarok will be the fall of human morality, when the whole world will be engulfed in war for three winters in a row. A brother will go for a brother for the sake of profit, neither the father nor the son will move a feeling of pity for each other. Then the fierce giant winter of Fimbulvetr will come - three winters in a row all year round, and there will be no other seasons, only snow falls from all sides, fierce winds and severe frosts. And then one Wolf will swallow up the sun, and the other - the moon. The earth and the mountains will tremble, the trees will tumble down, the mountains will break from top to bottom, and all fetters and chains will be torn and broken. Fenrir the Wolf will break free, and the sea will rush to land, as the World Serpent crawls ashore in a rage. Ship Naglfar (Nagl far), equipped in Hel, will take on board the team of the dead and, under the leadership of Loki, will sail from the swamps of Hel, caught by a gigantic shaft. Fenrir Wolf will rush forward with an open mouth: lower jaw to the ground, upper - to the sky; if there was more room, he would have opened his mouth even wider. Flames emanate from his eyes and nostrils. And next to the Wolf the World Serpent crawls, spewing poison into heaven and earth.
Amid this roar, the sky cracks, and the sons of Muspell rush from above. Ahead is Surt, surrounded by fire, and in his hand is a huge sword, shining brighter than the sun. As these dread men race across Bivrest, the bridge is predicted to collapse, and the hordes of Muspell spill out onto a plain called Vigrid (Vgr ) to unite there in Fenrir and the World Serpent. Loki leads there an uncountable army of the dead and places Muspell next to the fiery troops. Here are all the frost giants under the leadership of Hrymr. Innumerable ratias are lined up across the vast Vigrid field, a hundred leagues in each direction.
Now the god Heimdall rises and blows the horn of Gjallarhorn, raising the gods. One at full speed gallops to the source of Mimir, to ask advice for himself and his army. Ash Yggdrasil trembles, heaven and earth in terror. Gullinkambi shouts for the last time, summoning the Einherries: warriors and gods arm themselves and march on the battlefield. Odin is riding ahead - in a golden helmet, with a spear of Gungnir in his hand. He goes to battle with Fenrir Wolf; side by side with him - Thor, but he cannot help Odin, for he fights with the World Serpent. Frey fights Surt until he falls dead.
Garm, imprisoned in Hel, in the bottomless cave of Gnipachellir, breaks free. He enters into a fierce battle with the god Tyr, and they strike each other to death. Thor kills the World Serpent, but, having gone nine steps, falls to the ground, poisoned by the rotten breath of the reptile.
The wolf swallows Odin; but Odin's son Vidar makes his way forward and puts his foot on the lower jaw of the Wolf. This foot is shod with a shoe, which has been made in parts from the beginning of time. Vidar grabs Wolf's upper jaw with his hand and rips open his mouth. The wolf is dying. But Surt throws fire on the earth and burns the whole world. This is how Ragnarok, the Death of the Gods, takes place.
After Ragnarok. Ragnarok, however, is not, as is commonly believed, the final death of the Scandinavian gods. BothEdda tell about a new heaven, a new earth, a new Hela and inhabit them with the corresponding inhabitants. “Land will rise from the sea, green and beautiful,” writes Snorri. - Fields that are not sown will be covered with seedlings. Vidar and Vali are alive, for the sea and the flames of Surt did not destroy them. They will settle on Idawoll Field, where Asgard used to be. The sons of Thor, Modi and Magni, also come there and bring the hammer Mjöllnir with them. Soon they return from Hel Balder with Höd. Everyone sits down next to them and conducts a conversation, remembering their secrets and talking about past events, about the World Serpent and about Fenrir Wolf. They find in the grass the golden grasses, which were possessed by the ases ... And in the grove of Hoddmimir (Hoddmmir - read: Yggdrasil) two people took refuge from the flame of Surt - Liv (Lf , "Life") and Livtrasir (Lftrasir, "Full of life") ... And from them such a great offspring will go that it will inhabit the whole world ... And ... the sun has given birth to a daughter, no less beautiful than itself, and the daughter will follow the mother's path. "
Snorri's text is generally consistent with poetic sourcesElder Edda ... Endings of other manuscriptsVolva Divinations speak in the closing verses of the coming of one god, which, apparently, can be attributed to Christian influences.
The origin of the Ragnarok myth. There are some inconsistencies in the myth due to the fact that it was formed from several separate myths. There are two main ideas in Ragnarok: first, the destruction of divine powers by the sons of Muspell; and secondly, the help of the divine forces from the soldiers, who died a heroic death on the battlefield and were taken to heaven. But the eternal battle from which this concept grew, already existed separately in the Celtic tradition and in the tradition of northwestern Europe, and the death of Odin in the mouth of the Wolf and Tyr from the teeth of Garm is the same myth, but dating back to the Indo-European era and leading a speech about thethe disappearance of the gods. In this case, Ragnarok can be divided as follows: 1) the temporary disappearance of the Heavenly Father (Odin, Tyr); 2) the temporary disappearance of the "master" (Balder, Freyr) in the Lower World; 3) the eternal battle (eincheria); 4) Wild Hunt (Odin, Valkyries); 5) the myth of the flood (“the sea poured onto the land”) and 6) the myth of fire (Surt).
Ragnarok as a whole was formed quite late and, perhaps, is a purely Norse or Icelandic development of the myth of Northwest Europe. The Vikings attached great importance to the myths centered around the death of Odin and Balder. In both cases, the reappearance of God, his resurrection, was originally the underlying motive. Only later did the scribes focus on the Death of the Gods and began to talk in passing about the return of Balder and others. High-born kings and nobles - warriors and fatalists -, together with their skalds and bards, developed the "destructive" side of the myth, and it was it that was first of all rejected when peoples of the North adopted Christianity
Each of us knows the legends about the mighty fair-haired Viking warriors who knew no fear, worship their pagan gods and conquer vast territories of other countries. To the inhabitants of Western Europe, these warriors from the Scandinavian Peninsula were known as the Normans, and it is under this name that the inhabitants of Scandinavia are mentioned in most modern textbooks. The representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula called themselves Vikings, and several northern peoples lived on the territory of the peninsula - Germans, Goths, Swedes, etc. Unlike many other ancient peoples who could not divide one territory and regularly fought among themselves, the tribes and the peoples of Scandinavia have repeatedly united into powerful military-political alliances, and it was thanks to this that the Viking troops were able to occupy the territories of France, England, Ireland, Scotland and some Mediterranean islands at different times.
One of the main factors uniting the peoples inhabiting Scandinavia was. All Vikings believed in the same gods and followed similar traditions, so it is not surprising that the Norman tribes could always find a "common language" between themselves. The Norman religion was a complex polytheistic system based on the worship of deities, reverence for the spirits of nature, ancestors and mythical creatures - gnomes, alves, Valkyries, giants, etc. what religion there are as many traditions, mythical characters and legends as in the belief of the Vikings.
Worlds and deities in the Scandinavian religion
The gods of the Normans, according to belief, like people, had families and belonged to one of two clans: the Aesir or the Van. Apart from these two genera of deities stood the goddesses of fate norns , to which both people and gods obeyed, and also various mythological supernatural beings did not belong to divine families. According to Viking lore, in ancient times aces and vans they were at enmity with each other, but later they made peace, and began to jointly rule both people and some mythical creatures.
The family of the Aesir was more numerous, and most of the gods worshiped by the Normans belonged to it. The ases gods lived in Asgard - a fortified city built during the war with the Vani. Asses were considered deities of order, therefore, in their city, each inhabitant was assigned a separate place - a palace, and in each palace a palace of one or another god was erected. In addition to the palaces with the Aesir castles, Asgard was located Valhalla - the place where the Vikings who fell in battle spend. Valkyries , the warlike maidens taking away souls of the dead from the battlefield, also resided in Asgard. The most famous and revered Normans gods from the Aesir family are:
- Odin - the supreme god of the Aesir, the god of warriors, the sky and the lord of the dead
- Thor is the god of thunder
- Tyr - god of war and courage
- Frigga - goddess of marriage and procreation
- Yord - goddess of the earth
- Idunn - goddess of eternal youth
- Balder - God of Spring, Intelligence and Wisdom
- Bragi - god of poets
- Var - Goddess of Truth and Keeper of Human Oaths
- Snotra - Goddess of Wisdom, Decency and Politeness
Vanaheim
, the city and world of the Vanir, was the opposite of Asgard. The Vans, the most ancient gods of nature and fertility, lived in this city, and after the end of the war with the Aesir, deities from the Aesir family were admitted here. This city, according to the Scandinavian religion, was a seaside settlement in the midst of nature; there were many blooming gardens, all plants always bloomed and everything planted bore fruit. The most revered gods from the Van family were:
- Freya - goddess and fertility
- Freyr - god of fertility and summer
- Ull - god of fertility, law, sky and sea
- Gullveig - the sorceress goddess
- Aegir - god of the sea
- Ren - goddess of nature and storms
According to the Viking religion, in addition to Asgard, the world of the Aesir gods, and Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir gods, there were 7 of the following worlds:
- Jotunheim - the world of the Jotun giants
- Alfheim - the world of the light alves (elves)
- Midgard - the world of people
- Muspelheim - the world of fire giants
- Niblheim - the world of the ice giants
- Svartalfheim - the world of the zwegs (gnomes)
- Helheim is the world of the dead, in which the goddess of dying and rebirth Hel reigns.
Beliefs and practices in the religion of the Normans
The Scandinavian religion claims that the worlds of people and supernatural entities were created by the first gods, and three deities were directly involved in the creation of mankind: Trill who created slaves Charles who created the tillers, and Jarl, progenitor of warriors. Since the main method of extracting resources and new territories from the Vikings was war, it is not surprising that in the Scandinavian peoples the deities and entities associated with war were most honored, and they had privileges and high status in society.
The worship of the gods among the Normans was accompanied by numerous rituals and rituals, often including sacrifices. Some Viking gods, according to belief, had favorite sacred animals, and they were often sacrificed to them; most of the gods of fertility and the elements donated grain, vegetables and fruits, but the priests sacrificed prisoners of war to the gods of war and patrons of warriors. Sacrifices and rituals associated with the worship of the gods were performed in Uppsala
- the then capital of the peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula (now this ancient city is an administrative-territorial unit of Sweden). In Uppsala, a gilded temple was erected, around which sacred groves
, and it was on the branches of the trees of these groves that the priests hung the bodies of animals and people sacrificed to the gods.
Like the Vikings, they believed in the inevitable end of the world - Ragnarok. According to an ancient legend, the prophecy about the end of the world, in which most people and gods will perish, and all worlds will be destroyed, was said by the dead seer Velva raised by Odin from the grave. The prophecy says that before Ragnarok, both the gods and people will forget moral standards, and enmity will begin in families. Then a battle will take place between the forces of good and evil, but there will be no winner in it, and the fire giants will burn all the worlds with their flame. However, after Ragnarok, several gods, supernatural beings and two people will survive, who will build a new ideal world.
Viking religion and runes
Modern, extrasensory perception and the ability to predict the future, often turn to runes for help. And the most used for this purpose are runes of the Elder Futhark
, which were used to communicate with the gods, conduct various rituals and enchant things by the priests of the Scandinavian gods. According to legend, the Elder Futhark runes were mined by three powerful gods - Freyja, Heimdahl and Tour
... There are 24 runes in the Elder Futhark, and they are all divided into three attas - families. Each atta has 8 runes associated with the deity that got them.
The Elder Futhark, the oldest rune system used by priests and then by ordinary people exclusively for magical purposes, is still widely used today. It is believed that each rune initially carries a charge of a certain energy, by applying which, you can achieve specific purpose... Therefore, even now, in shops selling souvenirs and products related to esotericism, a wide selection of amulets from the image of the Elder Futhark runes is provided, and people who are engaged in fortune-telling and magic independently make runes for themselves from wood, clay or other materials in order to use them in their work.
