Deadlines
edit- Finish translations by the end of Tuesday 2nd
- Finish proofreading before class on Thursday 5th
- FInish final draft by end of Tuesday
- Dawson will put together all translated sections Wednesday
- Everyone proofreads complete text before class Thursday
Sources
editde:Kontinentalgermanische Mythologie: all sections except for de:Kontinentalgermanische Mythologie#Vorrömische_Eisenzeit and de:Kontinentalgermanische Mythologie#Römische_Kaiserzeit (roughly 1500 words)
Text To Translate
editFrühmittelalter
editTranslator: MissPersephone, Editor:
editNach turbulenten Umwälzungen der Völkerwanderungszeit gewannen die Franken unter den Merowingern nach und nach die politische Macht über Mitteleuropa, das zudem immer mehr unter den Einfluss des Christentums geriet. So bildet denn diese Periode religionsgeschichtlich gesehen den Übergang vom germanischen Heidentum zum Christentum, mit unterschiedlicher Entwicklung bei den verschiedenen Stämmen. Längere Zeit existierten beide Religionen nebeneinander und nicht selten kam es zu Vermischungen (Synkretismus). Der Zusammenbruch des Römischen Reiches führte zu einer vorübergehenden Verarmung der materiellen Kultur. Reiter mit mythischem Wesen auf der alamannischen Reiterscheibe von Pliezhausen
Ab der 2. Hälfte des 5. Jahrhunderts bestand das Heiligtum am Opfermoor von Oberdorla nur noch aus einem einfachen rechteckigen Zaun im damaligen See. Innerhalb dieses Zaunes wurden dann verschiedene Opfer versenkt. Nach der Christianisierung zerfielen alle Baulichkeiten, doch wurden ununterbrochen – wohl heimlich – noch bis ins 11. Jahrhundert kleinere Opfergaben niedergelegt.
Die literarischen Zeugnisse sind etwas bunter aber dennoch spärlich. Der Langobarde Paulus Diaconus erzählt wie der Göttervater Wodan von seiner Frau Frea überlistet wurde und er so den Langobarden nicht nur ihren Namen, sondern auch den Sieg verlieh. Einen aufsehenerregenden Fund bietet die Runeninschrift auf einer Fibel aus Nordendorf, die die Götter Wodan und Wigi-Þonar nennt. Gleichzeitig, als diese Fibel ins Grab gelangte, wurde der irische Missionar Columban bei Bregenz Zeuge eines Bieropfers an Wodan. Nicht minder erschreckte ihn, dass in der dortigen Aurelius-Kirche neben dem christlichen Gott auch heidnische Götter verehrt wurden.
Translation:
editEarly Middle Ages
editAfter the turbulent upheavals of the Migration Period, the Franks lost ground to the Merovingians, and with it, political power over Central Europe, a region increasingly falling under the influence of Christianity. As a result, this period of transition from Germanic paganism to Christianity was formed from a religious history perspective, with differing development among the various tribes. For a time, both religions existed alongside each other, and frequently, mixing (syncretism) occurred. The collapse of the Roman Empire led to a temporary decline of material culture.
From the second half of the 5th century, the sanctuary at the sacrificial bog of Oberdorla, Opfermoor Vogtei, consisted only of a simple rectangular fence in the lake that existed at the time. Different sacrificial victims were submerged in the area inside this fence. Although the structures decayed after Christianization occurred, smaller offerings continued to be deposited until the 11th century - most likely secretly.
The literary sources are somewhat more colorful but still sparse. The Lombard Paulus Diaconus recounts how Wodan (Odin), father of the Gods, was outwitted by his wife, Frea (Frigg), and gave the Lombards not only their name but also their victory. A sensational discovery is the runic inscription on a brooch from Nordendorf, which names the gods Wodan and Þonar (Thor). At the same time this brooch was placed in the grave, the Irish missionary Columbanus was witness to a beer offering to Wodan near Bregenz. He was just as appalled by this as when he saw that in the local church of Aurelius, pagan gods were honoured right next to the Christian god.
Notes from translator: Not sure how best to translate 'verschiedenen Stämmen' = various groups? Also, why does Christianity and Christian get capitalised when pagan and paganism don't?
Translator: Rainbow-Unihorn, Editor: Pandionium
editUnd ein Gesetz von Karl dem Großen über Unzucht meint, dass diese von einem Manne namens Fricco herrührten, ein deutlicher Hinweis auf den phallischen Fruchtbarkeitsgott, wie er z. B. auch im Tempel zu Uppsala in Schweden verehrt wurde.
Der Zweite Merseburger Zauberspruch erzählt, wie Wodan und Phol in den Wald ritten und einen kleinen Unfall erlitten, worauf sich mehrere Göttinnen ans Werk machten, doch erst die Zauberkenntnisse von Wodan verhalfen dem gestrauchelten Pferd wieder auf die Beine. Der alemannische Pariser Segen gegen Fallsucht beginnt mit dem stabreimenden Anruf des Donnergottes: „Doner diutigo diete wigo!“ (Donar Vertrauter, Volks-Kämpfer!)
Aus den überlieferten frühmittelalterlichen Quellen sind folgende mythische Gestalten bekannt:
Gottheiten: Wodan/Gaus – Donar – Frija – Sunna – Saxnote – Hirmin – Fositæ – Fricco – Idisi sowie die nur im zweiten Merseburger Zauberspruch überlieferten Namen Phol, Volla und Sinhtgunt, über deren Bedeutung keine gesicherten Erkenntnisse vorliegen. Mythische Helden: Wieland der Schmied – Langobarden: Gungingi: Ibor und Agio sowie deren Mutter Gambara – Sachsen: Hathagat, Iring. Mythischer Berg: Himilinberc. Literarisch genannte Kultplätze: „Donareiche“ (Robur Iovis) in Hessen – Irminsul bei den Sachsen, Hain der Nerthus bei den Langobarden.
Die wichtigsten Zeugnisse dieser Zeit sind:
Texte: Langobarden: Paulus Diaconus; Origo Gentis Langobardorum; Edictus Rothari – Alemannen: Vita Columbani; Pariser Segen – Franken & Thüringer: Merseburger Zaubersprüche – Sachsen: Abrenuntiatio Sax.; Widukind von Corvey; Rudolf von Fulda – Friesen: Vita Willibrordi. Runeninschriften: Nordendorf – Pforzen – Balingen – Schretzheim Brakteaten: Daxlanden – Welschingen – Aschersleben – Obermöllern
Translation
editAlso, a law against sodomy passed by Charlemagne states that this behavior originates from a man named Fricco (Freyr). It clearly points to the phallic god of fertility, who was worshipped in the Temple at Uppsala in Sweden amongst other temples.
The second Merseburg charm tells the story of Wodan (Odin) and Phol, who rode into the forest, where Wodan heals the sprained ankle of Balder's horse after several goddesses failed to do so before him. The Alemannic Parisian blessing against falling sickness begins with an alliterate call to the thunder god Donar (Thor): „Doner diutigo diete wigo!“ (In Thor we trust, people-fighter!)
The following mythical figures are known from traditional early medieval sources:
- Gods: Wodan/Gaut (Odin) – Þonar (Thor) – Frija (Frigg) – Sunna – Saxnote (Týr) – Hirmin – Fositæ (Forseti) – Fricco (Freyr) – dís as well as Phol, Volla (Fulla) und Sinthgunt, which are only mentioned in the second Merseburg charm and their meaning/significance is still unclear
- Mythical heroes: Wayland the Smith – Lombards: Gungingi: Ybor (Ibor) and Agio (Ajo) as well as their mother Gambara – Saxons: Hathagat, Iring.
- Mythical mountain: Himilinberc (Himinbjörg).
- Ritual places mentioned in literature: Donar's Oak in Hesse/Hessia – Irminsul in Saxony – grove of Nerthus in the Lombard kingdom.
The most important testimonies from that period:
- Texts: Lombards: Paulus Diaconus; Origo Gentis Langobardorum; Edictus Rothari – Alamanni: Vita Columbani; Parisian blessing – Franks and Thuringii: Merseburger Zaubersprüche – Saxons: Abrenuntiatio Sax.; Widukind von Corvey; Rudolf vof Fulda – Frisians: Vita Willibrord.
- Runic inscriptions: Nordendorf – Pforzen – Balingen – Schretzheim
- Bracteate: Daxlanden – Welschingen – Aschersleben – Obermöllern
Notes from translator
- in the second paragraph, not sure whether I should use falling sickness or epilepsy
- in general: unsure which "version" of the name of the person/place/thing/... I should use
proofreaders comments:
I think "falling sickness" seems more fitting, because epilepsy is probably a word that came far after the time that is talking about
1st sentence you probably do not need "for example" and "as well" both in the sentence
The sentence about the story about Wodan and Phol can hardly be understood. you might want to separate that into two sentences with a bit more order what goes on and what follows. Let's talk about that in class.
"The following mythical figures are known from traditional early medieval sources" - i feel like "are known" would fit better at the end of the sentence.
"Volla und Sinhtgunt, which" German word sneaked in / who better option? / letter mixup in Sinthgunt
As for the names, I would (and did) use the english names you found in wikipedia, as they can then follow them if they want to.
translator: Pandionium, editor AmWoll
editObwohl die Goten zu den Ostgermanen zählen, seien sie hier aufgelistet. Gottheiten: Gapt – Ansis – Dounabis (die Donau). Quellen: Jordanes, Runeninschrift von Pietroassa; röm. Schriftsteller.
Siehe auch die Südgermanische Gottheiten in der frühmittelalterlichen Überlieferung.
Ausdrücke aus der Kosmologie und Eschatologie: Erde und Himmel: ahd. ero ⁊ ufhimil, as. ertha endi uphimil, got. airþa jah himins; Erde als Wohnort der Menschen: ahd. mittigart, as. middilgart, got. midjungards; Unterirdische Totenwelt: ahd. hellea, as. hellia, got. halja; Weltuntergang: ahd. muspilli, as. mutspelli. Als literarische Zeugnisse liegen vor das Wessobrunner Schöpfungsgedicht (Kosmogonie) und das in Stabreimen abgefasste Muspilli (Eschatologie).
Nicht direkt zur Mythologie gehören Heldensagen, die teilweise auf historischen Personen basieren (Etzilo, Dietrîch von Berne, Hiltibrant, Nebulones, Gibicho, Gunthari, Walthari Manufortis).
Weibliche Volksglaubensgestalten im Mittelalter
Im Mittelalter und der frühen Neuzeit waren im gesamten deutschen Sprachgebiet Sagen über weibliche Numina weit verbreitet. In Süddeutschland war das entsprechende Numen unter dem Namen Perchta bekannt, in Mitteldeutschland unter dem Namen Frau Holle und in Norddeutschland unter verschiedenen Namen wie Frau Herke/Harre, Frau Frick(e), Frau Gode/Wode. Insbesondere Frauen brachten ihnen auch noch in christlicher Zeit kleinere Speiseopfer dar. Die Kirche bekämpfte solche Handlungen energisch und bezeichnete sie als Aberglauben.
Diese Numina traten nach den Sagen und Erzählungen insbesondere in den Zwölften auf und kontrollierten, ob das zu dieser Zeit bestehende Spinnverbot eingehalten wurde.
Translation:
Although the Goths were part of the eastern germanic tribes, their gods included Gaut – Æsir – Dounabis (River Danube); sources: Jordanes, Ring of Pietroassa.
Important terms from Physical cosmology and Eschatology: Earth and Sky/Heaven ohg.(old high German) ero / ufhimil, os.(old saxon) ertha endi uphimil, got.(gothic) airþa jah himins; Earth as human living space: ohg. mittigart, os. middilgart, got. midjungards; Underworld, where the dead dwell: ohg. hellea, os. hellia, got. halja; Apocalypse: ohg. muspilli, os. mutspelli. Literary references are Wessobrunn Prayer (Cosmogony) and the poem Muspilli, which was written in Alliterative verse.
Heroic tales that are partly based on historic figures such as Attila, Theodoric the Great, Hildebrand, Nebulones, Gibicho, Gunthari, and Waltharius are not strictly mythology.
Female folkloric figures in the middle ages In the middle and early modern ages, myths about female numina were far spread throughout the whole German language area. The names of the respective numen were Perchta in southern Germany, Frau Holle in central Germany, and Frau Herke/Harre, Frau Frick(e), Frau Gode/Wode in northern Germany. Small and offerings of food were made to them by women in particular - even during the Christian era.
According to myths and tales, these numina often appeared during the Twelve Days of Christmas to make sure that the seasonal ban on spinning was adhered to.
comment of the translator: I am not sure about the following things in particular:
- Mitteldeutschland = central Germany?
- weibliche Volksglaubensgestalten = female folklore entities?
- Sprachgebiet = language area?
- also: deutsches Sprachgebiet = Germanic or German language area?
Proofreader's edits
(This part is just for you to copy and paste in easily. You may need to change a few individual words for your final translation using the bullet points I've made at the end).
Before "Female folklore entities":
"Not strictly mythology are heroic tales that are partly based on historic people such as Attila, Theodoric the Great, Hildebrand, Nebulones, Gibicho, Gunthari, and Waltharius."
Heroic tales that are partly based on historic figures such as Attila, Theodoric the Great, Hildebrand, Nebulones, Gibicho, Gunthari, and Waltharius are not strictly mythology.
After "FFE":
"Even in the christian era, especially females offered up small sacrifices of food to them."
(continue from previous sentence) ...and small offerings of food were made to them by women in particular - even during the Christian era.
"According to myths and tales, these numina appeared particularly around the Twelve Days of Christmas to check, if the ban on spinning, that was in place in that time span, span was adhered to."
According to the myths and tales, these numina often appeared during the Twelve Days of Christmas to make sure that the seasonal ban on spinning was adhered to
- Central Germany is fine.
- I would say female folkloric entities/figures.
- Language area is totally fine.
- Be careful with this one - "Germanic language area" would refer to all languages stemming from the Germanic language family. German language area is the better option.
Translator: AmWoll, Editor: BunnytheWikiSlayer
editZudem bestraften sie faule Spinnerinnen, indem sie ihnen die Rocken verwirrten. Verstöße gegen Festspeisegebote, aber auch Unsauberkeit und Ungehorsam bei Kindern bestrafen diese Gestalten, indem sie den Schuldigen den Bauch aufschlitzen, das Gegessene herausnahmen und stattdessen Kehricht oder ähnlich wertlose Substanzen einfüllten.
Sie waren auch für die Fruchtbarkeit im Land zuständig, sorgten für eine gute Getreideernte, spendeten Regen und ließen es schneien. Es wird auch berichtet, dass Frau Holle Kuchen, Blumen oder Obst schenkt und insbesondere Frauen und Mädchen hilft, ihnen „so manches gutes Jahr“ wünscht und sie gesund und fruchtbar macht.
Die Volksglaubensgestalten gelten nach anderen Sagen auch als Bringerin der Kinder, bzw. führen die Seelen der ungetauft gestorbenen Kinder mit sich.
Erika Timm, Professorin für Germanistik an der Universität Trier, hat zahlreiche Belege zu diesen Volksglaubensgestalten ausgewertet. So sind Frau Holle und Frau Percht mit Sicherheit bis ins 13. Jahrhundert zurück schriftlich belegt, möglicherweise sogar bis ins 11. Jahrhundert. Des Weiteren konnte sie mit der Methode der Sprachgeographie feststellen, dass diese Gestalten mindestens bis zur zweiten Lautverschiebung (7. Jahrhundert) zurückreichen müssen.
Sie geht davon aus, dass der Name Holle (in etwa: die Huldvolle) ursprünglich ein Beiname der germanischen Göttin Frigg war. Dieser hat sich nach der Christianisierung verselbständigt, unter anderem deshalb, weil es jetzt nicht mehr ratsam war, den Namen einer „heidnischen“ Göttin zu nennen oder sie gar anzurufen. Denn das wäre als Götzendienst sanktioniert worden.
Translation
They also punished lazy spinners by tangling up their distaffs, and they would inflict harsh punishments on misbehaving or uncleanly children, as well as those who violated traditional feasting times and conventions during holiday periods. These punishments often revolved around slicing open their bellies and removing whatever food was in there and replacing it with miscellaneous waste.
They were also responsible for the fertility of the land and brought good harvests, and caused rain and snow to fall. It was often told that Frau Holle gifted cakes, flowers, or fruit, and wished women and girls in particular “many a good year”, and made them healthy and fertile.
The folkloric figures are also claimed to be bringers of children, and bearers of the souls of dead unbaptized children.
Erika Timm, a professor of German at Trier University, has analyzed countless documents regarding this folkloric figure. She can confidently claim that written stories about Frau Holle and Frau Percht date back to the 13th century, or possibly even as far back as the 11th century. Furthermore, using geographic linguistic methods, she has been able to determine that the figure must date back to as far as the High German consonant shift during the 7th century.
Timm theorizes that the name Holle (from die Huldvolle) originated from an epithet of the Germanic goddess Frigg (Freya), from when the invocation of or even utterance of the names of Pagan gods and goddesses became a punishable idolatrous offense following the Christianization of central Europe.
Translator's comments
A few words and expressions caused a fair bit of trouble:
- Sprachgeography - I had a search for terms which are less clunky than "Geographic Linguistics", but since it's a technical term, I was hesitant to stray too far from the most literal sounding translation I found.
The last chunk is where things got really frustrating:
- "Sie geht davon aus, dass..." - "assume" here really feels like the wrong word to use to me, but I'm not too sure on this.
- verselbständigen - tricky to incorporate wholly
- ...unter anderem deshalb,... - also very finicky, and I opted to just get rid of it in the end.
- ratsam - this was the worst of the lot. You really can't use "advisable" in a context like this, so I opted to get rid of it and instead make the focus of the end of the sentence on the punishment itself.
- Because of these tricky words and phrases, I decided to restructure the whole chunk into one smaller sentence.
Proofreader’s comment
- Rocken is some kind of spinning tool, try distaff
- as well as those who violated fasting periods during holidays I’m not sure whether they mean ‘fasting periods’ by ‘Festspeisegebote’. They might refer to special food rules they had to follow to honor (or infuriate if violated) the numina.
perhaps you could write "as well as those who violated traditional feast rules" or "who failed to partake in collective feasting"
- plural Sie -> they
- maybe 'slitting open their bellies' instead of 'cutting open their stomachs', just an idea.
- again plural Sie-> and I’d change "It was often told that she gifted cakes.." to Frau Holle because here it’s a specific numen that is mentioned. Also, they didn’t wish for, she wished them ‘many a good year’.
- "It was often told that Frau Holle gifted cakes, flowers, or fruit, and aided women and girls in particular, whom she made healthy and fertile and wished “many a good year”."
- perhaps they "made it rain" and "let it snow" though that makes it sound an awful lot like a certain Christmas song.
- "The folklore figures are; these (plural)
- I’m not sure but maybe as far back as instead of so far back as?
Solid translation!
translator BunnytheWikiSlayer, editor HeighHoTheHolly
editNach dem gleichen Muster hatte sich die im süddeutschen und alpenländischen Raum bekannte Perchta (etwa: die Glänzende) aus einem anderen Beinamen von Frigg entwickelt, mit der Besonderheit, dass bei dieser Figur auch noch zusätzlich Glaubensvorstellungen aus dem keltischen Noricum eine Rolle spielten.
In Norddeutschland stellt sich die Situation etwas komplizierter dar. Das Stammesherzogtum Sachsen war in vorchristlichen Zeiten ein Zentrum der Wodansverehrung. Wodan hat in den Regionen des späteren Schleswig-Holstein und des nördlichen Niedersachsen viele Funktionen anderer Götter an sich gerissen, so auch die Spinnstubenkontrolle in den Zwölften (=Kontrolle der Einhaltung des Spinnverbotes), die ansonsten das Refugium von weiblichen Numina blieb. Deshalb sind sie dort unbekannt. Etwas weiter südlich tritt dann Frau Wode/Gode auf. Hierbei handelt es sich offenbar auch um die Göttin Frigg, die ja die Frau von Wodan war. Sie hat zwar ihren Namen verloren, ist aber noch als weibliche Gestalt erkennbar. Noch etwas weiter südlich wird die entsprechende Volksglaubensgestalt Frau Herke/Harre genannt. Dieser Name leitet sich nach Auffassung von Erika Timm ab vom Herlequin, dem Anführer der Wilden Jagd, also auch von Wodan. In drei weit voneinander entfernten kleineren Gebieten war Frigg noch unter ihrem richtigen Namen bekannt.
Erzählungen über die oben genannten Numina wurden insbesondere in den Spinnstuben tradiert, denn das war nahezu der einzige Raum, in dem Frauen und Mädchen ungestört miteinander kommunizieren konnten. In Regionen, in den solche Spinnstuben nicht üblich waren, weil es nur Einzelhöfe gab (so in Westfalen), verblasste der Glauben an diese Gestalten relativ frühzeitig.[1]
Translation
Perchta, well-known in the southern German and Alpine regions, emerged in the same fashion from an epithet of Frigg. Here, beliefs of the Celtic Noricum played an additional role.
The situation in northern Germany is a bit more complicated. In pre-Christian times, the Saxon tribal duchy was a center of Woden worship. In today’s Schleswig-Holstein and the northern region of Lower Saxony, Woden usurped various functions of other gods, such as the spinning room control during the Twelve Days of Christmas. The spinning room otherwise remained the refuge of female numina, who were unknown in this area. Frau Wode/Gode appears a little more south and she is evidently none other than Woden’s wife, goddess Frigg. Despite having lost her name, she is still recognizable as a female figure. Even further south, the corresponding folklore figure is called Frau Herke/Harre. As hypothesized by Erika Timm, this name derived from the leader of the Wild Hunt, Harlequin, thus also from Woden. In three widely separated, smaller areas, Frigg was still known by her original name.
Stories of the aforementioned numina were most commonly handed down in spinning rooms, since this was almost the only place where women and girls could communicate freely. In Westphalia and other regions with more isolated farmsteads and no spinning room tradition, beliefs in these figures faded early on.
Editor's comments
Looks pretty damn good to me. Might clean up the register in a few places ("she is clearly Woden's wife" instead of "apparently," "almost the only place" instead of "pretty much") and look for a better translation for "nach Auffassung von Erika Timm": maybe "as hypothesized by Erika Timm"?
Other than that nice job! -- HeighHo talk 16:20, 4 December 2019 (UTC)
Neuzeit
editHintergrund: Nach der völligen Christianisierung lebten alte mythologische Ideen nur noch im Volks(aber)glauben weiter und es kann kaum von einer einheimischen Mythologie gesprochen werden. Mit dem Bekanntwerden der nordischen Götterliedersammlung Edda wurde in Deutschland das Interesse für eine „Deutschen Mythologie“ geweckt, das Jacob Grimm gründlich untersuchte. Sein dreibändiges Werk legte nicht nur den Grundstein der modernen (süd-)germanischen und angelsächsischen Religionsforschung, sondern auch das Interesse und die Phantasie deutscher Künstler und Romantiker. Ostara
Die damals noch junge Forschung postulierte neben den in den vorhergegangenen Kapiteln genannten Gottheiten auch solche wie Ostara oder Hertha. Diese haben ihren Ursprung teilweise in der Folklore (Hulda, Berchta, Fricka), falschen Lesungen und Interpretationen alter Schriften (Hertha, Fosta) oder Vermischung mit slawischen Sagengestalten (Siwa). Mit der Zeit verschwanden diese Gestalten aus wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten.
Mit dem Aufkommen des Romantischen Zeitalters und später des Nationalismus wurden von Künstlern zum Teil regelrecht neue Mythologien entwickelt. So haben die Werke des Musikers Richard Wagner zwar germanische Gottheiten und Helden als Vorbild, aber die Wagnersche Mythologie hat mit der altgermanischen nicht mehr viel gemein. Aber auch Maler und andere Künstler wurden von der deutschen Mythologie angeregt. Selbst der Psychologe Carl Gustav Jung verfasste 1936 einen Aufsatz namens Wotan und Jung arbeitete länger mit dem Indologen Jakob Wilhelm Hauer zusammen, welcher die Deutsche Glaubensbewegung gründete. Doch aufgrund der politischen Situation in Deutschland zog sich C.G. Jung schließlich von Hauer zurück.
Verworrener sind die Entwicklungen neopaganer Strömungen, die oft unkritisch alles in ihr Gedankengut aufnehmen, was gerade gefällt. Wenn schon die Namen ihrer Gottheiten teilweise obskur tönen, so entstammen die Charaktere und Gebete, die diesen Gottheiten zugeschrieben werden, Romantikern, die der bunten und lebensfrohen Mythologie der Griechen eine „deutsche Mythologie“ entgegensetzen wollten. Nicht selten wirken (neo-)nationalsozialistische Ideen mit. Auffallend ist zudem, dass sehr häufig germanische und keltische Gottheiten miteinander vermischt werden. Ein typisches und gut untersuchtes Objekt stellt die Göttin Ostara dar.
Gestalten der germanischen Mythologie bei Richard Wagner im Ring des Nibelungen: Wotan, Fricka, Freia, Froh, Donner, Erda, Loge.
Historisch nicht bezeugte Pseudogottheiten: Allemann Hercules, Biel, Cisa, Fosta, Hama, Hertha, Jecha, Krodo, Lollus, Ostara, Reda, Reto, Ricen, Satar, Siwa, Stuffo, Teut, Thisa u. v. a. m.
Modern era (1835-present)
editBackground
editAfter the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples, Germanic mythology survived primarily in the form of folklore and superstition. However, with the rediscovery of Norse mythology in the 17th century, the German public regained an interest in Deutsche Mythologie (en: Teutonic mythology) as explored in the work of Jacob Grimm. His treatise is the foundation not only of modern Germanic and Anglo-Saxon religious studies, but also of later artistic portrayals of Germanic mythology.
Nationalism and new mythologies
edit
With the beginning of the Romantic era and, later, the rise of German nationalism, some German artists were drawn to invent entirely new national mythologies. The characters in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (en: The Ring of the Nibelung), for example, are based loosely on Germanic Gods and heroes, but Wagner's operas have little in common with old Germanic mythology. Nevertheless, artists throughout Germany were inspired by Germanic mythology. Even Carl Jung wrote an essay on Wotan and worked for many years with the Indologist Jakob Wilhelm Hauer, founder of the German Faith Movement. (Jung eventually distanced himself from Hauer as a result of political disputes.)
Even more muddied are the developments of Neopaganism, whose adherents often uncritically incorporate whatever mythological fragments they've happened upon. Particularly Germanic and Celtic figures tend to be combined into single deities, as in the case of Ostara. These new mythologies are frequently also influenced by Neo-Nazi ideology.
Translator's Note
editSorry for the delay, I was sick Sunday/Monday and didn't get to this. Hope you still have enough time to edit! On the text: I left out relatively sizable chunks due to concerns over relevance to an English-speaking audience. Don't worry about pointing those out in your edits. Thanks :) -- HeighHo talk 13:06, 4 December 2019 (UTC)
Editor's Note
editYour sentences are very well translated, but I think you could have trimmed the sentences a little less, for example keeping 'modern' in Germanic & Anglo-Saxon religious studies (3rd sentence.) 'As a result of political disputes' I think is not entirely faithful to the original, which states it was due to the political situation in Germany. Did Hauer and Jung have direct conflict or did Jung feel pressure from somewhere else? Overall, I think you made good decisions regarding what to leave in and what to take out. Great work. -MissPersephone (talk) 13:48, 5 December 2019 (UTC)
Added "modern" back in, thanks. On Jung & Hauer: I did a little research and I think my translation is a bit more accurate than the original text. Developments after 1933 "estranged Jung from völkisch doctrines and Hauer's völkisch ambitions," leading to the split.[1] So although the political situation caused it, Jung ultimately distanced himself because he disagreed with the direction Hauer was moving in politically. Any other major omissions you noticed? Appreciate it -- HeighHo talk 14:24, 5 December 2019 (UTC)
Nope! I read through everything again and you get two thumbs up from me. -MissPersephone (talk) 14:39, 5 December 2019 (UTC)
Comments
editIn my part, there were some abbreviations, I'll just dump them here in case anyone needs them. abbreviations: ohg - old high german (DE: ahd - althochdeutsch), os - old saxon (DE: as - altsächsisch), got - gothic (DE: got: gothisch)
spelling of names: first Old German name then common name in (...)
Complete Text
editEarly Middle Ages
editAfter the turbulent upheavals of the Migration Period, the Franks lost ground to the Merovingians, and with it, political power over Central Europe, a region increasingly falling under the influence of Christianity. From a religious history perspective, a period of transition from Germanic paganism to Christianity was formed as a result, with differing development among the various tribes. For a time, both religions existed alongside each other, and frequently, mixing (syncretism) occurred. The collapse of the Roman Empire led to a temporary decline of material culture.
From the second half of the 5th century, the sanctuary at the sacrificial bog of Oberdorla, Opfermoor Vogtei, consisted only of a simple rectangular fence in the lake that existed at the time. Different sacrificial victims were submerged in the area inside this fence. Although the structures decayed after Christianization occurred, smaller offerings continued to be deposited until the 11th century - most likely secretly.
The literary sources are somewhat more colorful but still sparse. The Lombard Paulus Diaconus recounts how Wodan (Odin), father of the Gods, was outwitted by his wife, Frea (Frigg), and gave the Lombards not only their name, but also their victory. A sensational discovery is the runic inscription on a brooch from Nordendorf, which names the gods Wodan and Þonar (Thor). At the same time this brooch was placed in the grave, the Irish missionary Columbanus was witness to a beer offering to Wodan near Bregenz. He was just as appalled by this as when he saw that in the local church of Aurelius, pagan gods were honoured right next to the Christian god.
Also, a law against sodomy passed by Charlemagne states that this behavior originates from a man named Fricco (Freyr). It clearly points to the phallic god of fertility, who was worshipped in the Temple at Uppsala in Sweden, amongst other temples.
The second Merseburg charm tells the story of Wodan (Odin) and Phol, who rode into the forest, where Wodan heals the sprained ankle of Balder's horse after several goddesses failed to do so before him. The Alemannic Parisian blessing against falling sickness begins with an alliterate call to the thunder god Donar (Thor): „Doner diutigo diete wigo!“ (In Thor we trust, fighter for the people!) [2]
The following mythical figures are known from traditional early medieval sources:
- Gods: Wodan/Gaut (Odin) – Þonar (Thor) – Frija (Frigg) – Sunna – Saxnote (Týr) – Hirmin – Fositæ (Forseti) – Fricco (Freyr) – dís as well as Phol, Volla (Fulla) und Sinthgunt, which are only mentioned in the second Merseburg charm and their meaning/significance is still unclear
- Mythical heroes: Wayland the Smith – Lombards: Gungingi: Ybor (Ibor) and Agio (Ajo) as well as their mother Gambara – Saxons: Hathagat, Iring.
- Mythical mountain: Himilinberc (Himinbjörg).
- Ritual places mentioned in literature: Donar's Oak in Hesse/Hessia – Irminsul in Saxony – grove of Nerthus in the Lombard kingdom.
The most important testimonies from that period:
- Texts: Lombards: Paulus Diaconus; Origo Gentis Langobardorum; Edictus Rothari – Alamanni: Vita Columbani; Parisian blessing – Franks and Thuringii: Merseburger Zaubersprüche – Saxons: Abrenuntiatio Sax.; Widukind von Corvey; Rudolf vof Fulda – Frisians: Vita Willibrord.
- Runic inscriptions: Nordendorf – Pforzen – Balingen – Schretzheim
- Bracteate: Daxlanden – Welschingen – Aschersleben – Obermöllern
Although the Goths were part of the Eastern germanic tribes, their gods included Gaut – Æsir – Dounabis (River Danube); sources: Jordanes, Ring of Pietroassa.
| Old High German | Old Saxon | Gothic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth and Sky/Heaven | ero / ufhimil | ertha endi uphimil | airþa jah himins |
| Earth as human living space | mittigart | middilgart | midjungards |
| Underworld, where the dead dwell | hellea | hellia | halja |
| Apocalypse | muspilli | mutspelli | --- |
Literary references include the Wessobrunn Prayer, (Cosmogony) and the poem Muspilli, which was written in Alliterative verse.
Heroic tales that are partly based on historic figures such as Attila, Theodoric the Great, Hildebrand, Nebulones, Gibicho, Gunthari, and Waltharius are not strictly mythology.
Female folkloric figures in the middle ages
editIn the middle and early modern ages, myths about female numina were widespread throughout all of present-day Germany. The names of the respective numen were Perchta in southern Germany, Frau Holle in central Germany, and Frau Herke/Harre, Frau Frick(e), Frau Gode/Wode in northern Germany. Many Germans, particularly women, made small offerings to them (food, etc.) - even during the Christian era.
According to myths and tales, these numina often appeared during the Twelve Days of Christmas to make sure that the seasonal ban on spinning was adhered to.
They also punished lazy spinners by tangling up their distaffs, and would inflict harsh punishments on misbehaving or uncleanly children, as well as those who violated traditional feasting times and conventions during holiday periods. These punishments often revolved around slicing open children's bellies, removing whatever food was within and replacing it with miscellaneous waste.
They were also responsible for the fertility of the land and brought good harvests, and caused rain and snow to fall. It was often told that Frau Holle gifted cakes, flowers, or fruit, and wished women and girls in particular “many a good year”, and made them healthy and fertile.
The folkloric figures are also claimed to be bringers of children, and bearers of the souls of dead unbaptized children.
Erika Timm, a professor of German studies at Trier University, has analyzed countless documents regarding this folkloric figure. She can confidently claim that written stories about Frau Holle and Frau Percht date back to the 13th century, or possibly even as far back as the 11th century. Furthermore, using geographic linguistic methods, she has been able to determine that the figure must date back to as far as the High German consonant shift during the 7th century.
Timm theorizes that the name Holle (from die Huldvolle) originated from an epithet of the Germanic goddess Frigg (Freya), from when the invocation of or even utterance of the names of Pagan gods and goddesses became a punishable idolatrous offense following the Christianization of central Europe.
Perchta, well-known in the southern German and Alpine regions, emerged in the same fashion from an epithet of Frigg. Here, beliefs of the Celtic Noricum played an additional role.
The situation in northern Germany is a bit more complicated. In pre-Christian times, the Saxon tribal duchy was a center of Wodan worship. In today’s Schleswig-Holstein and the northern region of Lower Saxony, Wodan usurped various functions of other gods, such as the spinning room control during the Twelve Days of Christmas. The spinning room otherwise remained the refuge of female numina, who were unknown in this area. Frau Wode/Gode appears a little more south and she is evidently none other than Wodan’s wife, goddess Frigg. Despite having lost her name, she is still recognizable as a female figure. Even further south, the corresponding folklore figure is called Frau Herke/Harre. As hypothesized by Timm, this name derived from the leader of the Wild Hunt, Harlequin, thus also from Wodan. In three widely separated, smaller areas, Frigg was still known by her original name.
Stories of the aforementioned numina were most commonly handed down in spinning rooms, since this was almost the only place where women and girls could communicate freely. In Westphalia and other regions with more isolated farmsteads and no spinning room tradition, beliefs in these figures faded early on.
Modern era (1835-present)
editBackground
editAfter the Christianization of the Germanic peoples, Germanic mythology survived primarily in the form of folklore and superstition. However, with the rediscovery of Norse mythology in the 17th century, the German public regained an interest in Deutsche Mythologie (en: Teutonic mythology) as explored in the work of Jacob Grimm. His treatise is the foundation not only of modern Germanic and Anglo-Saxon religious studies, but also of later artistic portrayals of Germanic mythology.
Nationalism and new mythologies
edit With the beginning of the Romantic era and, later, the rise of German nationalism, some German artists were drawn to invent entirely new national mythologies. The characters in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (en: The Ring of the Nibelung), for example, are based loosely on Germanic Gods and heroes, but Wagner's operas have little in common with old Germanic mythology. Nevertheless, artists throughout Germany were inspired by Germanic mythology. Even Carl Jung wrote an essay on Wotan and worked for many years with the Indologist Jakob Wilhelm Hauer, founder of the German Faith Movement. (Jung eventually distanced himself from Hauer as a result of political disputes.)
Even more muddied are the developments of Neopaganism, whose adherents often uncritically incorporate whatever mythological fragments they've happened upon. Particularly Germanic and Celtic figures tend to be combined into single deities, as in the case of Ostara. These new mythologies are frequently also influenced by Neo-Nazi ideology.
References
edit- ^ https://www.jstor.org/stable/261058
- ^ Translated by Pandionium
Editors
edit-- HeighHo talk 15:20, 5 December 2019 (UTC)
- Translating: #Neuzeit
- Editing: #Weibliche_Volksglaubensgestalten_im_Mittelalter, final section
-- MissPersephone (talk) 16:25, 28 November 2019 (UTC)
-- Rainbow-Unihorn (talk) 16:27, 28 November 2019 (UTC)
-- Pandionium
Editor's Checks
editHappy with my own text
edit-- HeighHo talk 16:26, 5 December 2019 (UTC)
-- AmWoll (talk) 13:06, 07 December 2019 (UTC)
-- Pandionium
-- MissPersephone (talk) 17:11, 10 December 2019 (UTC)
Full text comments
editSorry guys, here's all the stuff I noticed lol:
- I think Saxon might need to be capitalised, even as an adjective
- Section near the end of Early Middle Ages with important terms might be better presented and legible in tabular form
- German language area = German-speaking region?
- Could add link to 'Celtic Noricum'
- Which name are we using for Odin? I used Wodan (which turns out to be Old Saxon) because that's how it was spelled in the German text, and Woden is Old English. The Old High German is apparently Wuotan.
- In Modern era section - 'Christianisation of the Germanic peoples' - this should probably be American spelling despite article title being British spelling
--MissPersephone (talk) 17:24, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
- I like the idea with the tabular form, but have no clue how to do it
- I would leave German languga area, isn't region used for small areas?
- would use Wodan as a name
-- Rainbow-Unihorn 20:56, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
| Old High German | Old Saxon | Gothic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth and Sky/Heaven | ero / ufhimil | ertha endi uphimil | airþa jah himins |
| Earth as human living space | mittigart | middilgart | midjungards |
| Underworld, where the dead dwell | hellea | hellia | halja |
| Apocalypse | muspilli | mutspelli | --- |
I had a stab at putting the information in a table, we can discuss if it's worth adding in class
--MissPersephone (talk) 14:22, 12 December 2019 (UTC)
- Would definitely capitalize Saxon
- Tbh I think the problem with German-speaking region or area is that it's not one contiguous geographic area, but rather German-speaking regions, or perhaps the German-speaking world
- Wodan is fine
- Fixed Christianization, thanks :)
- Sexy table! I like it
-- HeighHo talk 15:33, 12 December 2019 (UTC)
Happy with the full text
edit-- HeighHo talk 16:24, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
-- Rainbow-Unihorn 20:57, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
-- Pandionium