Greetings
Welcome to the THIRTEENTH issue of Thunder, a journal dedicated to the thunder gods of Northern Europe.
In honour of the year 2000 we have a surprising futuristic issue with the up to date heathen ritual and the Heathens on Mars cartoon on the back page.
This is the most futurist picture of Thor from the Thorshof art archive (so far). It is a faithful copy of an illustration from an eighteenth century manuscript from the Royal Library Copenhagen. The scene is of the fishing for the world serpent from the lay of Hymir. Note the period costume and the very late use of runes.
Members of Thorshof have noted with considerable regret that many recent articles in heathen journals have attacked the use of traditional accessories, clothing and artwork in our rituals, the vast majority of which are being circulated by Mike Robertson and Tribe of Mercia.
We have no problem with individuals who wish to avoid unnessessy nostalgia, but we do dislike the attitude 'my way is right, your way is wrong'. Academic research into ancient religion has its rights and wrongs and maybes, but there are no rules for modern heathenism. (And before anyone says but what about the Havamal, do you carry your spear around Tescos?, welcome down and outs into your house? or ignore the rede of women?)
NOBODY can tell any individual how they should practice the Northern faith. Religion is deeply personal and what is perfect for one heathen is laughable for another.
The final straw for us was the complaint against treating poetry as an aspect of Northern Religion. Poetry is as much a part of the faith as runes, belief in wyrd or any deity you care to name. It is also the one ancient expression of religion which is totally adaptable to the modern age.
So PLEASE all you history bashers out there, be you in North London or Mercia, THINK before you criticise the religion of others, especially in areas you do not appreciate or understand. And to show that we are happy to oblige our space age collegues, here is really trendy ritual for you to try!
Meanwhile WE will stick with the mead and the drinking horns!
Wassail!
The Thorshof scribblers and critters.
By Dragon, Squirrel, Minstrel, Thorskegga, and Thorunn
It has been mooted that heathenism is blighted by out of date practices and plagued by wannabe Vikings. We therefore have great pleasure in presenting a modern ritual with no historical trappings whatsoever.
Ritual Dress Code:
All participants should wear a white t-shirt (sporting either their favourite www.userfriendly.org cartoon strip or 'dustpuppy'), black Levi 501s, Nike trainers, and a black jacket (preferably leather). A mobile phone (with ear piece) and a palm pilot should be worn on the belt. Any form of replica historical jewellery or folk costume should not be allowed, especially kilts.
The Ritual Venue:
Ideally the ritual should be performed on-line but the carpark of your local cyber cafe is quite acceptable.
The Ritual
All participants collect together or send their avatars to the internet chat room. Once they are all present the ritual can begin.
The Binary Call:
Ritual Moderator (1):
We are gathered here on this holy Mr Spanking's Day (1) to ensure that Thumpemhard Dude's Day (2) happens. We will now make the holy Binary Call. Sacred universal symbols won by Mr Spanking when he hung from the World Server.
(All participants recite the Binary numbers incrementing by one, starting at the Moderator's left continuing round until the circle is complete. Newbies (4) please see footnotes for the Binary numbers (5).)
The Warding:
Ritual Moderator:
'We must now ward our Domain.'
(Members of the 'workgroup' RITUAL_PARTICIPANTS call opon their favoured member of the Asa Borg to erect a level 10 force field around the domain. Acknowledging that all members are but facets of Mr Spanking, the head of the collective, into which all other aspects have been assimilated.)
Ritual Moderator:
'Yo, Mr Spanking, let us divert your attention from www.hampsterdance.com . Come and enter our domain. Let our surfing be virus free and may the Millenium Bugs be scattered to the furthest reaches of the World Server.'
Passing of the Cup:
The Ritual Moderator fills their ceremonial 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' TM mug with Redbull, and if all participants are physically present in the same location, the cup is passed around the circle whereupon they can individually call upon Mr Spanking. If the ritual is performed on-line, the ritual moderator takes a digital photograph of the mug and sends a mug avatar around the newsgroup. Each participant makes their declaration or request and passes it on until it returns to the moderator. The remaining redbull is tipped into a plastic watering can.
Chanting:
All participants then assume the yuppy gesture, which is holding a mobile phone held in the left hand to the left ear and the palm pilot held open in the right hand at chest height as if in use. Participants without these devices can simply make the hand gestures.
All chant:
'Lets do lunch.'
Readings:
Participants are then encouraged to read from the Source Edda (6).
Ending:
Ritual Moderator:
'Fellow geeks and nerds let us go and log off.'
Notes
(1) Formerly known as Gothi or Preist.
(2) Formerly known as Wednesday.
(3) Formerly known as Thursday.
(4) Bods with limited Internet skills.
(5) 1, 10, 11, 100, 101, 110, 111, 1000, 1001, 1010, 1011, 1100, 1101, 1110 etc.
(5) Source code is so tightly structured it is a parrellel to Anglo-Saxon poetry.
A Tale of Thor and Loki retold from the Eddas by Thorskegga Thorn
In ancient times when the worlds were young and Sol and Mon lived in blazing splendour in their heavenly halls, Thor and Loki would drive their thunderous goat drawn wagon along the boundaries of Middle Earth. Sparks would fly as the wain's iron bound wheels crashed against the stones of the border road, causing flames to flicker in the dry golden grasses on the verges. The troll folk of the Outlands would usually hide in terror at the giantkiller's passing. Few Outlanders dared to challenge the mighty son of Earth, and it was well known that his cunning companion was as dangerous with his wits as the thunderer was with his deadly stone missiles.
This tale begins on one of those rare occasions when two brave young warriors of the Outlands decided to try their mettle against the famous heroes of Asgard. Reckless and foolhardy, the giant youths hurled abuse and flung stones at the gods' wagon. Thor leapt from his wain and demanded to know the names of those who mocked him.
'What do our names matter to you?' the giants taunted, towering twice the height of the gods and confident with their apparent advantage. 'Crushing you will be like squashing flies!'
'I thought you might like your names on your grave stone,' Thor replied coldly 'but 'here lie two overconfident blockheads' will do just as well.'
One of the giants howled 'Then know that the sons of Svarang will be your doom!' and flung another stone. Poorly thrown, the rock crashed against the carved planks of the wagon's sides. The goats edged forward threatening to charge. Thor strode to the roadside where an outcrop of granite showed through the thin golden grass. He grasped the rock shelf and heaved, the earth shuddered as a megalithic shard came free. The god turned to face his would be foes hefting the cottage sized missile as if was as light as rolled fleece, 'I don't miss.' he said quietly. The giants paled, and Loki laughed as they pissed themselves in terror.
'Wait' a woman's voice called, and two giantesses emerged from the trees that shadowed the Outland hills. They made a strange couple, the speaker was muscular and clad in leather and bronze wargear with a sword through her belt that was as long as a mortal man. Her flame red hair was tied back in a knot and she possessed a fierce wild beauty. Her companion wore more traditional female garb, but her hair was tangled in witches knots and hung with charms, she carried a staff on which lose bronze rings rattled as she strode forward.
'Do you know these fools?' Thor asked indicating the terrified giants with his free hand.
'They are our brothers,' the warlike woman replied with a grin, 'the menfolk of our family have never been overburdened with intelligence. If you spare their miserable lives I could send them off in search of game and invite you to supper.'
'Sound fair to me.' Thor agreed.
Thor lowered the boulder gently into the hole from which it had been torn, but the ground still lurched as it settled. The giantess sent her bothers to hunt wild aurochs and they slunk away eager to leave the scene of their humiliation.
The gods and the giantesses stood facing one another on the boundary road, the warrior woman broke the silence 'We do not wish to be in conflict with Asgard. Would you agree to a peace between yourselves and the house of Svarang, if we swear to take no land or possessions from Middle Earth?'
'We would,' Thor agreed.
'And would you agree to seal the peace in the customary manner?' she asked.
'And what is that?' asked the thundergod.
'How are alliances made in all the worlds?' she mocked his need to question 'Enemies put their differences aside, man and woman lie together as lovers and beget a child to link the households as one.'
'Well count me in.' said Loki eagerly.
'But first you must prove yourselves worthy of bedding us.' The giantess replied.
'No problem.' Loki said.
'Then wrestle with me and prove your worth.'
'What?' Loki wailed his hopes plummeting. His head barely reached the giantess's belt and her arms rippled with muscles. 'I can't wrestle you.' he murmured unhappily.
'Maybe not,' Thor responded, 'but I can'. He unpinned his cloak and handed it to Loki.
The giantess unbuckled her sword and handed the blade to her sister, she grinned in anticipation.
'Now let's see how you fight little Asa.' laughed the giantess.
'I wouldn't be too sure of that.' Thor retorted and stepped forward to grip her, but as moved towards the giantess he increased in stature, and thus equal in height he stood eye to eye with the battle maiden. Her expression showed shocked surprise which quickly mellowed into pleasure. God and giantess held one another firmly around the waist and the giantess strained to throw her opponent. She heaved until every muscle screamed and sweat streamed down her forehead.
'My turn now?' asked Thor. The giantess yelled as the horizon spun and she found herself flat on her back with her arms and legs pinned by the triumphant thundergod. 'Best of three?' he asked with a grin.
'Oh no.' she gasped 'You will do!' The god's close contact filled her with desire and she delighted in his touch as he pulled her back to her feet and put his arm about her..
'What is your name Svarang's daughter?' asked Thor.
'I am called Ironsword and my sister is Griefbringer. Let us see how Loki stands against her.'
Loki and Griefbringer had been quietly studying one another. They appeared to have a mutual understanding, no words were spoken to define their contest, but when Greifbringer shook the rings on her staff he nodded for her to begin. The giantess lay her staff on the ground sung a magical repetitive chant and gradually stretched her arms upwards. She brought her arms down sharply and suddenly there was no giantess there but a huge kestrel hovering, poised to strike. Loki shapeshifted into a wild cat and leapt up at the hawk with talons spread to catch the bird from the air. The woman-hawk changed into a fierce bear and forced the cat aside with her heavy paws, the Loki-cat became a hare and bounded out of the slow bear's reach.
'Who is winning?' Thor asked Ironsword.
'Does it matter?' replied the giantess 'They look perfectly suited to me.'
The woman-bear changed again into a silver gray wolf and gave chase. The Loki-hare also took the form of a wolf and the two wolves circled one another. The two animals played together tumbling over and over. The Loki-wolf mounted the dam who screamed her pleasure.
'Well that was quick.' Thor commented.
Ironsword smiled and shook her head 'Come let us see to the feast.' They walked together through the forest. Nearby in a sheltered valley Svarang's Hall towered above a fast flowing stream, surrounded by trees which grew thick up to its very walls.
'You have no farm here?' asked Thor.
'No we hunt, and trade the hides and horns for fish and grain.'
The giants' household was small, Svarang and his wife shared their lofty dwelling with only their four children. Svarang scowled at Thor's presence, in likeness and manner Svarang was much like his sons, age and the white streaks in his beard had added little to his wisdom. The wife's gaze sparkled with intelligence, there was no doubt from where Ironsword had inherited her wits and beauty. Ironsword met her mothers eyes and introduced her companion. 'I have made peace between our household and the kin of Thor. The agreement has been sealed by the union of Loki and Griefbringer, they play together as wolves in the forest. I have agreed to bear a child by Thor to bond our families closer. Will you honour my word and welcome the Aesir to our hall?'
Svarang said nothing, looking puzzled and uncertain but his wife came forward with a delighted smile. She hugged the thundergod warmly, took his arm and led him towards the hearth. 'I am glad to welcome you and will honour your agreement with Ironsword.' she turned to her husband 'Svarang! Fetch a horn of ale for our guest.'
Grumbling and sulking, Svarung drew a ox horn of ale from one of several massive barrels propped on the hall's benches. The old giantess took the horn from him and embraced her husband, his sour mood vanished as a childish grin spread across his features. Apparently satisfied by the proceedings he wandered back to his seat.
Ironsword's mother raised the horn and offered it to the Asa 'Health to you Thor, be welcome in the hall of Svarang and Grid.' Thor drained the horn and returned it, nodding his thanks. The two brothers staggered into the room with a freshly butchered aurochs slung on a pole over their shoulders. 'Wonderful,' cried Grid 'you two can amuse yourselves while the meat is cooking, your brothers can help me with the roasting.
Thor and Ironsword chatted while the rest of the household busied themselves around the hearth. They played the dice games of the outlands and the board games of Asgard to while away the hours while the ox was cooked to perfection.
Neither Loki nor Griefbringer were seen in the hall, but from time to time Ironsword would cut a strip of meat from the ox carcass and hurl it out the open door. Paws scuffled in the drifts of ancient pine needles.
After the generous meal of the meat, fresh bread and horn after horn of ale, Svarang, Grid and the brothers retired to their sleeping benches. Ironsword lay back into Thor's arms and the god gently unbuckled her leather and bronze armour so that her firm breasts glowed in the light of the dying fire. 'I couldn't take you home, could I?' he asked.
'No.' she replied 'I need the wild Outlands, the thrill of the hunt and the danger of the wilderness. I would be lost and bored in your quiet farms'.
'Pity.' Thor muttered.
'I will come and stay when the child is born, at least until it is weaned.' she shuddered with pleasure as Thor explored her body 'Just promise me one thing.'
'What's that?'
'If you give me a boy, make sure it takes after you.'
The unrelenting sun blazed down on the golden meadows of Middle Earth. Time passed, time enough for a man to walk from the Northern Mountains of the Outlands to the burning fields of fire in Surt's kingdom. A lone giantess hugging a swaddled babe rapped on the doors of Bilskirnir. Thor's household welcomed Ironsword with great gladness. Sigyn scurried to and fro from the kitchens instructing the servants to prepare a feast for the guest. Loki still in awe of the gaintess's wild beauty fashioned a chair and trestle for her comfort, as the halls' benches were too low for her to use. It was fortunate that Bilskirnir is the highest of Asgard's many halls and Ironsword was not forced to stoop beneath low beams and arches.
The thunderer delighted in his ruddy haired infant son and held him in his arms, the child was irritable after the long journey from the Outlands and let out a lusty howl. 'You're an angry little fellow.' said Thor handing the restless babe back to his mother. Ironsword shrugged her hide dress from her shoulders and put the child to her breast. Loki regarded the child's soft perch with envy. 'What's his name?' asked Thor.
'I decided to let you name him, and you just did. His name is Modi, the angry one.'
'Very apt.' Thor agreed.
'Where is Griefbringer?' asked Loki.
'I have not seen her for a while.' Ironsword replied 'she had a difficult pregnancy and retired to the sickhouse. Mother told me she was starting her labour when I left. She will come here when she can.'
Tired after her long journey Ironsword asked that a bath be prepared for her. Thor's servants busied themselves filling a massive wooden vat with hot water and bringing baskets of soapwort leaves and bottles of fragrant oils. Sigyn took charge of Modi, and left the weary giantess to doze in the bathtub with her head propped with pillows.
Thor and Loki amused themselves in the great hall with a game of hnetafl and a half hogshead of strong mead. After several games the counters became a little hazy, and Loki chased Thor's king around the board with no obvious strategy. Their happy oblivion was shattered when Ironsword stormed into the room, with water streaming from her naked body. She was dragging a snake with both hands, the snake was unusually long and most reluctant to be carried, it snagged its coils around every pillar the furious giantess passed. 'How did this thing get into my bathwater?' she demanded. 'Loki, is this your snake by any chance?'
'Er, no'. The trickster replied staring drunkenly up at the giantesses, barely noticing the snake at all.
Thor frowned, Ironsword heaved on the snake mightily and its coils heaped up by her feet, disgusted she released its neck. The snake smirked and sucked its tail.
'Well Loki,' urged Thor 'you are supposed to be the expert on magic round here. Where has it come from?'
Loki got unsteadily to his feet and approached the snake, cautiously he lifted its heavy head in both hands and stared into its eyes, a forked tongue flicked between razor sharp talons. The eyes often revealed what appearances did not, even the best shape changers could not disguise such clues from the close inspection of one who knew the signs. But what Loki saw in the serpents gaze sobered him immediately. Loki considered, and then shook the snake's head vigorously, 'Bad snake.' he said 'disturbing a lady's bath like that! If you want to swim use the fish ponds instead. Now come with me and stay out of trouble.' The household watched dumfounded as the huge serpent obediently followed Loki out of the hall, its coils meandering like a golden river.
Thor sighed, 'Loki had better explain himself later. Crazy pranks are one thing but this is ridiculous.' He put his arm around Ironsword and lead her back to his bedchamber. Thor drew the heavy drapes across the windows to block out the blazing sunlight and happily snuggled up with Ironsword and baby Modi.
Meanwhile, silence had fallen in the great kitchens of Bilskirnir, the cooks and servants watched in wonder as a massive wolf slunk between the trestles. Muscles rippled as it paced towards the the great cooking hearth with its deep bed of glowing embers.
Sigyn pounded on the thundergod's door, Modi howled indignation at being woken so abruptly, Thor sleepily pulled on his tunic and opened the door to the anxious asyniur. 'What's wrong?' he asked.
'There is a wolf in the kitchen.' Sigyn answered breathlessly.
'A wolf?' groaned Thor, unimpressed at being disturbed with such a minor problem. Most of the kitchen staff were quite capable of dispatching a wolf, especially with an arsenal of knifes and spit irons on hand.
'It's a very big wolf.' Sigyn urged 'Come and see.'
Thor remembered the serpent and felt suddenly uneasy. He nodded agreement and followed Sygin down the corridors and stairs towards the kitchens. The servants gave the strange wolf a wide berth as Thor strode towards the animal, Sygin could have sworn it had had grown even larger in the few moments she had been absent. The wolf's head was towards the hearth and its teeth crunched as it ate, Thor assumed it had found some discarded bones, and was shocked to discover that the wolf was chewing the glowing coals of the fire itself. The wolf swallowed and stared up at the god, as if challenging anyone to deny his right to feed in the kitchens.
Thor glanced at Sigyn, 'There is something not right here.' he said 'Your husband knows what is going on but he hasn't seen fit to tell me.'
Sigyn shook her head, she looked worried 'I know, he took that serpent to his room. He is acting very strangely. He wouldn't let me in.'
'Very well.' said Thor and grabbed the wolf's head in his strong grip. The wolf resisted and growled, loud and menacing, Thor glared at the beast until cowed by the thundergod's stare the wolf surrendered to Thor's inspection. Thor studied the wolf's eyes, they were not the eyes of any normal animal, he detected a fierce sentient intelligence, immortality, and... something else he could quite grasp.
'Go and get Loki.' Thor sighed.
Loki had stared at the wolf in dismay, then recovering his usual carefree mood and grinned and shrugged at Thor, snapped his fingers at the wolf and retired to his rooms with the great beast trotting after him.
The household retired to bed with no further disturbances. Several hours after they awoke another visitor came to the door. It was Griefbringer with Loki's child in her arms. The giantess was made welcome, the news of her arrival even enticed Loki from his bedchamber menagerie. Loki grinned at the sight of Griefbringer and the child and asked to see the infant. The giantess released the swaddled baby. 'Her name is Hel.' she said. Loki held his tiny daughter, her face peering between the layers of linen was strangely marked, all one side was puckered and blue, like a corpse, and yet her other cheek was was rosy pink and healthy. Loki studied her thoughtfully, stroked her tiny nose and grinned, the baby gurgled happily. 'My first child.' he said proudly.
'Oh no' corrected Griefbringer, 'she is our third, surely her brothers arrived before us?'
'Her brothers?' Loki asked puzzled.
'Why yes, the serpent and the wolf.'
Loki stared at the giantess, his mouth open in shock.
Thor groaned and buried his head in his hands. Ironsword laughed as she understood 'Really Loki, what do you expect if you make children while shapeshifting!'
With the unusual beasts finally explained, Thor's next sleep was undisturbed, but as the household roused for breakfast he was awoken by someone tugging on his foot.
'What is it?' he muttered sleepily.
'Uncle Thor, uncle Thor!' the tugging continued.
The thundergod sat up to see a young girl standing at the foot of his bed. She was naked and of the age when girls were first taught the simpler household chores. Her skin was coloured down one side, in the shadowed room it looked almost blue.
'Hel?' asked Thor in confusion.
'Yes uncle.' the child replied.
'But you were a baby yesterday, how come you have grown so fast?'
The girl shrugged 'I just have. Can I see Modi?'
Ironsword was equally puzzled, but after brief consideration held out the baby to Hel's eager arms. Hel cuddled Modi, rocking him and crooning. Thor dressed and went in search of Loki.
The wolf and the serpent had taken up residence in the great hall, the wolf was now bigger than a wild ox, the serpent's coiled form made his size difficult to calculate but his girth had doubled since his arrival. Loki was sitting on a bench telling them stories and jokes, and clearly had their complete attention.
Thor approached the unlikely group and said to his friend 'I have just seen Hel, I am worried about these children of yours. I need to find out what the consequences of rearing them will be.'
The trickster looked up at Thor with mixed emotions, fatherly concern battled with relief, he nodded his head sadly. Thor climbed up onto his high seat and tried to gather his thoughts, only to be assaulted by Odin's accusing presence in his mind.
'What are you doing?' the warfather demanded.
'I was about to seek counsel.' Thor replied.
'Well I can save you the effort.' Odin retorted. 'I have questioned the Volva. The creatures will bring disaster. Bring them to me immediately!'
'Oh, and what do you propose to do with them?' Thor asked coldly.
'The must be chained or destroyed.'
'Are you suggesting we should murder Loki's children?'
'Probably.'
'The children of your blood brother?'
Odin was silent considering, 'Yes.' he finally replied.
'Based on the opinion of a witch wife?'
'Do it Thor, or I will hold you responsible for the consequences!'
Losing his patience Thor lashed out at the warfather with sufficient force to ensure that he would be left to contemplate the problem in peace. Using the enchanted high seat Thor searched for the central point of the nine worlds, the hall of the Norns by Urd's well. As it shimmered into focus and he could heard the quiet conversation as the Norns discussed destiny, Thor stepped down from the carved platform and into the Norn's glade.
The Norns clustered around their weaving loom which bore the tangled web of wyrd. The loom was narrow, only three feet wide between the upright beams, and its threads were a chaotic three dimensional model of the nine worlds. Three of the Norns sat around the loom studying the pattern of the weave. Occasionally one would reach in and twine the stands together, add new fibres or cut a hanging end short. Earth's daughters Sibyl and Frigg sat to one side with a heavy wooden log between them, Sibyl held it steady while Frigg worked the timber with an adze. Sibyl glanced up and grinned at the thunderer, as if expecting his sudden appearance, though that would not have surprised him.
'I need to question you..' Thor began.
'...concerning Loki's children.' Frigg finished for him.
'Yes.' Thor smiled in resignation at the Norns' foreknowledge of his need, but pressed on regardless 'Do they pose any danger?'
'Hard to say.' Sibyl answered 'The future is unclear.'
'Unclear?' Thor was puzzled 'How can it be unclear to you?'
Sibyl rose to her feet brushing wood shavings from her gown. 'Come and see for yourself.' She lead him towards the loom.
As he came close to the fabric Thor realised that the threads had been pulled tightly together at the bottom of the weave. The loom weights hung in a cluster together beneath the impossible tangle. Thor recognised the thread which represented his own life running straight through the weave, and right into the centre of the constricted tangle. 'What does this mean?' He asked with a frown.
'It means that much weighs on the decision you make this day and the future will not be revelled to us until your choice is made.'
Thor cursed softly. He took Sibyls hands and said earnestly 'Help me sister.'
Sibyl touched the web and closed her eyes. 'Loki's children have the potential to change the nine worlds. If they are allowed to mature life will alter almost beyond recognition.'
'Change for better or worse?' asked Thor.
'Change can be beneficial in moderation.' Sibyl replied.
'Then the danger would occur if they were allowed to rampage freely.'
'It would appear so.'
Thor fell silent awhile considering. 'But they are still growing, I do not know how powerful they will become.'
'Each would be formidable.'
'Formidable?'
'Yes. By your own reckoning.'
Thor sighed. 'Odin thinks they will bring disaster.'
'They could. But turning Loki against you could be equally dangerous.'
Thor thanked his sister and embraced her and made to take his leave, but Sibyl called after him 'Wait I have something that may help you.'
'Oh, what's that?'
'This.' Sibyl pulled her gown from her shoulders and stood before him utterly naked, her corn yellow hair bathing her perfect curves in light.
Thor was shocked at the forbidden sight of his sister's overpowering sexuality, but could not tear his eyes from her. It occurred to him that Freyja had a true rival among the Norns.
'Go now,' she said, 'and remember the light when you have darkness.'
Baffled, Thor nodded his thanks and stepped back out of the glade and back into the relative gloom of Bilskirnir's great hall.
Thor met Loki's worried gaze as he returned from his shamanic trance. Thor smiled reassuringly at his friend 'Nothing to worry about Loki, I won't allow your children to be harmed if they don't cause any trouble in Asgard or Middle Earth. Make sure they understand that.'
Loki nodded, his relief obvious. The wolf used his six inch teeth to lever off the engraved gold plate from the base of one of the massive hall pillars, and crunched it happily. Thor frowned and Loki went pale. 'Em, I'll just take them outside,' Loki said hastily, 'come on children.'
'Good idea.' thought the thunderer, 'while they can still fit through the door.'
When the household next awoke Thor and Ironsword had another visit from their young niece, only she was not so young anymore. Hel was five feet tall, and showed the first signs of adulthood beneath her white dress. 'Hello uncle.' she said, her smile distorted on one side by the puckered blue skin.
Thor grinned back 'Hello Hel, have you come to see Modi again?' The girl nodded and eagerly came forward to hold the tiny baby in her arms, again she cuddled him with delight.
Thor watched her in fascination, then said 'You will come of age tomorrow, won't you.'
'Yes uncle.'
'And your brothers will finish growing.'
'Yes.'
The god considered, 'Would you like to have a feast to celebrate?'
Hel looked at him in surprise, 'Yes I would,' she gave him another crooked smile 'because after tomorrow I must leave.'
'I thought as much,' Thor replied 'I'll miss you lass.'
Hel surrendered the baby, laughed happily and ran out of the room.
When Thor approached the great door of his hall to check on Hel's brother's, he was alarmed to see a wall of scales blocking his path, the serpent was now wider than Thor was high. Not far away the beast's massive head rested with its barbed tail between its jaws, the golden sea of scales extended in both directions and it took little intuition to deduce that its body circled the whole hall. Loki struggled to his feet, looking worried and weary. 'I never thought it would get so big.' he said.
'It is still growing.' Thor replied. 'It will keep growing until tomorrow.' His friend was silent, so Thor continued stating the obvious, 'It can't stay here.'
Loki nodded sadly.
Thor strode up to the serpents head, it stayed at him with a glistening yellow eyeball as big as a warriors shield. Thor addressed the worm, 'There is only one place large enough for you to live in, and that is the great sea between Middle Earth and the Outlands. As long as you do not harm the folk of Middle Earth you will be left in peace there.'
The serpent released its tail, hissed in acknowledgement and the ground shuddered as the great worm started its long journey to the sea. The two gods watched it leave, until the barbed tail faded from sight leaving only a deep meandering furrow to mark its passing. The wolf dozed in a corner of the hall's enclosure, even at rest the wolf's shoulders stood as high as the stable doors.
The household started the preparations for Hel's party, servants scurried about the kitchens and the two giantesses hung banners and garlands on the walls of the great hall. Sigyn searched the storerooms for fine gowns of linen and jewellery fit for a queen. The gifts were left by the girl's bedside as she slept.
Hours passed and the folk of Bilskirnir gathered in the hall awaiting the arrival of Loki's daughter. Hel entered, dressed in her new finery, but the luxurious clothes could not hide the horror of her adult appearance. The face was a conflict between beauty and decay. Undaunted Thor took Hel's withered hand and led her to the place of honour reserved at the high table.
The feast began, servants staggered beneath the weight of dishes bearing oxen, boars, fish and all manner of birds. Lusty songs shook the halls rafters and the folk fell silent for the wise ones to tell poems and stories. Loud was the laughter when Ironsword wrestled with men half her own size.
When the bones on the platters were picked clean and the company merry from drinking. Thor asked Hel what she wanted for her woman's gift.
In answer Hel climbed to the trestle top so that she was in plain view of the whole hall. She unpinned her gown and let it fall from her shoulders, revealing her distorted naked body. An involuntary gasp escaped from the revellers. All down one side her flesh was swivelled and decayed, her face gaunt, her arm and leg mere withered skin and bone, her breast dry and leathery and the blue corpse like flesh glistened with maggots. Yet the rest of her body was the perfect healthy flesh of a beautiful woman at the height of her charm, which added to the horror of her deformity.
'I am death.' she said 'Both good and bad, joy and decay in one body. Soon I must leave this place and take my new kingdom in the underworld. I am capable of great love or great hatred and torment. But I am yet a girl and cannot leave until I am made a woman. In the forging of my womanhood, the mood of my life will be set. So who will bed me?'
Thor understood her words, either refusal or reluctant sex would inflict Hel's fury on the spirits of the underworld. He glanced at Loki, the trickster's eyes showed his horror of his daughters adult form and he avoided Thor's gaze. The thunderer closed his eyes sadly if you want a job done properly you have to do it yourself. He approached Hel and took her withered bony left hand in his.
'You will lie with me Thor?' she asked.
'I will make a woman of you, I'll make you the queen of the dead.'
As the thunderer led Hel to his chambers and embraced her strange withered body, he heard the laughter of his sister Sibyl in his mind and saw again her beautiful nakedness. 'Remember the light when you have darkness.' she whispered.
Savouring the memory of his sister, Thor lay with Hel, fighting the impulse to take her quickly and be done. Loki's daughter moaned with pleasure, although her ruined flesh appeared dead and smelt and tasted of decay she delighted at his touch. Finally the deed done he gazed into her eyes and stroked her hair, then stopped in surprise for her beauty was now whole.
'Thank you' she whispered. 'Now good folk will see me as you do now.' She laughed happily then added 'If I ever take your property from you, I give you the right to reclaim it.'
While the household rested Thor sat on his high seat thinking over the strange events heralded by Loki's children. He could see the great serpent sleeping on the ocean bed, its tail still in its mouth, and its great coil enclosing Middle Earth like a girdle. Hel, her bright beauty hidden beneath a flowing dark cloak traveled through the caverns to her underworld kingdom.
One left he thought, the huge wolf whose snores shook the stables of Bilskirnir. The wolf who loved fire and gold and all bright things. Bright things? Large bright things? Thor looked out into the heavens where Sol and Mon sat bored and restless in their ascribed places, Sol's brilliant fire scorching the colour and moisture from the dry plants below. He touched the wolf's mind, felt it awaken and stretch its long form. 'Look above you.' The wolf's excitement hit him in a warm rush, and the great beast was bounding up into the sky, pursuing the golden goddess. Far away Sol cried out with delight and leapt into her chariot as the wolf hurtled after her.
For the first time Sol rode beyond the mountains of the Outlands. It became dark, and cold. It was a new world, and new words were needed to describe it, day, night, dusk, twilight. The fear the darkness brought dissipated with the first glorious dawn, Sol sang of joy and exhilaration as her chariot thundered onwards.
As the new days passed, the world changed, rivers and lakes appeared where there had been dry earth, plants flourished and rich green grass carpeted the hills of Middle Earth. The Norns took down the old weaving beam with its hopeless tangled threads and lodged the new six foot beam in its place. The threads took on a life of their own winding and tangling into a new weave. Earth's daughters stood and studied the new universe woven before them. Sybil stroked Thor's thread, now twisted about with a thread of pure gold. She smiled.
'You are his sibling.' Frigg cautioned.
'Yes.' said Sybil 'I am. I will be his Sib.'
(The sons of Svarang are mentioned in the Lay of Harbard (Elder Edda) in which Thor lists some of his adventures, several of which are known from no other source. Svarang means 'clumsy' so the giants' ineptitude is well justified. Thor so intimates the giants that they are forced to agree terms of peace.
The inclusion of the sisters in Svarang's household is invented, Ironsword and Griefbringer are probably better known by their Norse names Jarnsaxa and Angrboda. In Snorri's Edda Jarnsaxa is the illusive mistress of Thor and the mother of Magni, Modi's mother is never named. Angrboda and her monstrous children are described by Snorri. Odin demands that the children be brought before him, the wolf is chained, the serpent hurled into the sea and Hel banished to the underworld. Grid has been borrowed from the tale of Gerriod.
The Volva's prophecy to which Odin refers is the famous Voluspa which describes the great battle of Ragnarok. In both versions of the Edda, Loki's family become the bitter enemies of the gods, the wolf is destined to consume Odin, Thor and the serpent will destroy one another, Hel imprisons Balder in her rotting hall and Loki becomes Heimdall's mortal foe.
However the apocalyptic vision is crammed with Christian imagery and its relevance to ancient heathen belief is dubious. Thor's death by the serpent is the least convincing as the earliest poems hail him as the serpent slayer, and it was clearly one of his greatest victories. The rotten figure of Hel and her hall of torment are also very Christian in their imagery (Simek), the Icelandic Sagas describe the underworld as a pleasurable and sacred existence.
The wolf theme is very common in Norse mythology, one wolf Fenris is bound and destined to kill Odin, one pursues the sun and another the moon. However these tales are so interlinked and confused that it becomes clear that there is only the one wolf, who chases the sun and moon across the heavens.
Frigg is the daughter of a god called 'Earth' (normally considered female in the Norse myths) and is known for her knowledge of the future, so an early career at the Norn's hall is not as far fetched as it might seem. Sibyl is a name for Sif from the prologue to Snorri's Edda. Although not linked directly to Earth her name means 'sib' or 'relative', and as Frey and Freyja are married siblings it is not impossible that Thor and Sif carry on the tradition of incest in Asgard.)
Special thanks go to Dr. Stephan Grundy for his help and advice during the early part of writing this article.
This is be a piece examining the oft-taken view that Óðinn is the 'All-Father' of the Northern gods, the ultimate authority within the Northern pantheon, the ruler of Asgard and therefore (even if it is never explicitly stated as such), effectively over all the other gods.
It should be noted that this will not be a general work about Óðinn, considering his various facets, and I have no intention of arguing against the fact that Óðinn was one of the major gods of the North or that he was very important to various folk in the North. All I intend to do is to examine the various evidence for and against what could be called this 'peak-of-the-Northern-hierarchy' viewpoint of him.
Although worshipped in different time periods and different geographical zones, the following gods are generally considered to be basically the same god as the Scandinavian Óðinn: the Old High German Uuodan and the Anglo-Saxon/Frisian Wodan/Woden. In Primitive Norse, before 700 CE, Óðinn would have had a 'w' at the front. It is in Old Norse that W is dropped before O or U before the other vowels. Whether there was ever a uniform and unchanging image or attributes of this god is questionable but the evidence used will come from information about Uuodan, Wodan/Woden and Óðinn.
The evidence used by those who espouse this view basically comes from the man to whom we owe much of our knowledge of the lore of the North - Snorri Sturluson, the twelfth century Icelandic writer. The following quotations, supporting this 'peak-of-the-Northern-hierarchy' viewpoint, are from Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda by Snorri and the edition used here being a translation by Faulkes (Everyman's 1987 issue):
1. 'Óðinn is the highest and most ancient of the Æsir. He rules all things, and mighty though the other gods are, yet they all submit to him like children to their father.... Óðinn is called All-father, for he is father of all the gods' - 19-20 on page 21.
2. 'High said .... they had three sons. One was called Óðinn, the second Vili, the third Ve. It is my belief that this Óðinn and his brothers must be the rulers of heaven and earth' - 5-7 on page 11.
3. After a description of creating earth and mankind : 'And this is why he can be called All-father, that he is the father of all the gods and of men and of everything that has been brought into being by him and his power, the earth was his daughter and his wife. Out of her he begot the first of his sons, that is Asa-Thor' - 8-10 on page 13.
4. 'Then spoke Gangleri: 'What did All-Father do then, when Asgard was built ?' High spoke 'In the beginning he established rulers and bade them decide with him the destinies of men and be in charge of the government of the city. This was ... Idavoll ... their first act to build the temple that their thrones stand in, twelve in addition to the throne that belongs to All-Father .... This place is called Gladsheim'' - 14 on pages 15 to 16.
This might all seem quite conclusive and it may seem perverse to argue against the information that these lines give but Snorri was not writing as an historian but an artist (poet) - he was not writing about the old heathen myths to ensure an accurate record of the ancient beliefs.
Apart from considering whether any of the other literary and historical evidence supports or refutes this line, there is the contrary evidence from Snorri himself to consider. One important element in this viewpoint is Óðinn as Allfather. According to quote number 3 above, the 'All-Father' title is because 'he is the father of all the gods' but Andy Orchard refers to Snorri expanding Óðinn's role so he is the father of the Æsir and including a full range of Snorri's writings in the Prose Edda itself we find that -
Bragi: Not Óðinn's son in the skaldic tradition3.
Forseti: Is the son of Balder - Gylafaginning 27-34.
Frigg: Listed in the Skaldskaparmal - where all the things they can be called are listed. - but NOT as 'daughter of Óðinn'.
Heimdall: Not Óðinn's son in the skaldic tradition3.
Hel: The daughter of Loki - Gylafaginning 27-34.
Höd: Not Óðinn's son in the skaldic tradition3.
Hoenir: Is refered to as Óðinn's table companion, not his son, in Skaldskaparmal 8-16 and can be inferred as his brother from the Eddic lay, the Voluspá (v.18).
Iðun: Listed in the Skaldskaparmal but NOT as 'daughter of Óðinn'.
Loki: The son of Farbauti and Laufrey - Skaldskaparmal 8-16.
Magni & Modi :Are the sons of Thor - Gylafaginning 52-3.
Sif: Listed in the Skaldskaparmal but NOT as 'daughter of Óðinn'.
Skaði: Her father is the giant Thiassi - Gylafaginning 21-23.
Týr: Snorri's Edda calls him 'Óðinn's son' but the poetic lay, the Hymiskviða, records a different myth : that Týr was the son of the giant Hymir. Orchard also notes that he was not Óðinn's son originally in the skaldic tradition.
Ullr: Not Óðinn's son - even in Skaldskaparmal 8-16 - where all the things they can be called are listed.
Vanir: Not called the 'sons of Óðinn'. Neither the gods (Njorð and Freyr) or the goddess (Freyja) is ever called kin or child of Óðinn: see Gylafaginning 21-25 together with the Skaldskaparmal 5-8 and 18-22. Yet all are included within the Æsir, Njorð is referred to as the 'Third Ás', Freyr 'most glorious of the Æsir' and Freyja is the 'most glorious of the Ásyniur'.
Vidar: Not Óðinn's son in the skaldic tradition3.
Another source of high medieval Icelandic material about the Northern gods is the collection of mythological and heroic poetry which, although only extant in a document dated to a 1270 edition, is one of the sources for Snorri's Prose Edda: this is the Poetic Edda. There is only one reference to Óðinn as All-Father, by the older Old Norse term Alfodr, in the Poetic Edda itself and that is in Grimnismal and even then Patricia Terry noted that Boer identified that particular verse as being part of a number of interpolations and actually omitted it from her translation.
The other names for Óðinn which are listed in Grimnismal, as being his names among the gods, are: · Óski: 'Wished for" · Ómi: 'Boomer' · Jafnhár: 'Just-As-High' (note: not more High or Highest!) · Biflindi: 'Shield-Shaker' · Gondlir: 'Wand-Wielder' · Harbarð: 'Grey-beard' None of these are a "father or chief of the gods" style title.
Simek has suggested that the term alfoðr is possibly a medieval translation of the Latin title for the christian god: omnipater. However, the only other Poetic Edda reference to 'All-Father' I personally have found is in Terry's English translation of Vafþrúðnismál but that particular term then appears as 'Father of the Slain' in Hollander's translation whilst both Auden & Taylor and Larrington have it as 'father-of-men' which is aldafoðr and not alfoðr.
However, if it is in deed not simply a Northern version of an incoming classical, christian god title as Simek suggests, another clue to its' origin maybe Snorri himself - for Snorri talks of the earl's poet Arnor 'who gives Óðinn the name All-Father'. In considering whether Óðinn was universally seen as a ruler of the gods, it is also interesting to note that:
A. When Óðinn was being compared with the classical gods, from the Roman historian Tacitus to Ælfric and Wulfstan in late Anglo-Saxon England, Óðinn's image or 'functions' suggested to these writers (who were contemporary with heathen times) that he should be compared with the god of communication and psychopomp - Mercury - and not a Sky Father or ruler of the gods such as Jupiter. The name of the Anglo-Saxon day commemorating Wodan/Óðinn is Mercury's day (Dies Mercurii) and not Thursday (Joves Dies).
B. It is not Óðinn who is cognate with the other Indo-European known Father of gods - it is Týr. The older Germanic form of Týr's name, Tiwaz, is related to the Greek god Zeus and the Roman god Jupiter (who was originally Dyaus Pitar). These are the names which are derived from dieus (Indo-European word for god).
C. The basic synonym for a god is not Óðinn but Týr - e.g. Cargo-Tyr is Óðinn and Chariot-Tyr is Þórr.
Further contemporary evidence in heathen times that Óðinn was not universally considered, even in late Viking times, to be a heathen All-Father or Ruler of Gods comes from looking at the description of the heathen temple at Uppsala in Sweden given by Adam of Bremen in the late eleventh century. Here it was Þórr who was in the central position because Thor 'presides in the sky....Woden, that is furor, is a war god'. Later description in this account reinforces this image as it says 'Woden is depicted in arms as our people customarily depicted Mercury. Like Jupiter, Thor is seen with a scepter'.
Also the name of the god known as Freyr (or Lord), in Viking times, is related to the Latin primus or 'foremost'. In Lokasenna the god Týr, in replying to Loki about a snipe about Freyr, says 'Freyr is the best among blessed hosts / here in the garth of the gods'. This image would not be congruent with another universal chief god.
In Ynglinga Saga Asgard is called Odin's realm but then the gods are historical figures here and the mythological areas real land. The Óðinnic bias of the surviving version of the Ynglinga Saga can be seen for in Cassells dictionary, on page 124, there is another quote from the Ynglinga Saga which says Óðinn had the boat Skiðblaðnir (unlike even Snorri's Prose Edda which records a myth of the creation of six great treasures of the gods of whom the major three - Þórr, Óðinn and Freyr - each had two treasures with Skiðblaðnir being one of Freyr's treasures).
Óðinn is associated with kingship amongst the human Germanic tribes but this cannot then be simply applied to the divine pantheon for Freyr too was associated with kingship (in Sweden). The nature of kingship within heathen Germanic societies itself shows why Woden was a likely god of kings (if not king of gods): 'Woden was an appropriate progenitor for rulers who were essentially war-leaders because he was a god of battle' . The changing nature of Óðinn's role is hinted at in Richard North comment that 'there is no other West Germanic evidence for Woden's role in tribal genealogy, nor any Scandinavian evidence for Óðinn's genealogical role before the period of Anglo-Saxon influence on Norway'.
There are no actual myths described by Snorri, or in the poetic lays, which show the other gods being subservient or, as Snorri claimed in quotation number 1, deferring to him like children. A few examples are : · When the giant builds the walls of Asgard and is close to taking Freyja, the sun and the moon, it is Loki who has to extract the gods from this problem. · When Loki causes trouble in Lokasenna, Óðinn cannot (and does not appear to be expected to) exercise authority to shut him up and they have to use the might of Thor to shut his mouth. When the giant Hrungnir chases Óðinn into Asgard, after he has boasted about how good his horse is, the giant is shown hospitality. But when Hrungnir then gets drunk, abusive and threatening, Thor has to be called to get rid of Hrungnir - suggesting no-one else could. At the end of this myth Thor gives Hrungnir's horse, Gullfaxi, to his son Magni for removing the giant's leg from his neck after a duel. This gift annoys Óðinn and he grumbles about this but there is no indication that he then got the horse - if Thor had owed a chief's allegiance to Óðinn this would not have been recounted so light-heartedly. · It is Heimdall, rather than Óðinn, who suggests a solution when Mjollnir is stolen. · A medieval Viking story, King Gautrek (14), includes the gods deciding the warrior Starkad's fate. Óðinn is shown as being unable to simply champion Starkad and demand a good fate for him but enters into a duel of twisting wyrd with Thor: there being alternative blessings (from Óðinn) and curses (from Thor) which are all declared to be part of his fate by the gods.
The only surviving story where Óðinn 'orders' a deity to do what he wants is not only late ( in Sorla Thattr in Flateyjarbok c1400CE), but even then it is a 'hostage demand' and not an order derived from Óðinn's personal authority: Óðinn gets Loki to steal Freyja's Brisingamen (necklace) for him then Óðinn uses this necklace (which Freyja wants back) to get her to get two kings to wage war and use her magic to resuscitate those who die so they can carry on fighting.
It should be noted that there was never a single belief system with the Norse/Germanic tribes throughout history. Hilda Davidson has said 'We know that there was considerable variety among the religions of the different German tribes, who had no universal faith or church' and Bill Griffiths wrote 'For the Germanic 'gods'......were likely to be relatively local, limited in potential, and connected with a particular need or role, not distinguished by status in some fixed pantheon that assisted and reflected a self-perpetuating and wide-ruling state system' and Mundal talked of Snorri who '... arranges the gods and goddesses into a patriarchal family with Óðinn as its head, whereas other sources - especially the toponymic material - suggest quite different order of precedence'.
This diversity can be seen in that even in the scanty surviving material there are different versions of stories available: such as that of Aurvandil's toe in the Scandinavian sources. Looking to an earlier period, in the 'Germania' which was written in approximately 98c.e., Tacitus described the different belief systems prevalent within the Germanic tribes at that time: · Section 2 tells of an 'earth-born god called Tuisto', of his sons 'Mannus' and then of Mannus's three sons who gave their names to certain tribes: the Ingaevones (p.f. Ing), the Herminones and the Istaevones. · Section 40 notes that for the Reudigni, Aviones, Anglii (possibly the Angles who partly created England centuries later), Varini, Eudoses, Suarines and Nuitones tribes there was a common worship of 'Nerthus, or Mother Earth'. · Section 43 describes the 'Alci' who were worshipped by the Narharvali tribe - gods who were young men and brothers. · Section 45 notes that the Aestii tribe worshipped 'the Mother of the gods'. · Section 9 deals with 'Mercury', 'Mars' and 'Hercules' and discusses their sacrifices. These Romanised versions of Germanic gods are generally agreed to be Uuodan, Tiwaz (later Týr) and Donar (later Þórr) respectively. This section includes the phrase 'deorum maxime Mercurium colunt' or "Above all other gods they worship Mercury". It should be noted that this Latin phrase is almost exactly the same as Caesar's phrase about Mercury being worshipped by the Gauls in 54BCE and Caesar had borrowed the phrase from Herodotus about the Thracian princes, although the Thracians also claimed descent from the god. Even if the phrase was not simply borrowed to embellish his account of Germanic worship, I cannot say for certain whether this phrase simply indicates that Uuodan (Mercury) was worshipped more in a numerical sense, that he was more important amongst this set of gods for the tribes who worshipped them or whether Tacitus has inferred a greater importance from the fact that human sacrifices were only offered to him (although this practise would fit in with what is known of Óðinn in later Scandinavia) and this phrase from section 9 of 'The Germania' still does not actually make any reference to an all-father image of the god.
Thus the earliest written account of the native Germanic religions does not indicate at any point that there was any kind of universal 'divine hierarchy' or 'All-father' known to the Germanic tribes. In quotation number three there is a suggestion of for Óðinn as the originator of all things. However there is conflicting evidence in the motif of Óðinn as a grandson or descendant that can be found : · In Snorri's prologue, when giving the euhemerised accounts of the gods as ancient humans, he does not list Óðinn as the first of the Æsir dynasty. Thor is identified as the son of the 'high king Priam of Troy' and Woden or Odin is listed as one of Thor's descendants - not as his father. · Óðinn is not the original progenitor in all the royal pedigrees in which he appears. · One of Óðinn's by-names is 'Third' - not only does this title not tie in with the image of a highest god but there is an interesting point to this title under the Dumezilian view of a tripartite Indo-European society/mythology which I will now touch on.
Georges Dumézil was a writer whose theories still carry great influence. His writings on correlations he saw between a hypothetical early pan-Germanic pantheon and an hypothetical proto-Indo-European [P-I-E] tripartite society and mythological structure he proposed from comparative studies he undertook have had a profound impact. These theories are not universally accepted, especially in their totality, but they have still had a great influence on people's perception of how mythological structures should be seen and, in particular for the purposes of this essay, he placed Óðinn in the first 'function' or that of the Sovereign/Priestly class. This has encouraged those who would speak of Óðinn as the King of gods. I do not intend to go into all the arguments against this theory - one example of the contra evidence being that none of the Germanic gods, for whom we can reconstruct P-I-E names, are included in the system proposed for they have names which are personified natural phenomena. It can be seen though that certain assumptions were taken about Óðinn within Dumézil's work which almost suggests a circular logic at work - is his acceptance of Snorri's assertion of Óðinn's all-powerful sovereignty over the gods then colouring his reconstructions of P-I-E mythology?
A few examples of this are: · Egil Skallagrimson's invocation of the gods, which starts with Óðinn (very likely as Óðinn would be his patron - Egil being a poet) is quoted within Dumézil's work but used with a quote talking of the "all-powerful Odin" even though Egil's quote does not add that adjective . Dumézil does not choose to mention the Icelandic Thing oath which starts with Njord and Freyr. · Dumézil talks of Freyja taking the "other half" of the dead whereas even Snorri Sturluson says "... she gets half the slain, and the other half Odin....". · Dumézil talks of the historicizing narratives listing Óðinn as the first king whereas Snorri lists a Munon or Mennon as the first king with Thor as his son and Óðinn appearing as an ancestor of Thor (as discussed above).
Even if you accept the proposed tripartite scheme, there are indicators that his role as war god or warrior can be supported by these comparative studies. One of the myths used in considering the Indo-European structure is a myth of the first warrior - who is called 'Third' - and as we have seen above this is one of the names that Óðinn was known by. Another indication of his warrior role within such a scheme is the Dumézil proposed archetype of the warrior being "something of an outsider, an untrustworthy fellow" - Óðinn is notably untrustworthy. Even Dumézil himself talks of the number of ties between Odin and battles or warriors. The first class, or 'function, is supposed to have an important priestly role, connected with sacrifice, according to the comparative studies but Óðinn is connected with magic not priestly functions. It is the Vanir who were declared priests and priestess to the Æsir. In fact, apart from Óðinn, I have not seen a comparative 'sovereign' who has such a specifically magical image even though Dumézil mentions a binding function of one figure.
Also Lincoln has compared Óðinn (as shown in his role of Harbarð) to the P-I-E ferryman between the worlds (such as that of the living and the dead) and his "hell hounds", Geri and Freki, are further evidence of a primal, and original, part of his role beingst amongst the dead. A distinctive theme often seen in connection with Óðinn is his continuing search, a wandering, after wisdom - this would not be necessary for the creator of all things. He hangs on the world tree as a sacrifice for nine nights for secret wisdom and, as a consequence, wins the runes. Interestingly the runes are described in the Hávámal as being 'made by mighty gods, known to holy hosts and dyed deep red by Óthin'.
Óðinn has a special role with the runes but he was not seen as their omnipotent source. He is also described as calling up a dead volva for knowledge, such as at the beginning of the Voluspá and also in Baldr's Draumar for information of Balder's fate. He famously sacrifices an eye to gain wisdom from Mimir's well. At the beginning of Vafþrúðnismál, where he goes to clash wits with the giant Vafthrudnir, the first thing that Óðinn does is to ask for Frigg's advice or rede.
One notable characteristic of Óðinn is his ravens: which the Norse sources describe as being sent out to collect knowledge and their very names mean "memory" and "thought". The image given in quotation number 4, on the first page of this article, is that of Óðinn delegating power and that the gods then sat to decide matters but in Voluspá it describes the gods sitting in council - not seeking it from Óðinn: 'Then all the Powers went to the thrones of fate the sacrosanct gods and considered this: ....... gave names....... ............... to reckon up the years ...................... until three gods, strong and loving.....' There is no mention of Óðinn being the source of such power or delegating it down first as Gylfaginning suggests. When he, together with Hoenir and Lodur, step forward there is no indication in the poem that somehow they are higher in status than the company of gods they were with.
When it comes to the creation of mankind there is also conflicting evidence for in the eddic lay Rigsthula it is Heimdall who is father of the classes of men and in the Voluspá (or 'prophecy of the seeress') too the phrase used is "Heimdall's children" when calling on mankind suggesting there was a slightly different emphasis to the creation myth extant which Snorri ignored or even a totally different myth. The christian slant of Snorri's telling of creation in Gylfaginning, 3-4, can be seen in his description: "He made heaven and earth and the skies and everything....But his greatest work is that he made man and gave him a soul that shall live and never perish.............men who are righteous shall live and dwell with him .. in ... Gimle or Vingolf, but wicked men go to Hel". Although Hollander translates Óðinn amongst the brothers who created Man and Woman as giving 'soul', this is translated is "breath" in Larrington. The English word 'soul' has spiritual connotations to modern reader, brought up with a judeo-christian influenced education, which are simply inappropriate for what is known of dark age heathen thought on the nature of man's mortal and immortal nature.
The eighth century 'History of the English People', by the Venerable Bede, is one of the earliest surviving English documents. However the christian Bede does not denounce Woden as a 'devil' which was the usual christian reaction to any pagan god. Also, it was noted by Bede that in the English Regnal list of Northumbria two pagan (and unsuccessful) kings were not recorded but the year of their reign was added onto Oswald's reign yet Woden was obviously not excised at the same time. This ecclesiastical acceptance of a pagan god is more understandable if the god in question was not the 'chief' pagan god and thus a rival to the new chief god, Jesus. Stephan Grundy has commented '......the political importance of royal descent from Woden may have encouraged him (i.e. Bede) to avoid the question of Woden's divine nature'. This political acceptance of Woden would not be compromising to a christian monk's integrity if Óðinn was not the chief god but a figure connected with war and the dead, whose role could then be emphasised as ancestral rather than divine.
The Icelandic lay, the Riddles of Gestumblindi , show Óðinn acting in Midgard on behalf of a man who has sacrificed to him to obtain his help but has no more of a cheif god image. Óðinn goes in disguise and the riddling commences with the King - which may the main reason for the poem - but the short end paragraph is interesting. For when the King recognises that the stranger is in fact Óðinn he does not show reverence to an Allfather deity but just calls him a "villain" and hacks at him with his sword, successfully removing the tail feathers of the shape-shifted Óðinn.
The evidence considered here would suggest that he was not the original Sky Father in the North and that originally he did not have any sovereignty over all the gods. Even in late Viking times, with the rise of kingship (with which Óðinn is so linked), mythological evidence and descriptions of such places as the temple at Uppsala appear to show that Óðinn was never universally considered to be the All-Father or Ruler over the gods. As a classically trained christian, it is understandable that Snorri Sturluson managed to write of a supreme god figure together with a christian cosmological and theological style viewpoint whilst he told the traditional heathen tales which do not actually support this.
The all-powerful, pan-creator, patriarch is not congruent with the seeker of wisdom and tricky, grim god of war who claims half the fallen heroes. I would suggest that the all-powerful All-Father of Snorri should be considered in the same light as the euhemerised human Odin described in his prologue.
Bibliography
W.H. Auden and Paul B. Taylor, Norse Poems, (1969, 1981, 1983 - Faber & Faber)
James Chisholm (trans), Grove and Gallows Part 3, Idunna Issue 17, (USA)
Georges Dumézil. Gods of the Ancient Northmen, (1959, 1973 - University of California Press 1977)
H.R. Ellis Davidson, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, (1964 - Penguin 1990)
Bill Griffiths, Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Magic, (1996 Anglo-Saxon Books)
Stephan Grundy, The Cult of Óðinn, (Doctoral Thesis 1996)
Lee M. Hollander (trans.), The Poetic Edda, (1962 - University of Texas Press 1994)
Carolyne Larrington, The Poetic Edda, (Oxford University Press 1996)
Bruce Lincoln, Death, War and Sacrifice, (University of Chicago Press 1991)
Britt-Marie Näström, Freyja - The Great goddess of the North, (1995 Lund Studies, Sweden)
Andy Orchard, Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend, (1997 - Cassell)
R.I. Page, Chronicles of the Vikings: Records, Memorials and Myths, (British Museum Press 1995)
Rudolph Simek, Dictionary of Northern Mythology, (1984, 1993 - D.S. Brewer 1996)
Snorri Sturluson (Anthony Faulkes trans.), Edda, (Everyman's Library 1987)
Tacitus (H. Mattingley trans.), The Agricola and The Germania, (1948, 1970 Penguin)
Patricia Terry (trans.), Poems of the Elder Edda, (1969 - University of Pennsylvania Press 1990)
Barbara Yorke, Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England, (Routledge 1990)
Håkan Lindh is building a website in Swedish called 'Torshov'.
The site is inspired by the English Thorshof site run by Thorskegga. Some of the Thorshof material will be translated and Håkan is busy gathering new material from his local contacts and Swedish Folklore. This is excellent news for the future of European heathen networking and should greatly improve our own access to Swedish heathen material.
We are delighted to include the following folktale which has been kindly submitted by Håkan.
A MYTH OF THOR FROM SWEDEN FROM THE MIDGARD'S WEB LORE BOOK
In Gotland there lived a troll called Hobergsgubben (the Old man of Holberg). It was considered very rude not to invite this troll to the Christenings on the local farms, but he would always eat all the food and shame the parents.
Once when a local farmer held a Christening feast, his handyman offered to solve the problem of the troll. The handyman went up the mountain to Hobergsgubben's home and told him about the Christening. Hobergsgubben was delighted to be invited and asked who else would be there. The handyman said that Jesus, St Peter and the Virgin Mary would come and Jesus would be baptising the infant.
Well,that was bad news,said Hobergsgubben, but wouldn´t it be a party with music and dancing after the sermon? Because he could always keep himself in the background,and partake in the dancing and eating afterwards. Sure there would be music and dancing, said the handyman, and it will be "the drummer" (Tor) who will play.
The Drummer! Shouted Hobergsgubben, then I don´t dare come at all. Last month he started a thunderstorm when I was outdoors, and he broke my legbone with his drumstick (hammer) and I´m still limping. But I have heard that guests give presents at Christenings,maybe I can do that instead? The handyman agreed, and made the Troll give him so much silver, gold and precious stones that he could hardly could carry it all home.
So everyone was happy. Hobergsgubben didn´t have to meet Tor. The farmer didn´t have to be ashamed over the Troll spoiling the Christening feast but had kept his friendship with Hobergsgubben, and not to mention that he became the richest man in all Gotland thereafter.
The newly formed Chiltern Kindred celebrated their first open ceremony this year with the 'beating the bounds' ancestors night celebrations. The Kindred travelled around various ancient sites around High Wycombe in full heathen finery and walking staves, causing quite a stir on Wycombe's buses!
The walk including a talk by Zin at Wycombe Castle's heathen Anglo-Saxon burial mound; a ceremony at the natural spring by Caer; a magical break in the unspoilt woods of Keep Hill in the full glory of a breezy autumn day; a talk by Thorskegga at the Pann Mill which dates back to before Doomsday; a talk by Dragon at Desborough Castle, the possible folk moot site for the Desborough Hundred and several other sites.
The day closed with a sunset ritual written by Zin and an evening of singing, storytelling, and drinking. The ceremonies included marking the sacred area with the leaves of holy plants gathered during the day (yew, thorn, oak, ash), the ritual lighting of the hearth fire, cooking a vegetable stew with water from the holy spring, the drawing of runes and the giving of offerings, the ritual burying of the offering bowl, and the ceremonial dousing of the hearth fire to mark the end of holy day.
Heathen Conference 11th March 2000 Conway Hall, Central London. Open heathen event organised by the Heathen Forum, with presentations and rituals by various groups and individuals. The conference will also include the Thing run by Math Jones of Arnstede and Thorunn of Fealcenstow. All tickets for the conference must be purchased in advance. The cost is £6 per person, no consessions. Cheques should be made payable to the 'Heathen Forum' and sent to: The Heathen Forum c/o 29 Desmond House 6 Cat Hill East Barnet Herts EN4 8JA
Midgard's Web London Pub Moots 8th April 2000 8th July 2000 MW pub moots are held once every three months in Central London (Bricklayers Arms near Tottenham Court Road Station). To make it easier for distant members to attend the moots are set on Saturday afternoons and will start at 1.00pm sharp and run until 5.00pm. Various speakers and activities will be planned for each event. Any charges will be kept to a minimum and only a small donation towards the travelling costs of non-member speakers is anticipated.
Thorshof Meetings Held at Thorshof in High Wycombe, Bucks, please write before attending for the first time or meet us and one of the London area heathen events. 22nd January 2000 - Living history discussion/workshop on historical costume and accessories of the Dark Age period. 19th February 2000 - Ancient Board Games 18th March 2000 - Tablet Weaving / Costume Workshop (mummers play rehersal). April - ommitted for MW pub moot 13th May 2000 - Open fire cookery (back by popular request!) 10th June 2000 - Websites revisited (private address High Wycombe). July - ommitted for MW pub moot
Re-enactment Market 10/11/12 March 2000 No, you don't have to be a re-enactor to enjoy these events. Among the pikes and muskets you can normally find mead, inexpensive natural fabrics, heathen amulets, drinking horns and all kinds of other goodies. It is held at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre on the outskirts of Oxford. Regular buses run from the main Oxford Railway Station.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & SUBMISSIONS
United Kingdom: Thorskegga Thorn, Thorshof, 106 Oakridge Road, High Wycombe,
Bucks, HP11 2PL. UK Subscription is £3 for four issues. Please make
cheques payable to 'Thorskegga Thorn'. Thunder is also available on the WWW at
www.thorshof.org or search for 'Thorshof'.
Thorshof can be contacted by e-mail on skegga@thorshof.org
Other countries please write for details.
All artwork in this issue is by Jim Kirkwood and Thorskegga Thorn and under their copyright. This issue was produced on StarOffice 5.0.