Bergelmir

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Bergelmir , old Norse Bergelmir , is a giant ( Jötunn ) in Norse mythology .

In the Song Edda he is only mentioned in the song Vafþrúðnismál . Thereafter he is the son of the giant Thrudgelmir and a grandson of Aurgelmir and was conceived in ancient times, before the world was created. He is considered wise. In addition, it is said that it was placed on a lúdr (an ambiguous term). For what purpose remains open. According to the Prose Edda , Bergelmir and his wife on said lúdr were the only ones of the ancient giants who survived the deluge , which was caused by the outflowing blood of Ymir , when the gods killed the giant in order to build the world out of his body. This made Bergelmir the progenitor of the frost giants .

In research it has not yet been decided whether Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda reproduces an independent Germanic Flood myth or whether, as a Christian, he only read the Biblical Flood into his local mythology. Proponents of the Germanic flood myth interpret the lúdr as a hollowed-out tree trunk, raft or grinding box, opponents see it as a cradle (Bergelmir as the progenitor of the giant family) or even its burial place.

The name of the giant cannot be clearly determined either. It is interpreted either as 'mountain roaring', 'bear roaring', 'bareheaded roaring' or as 'bad berry'.

Bergelmir was sometimes equated with the giant Fárbauti , Loki's father .

literature

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lieder-Edda: Vafþrúðnismál 31, 35
  2. ^ Prose Edda: Gylfaginning 7
  3. ^ Rudolf Simek: Lexicon of Germanic Mythology (= Kröner's pocket edition. Volume 368). 3rd, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-520-36803-X , p. 497.
  4. ↑ So the common translations: Arnulf Krause: Die Götter- und Heldenlieder der Älteren Edda (translation). Reclam-Verlag, 2004, p. 81 - Arthur Häny: Die Edda. Songs of the gods and heroes of the Teutons (translation). 3. Edition. Manesse Verlag, Zurich 1989 (first edition 1987), p. 83 - Felix Genzmer : Die Edda (translation). Reprint after the first edition from 1981, Diederichs Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-7205-2759-0 , p. 49.
  5. ↑ Jan de Vries: Old Germanic Religious History - Vol. 2: Religion of the North Germanic. Verlag Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin - Leipzig 1937, § 321.
  6. ↑ Compare John Lindow: Handbook of Norse Mythology. USA 2001, ISBN 1-57607-217-7 , p. 75
  7. ^ Rudolf Simek: Lexicon of Germanic Mythology (= Kröner's pocket edition. Volume 368). 3rd, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-520-36803-X , p. 48: with question mark - John Lindow: Handbook of Norse Mythology. USA 2001, ISBN 1-57607-217-7 , p. 74: for him this interpretation is only one of three alternatives
  8. ↑ John Lindow: Handbook of Norse Mythology. USA 2001, ISBN 1-57607-217-7 , p. 74: bear-yeller , bare-yeller .
  9. ^ Adolfo Zavaroni: Mead and Aqua Vitae: Functions of Mímir, Oðinn, Viðofnir and Svipdagr. In: Amsterdam contributions to older German studies, Volume 61. Editions Rodopi BV, 2006, ISBN 978-9042018594 , p. 82: evil-berry .
  10. ^ HA Guerber: Myths of Northern Lands Narrated with Special Reference to Literature and Art. Dodo Pr., 2007, ISBN 978-1406739893 , p. 199