Heidrun (mythology)
Heidrun ( old Norse Heiðrún ) is the name of a goat in Nordic mythology , from whose udders mead flows for the Einherjer . The goat stands on the roof of Valhalla and eats from the branches of the tree Lärad , which is equated with the world ash Yggdrasil . In addition, the goat is only mentioned once again: Hyndla insults Freyja with the accusation that she is just as brutal as the goat Heidrun.
The meaning of the name Heidrun is unclear. Heiðr could have been a ritual word for sacrificial mead ( Jan de Vries ). The name could also be related to the Franconian name Chaideruna and mean 'who has a wonderful secret' (also Jan de Vries).
It is possible that the goat donating mead is a Nordic modification of the original cow, as it is represented by Audumla in Nordic mythology . In Greek mythology there is also a parallel to the goat Amaltheia , whose horns are horns of plenty .
literature
- Rudolf Simek : Lexicon of Germanic Mythology (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 368). 3rd, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-520-36803-X .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lieder-Edda: Grimnismál 25; Prose Edda: Gylfaginning 39.
- ↑ Lieder-Edda: Hyndluljóð 46 f.
- ^ A b 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. 175.
- ^ Adolfo Zavaroni: Mead and Aqua Vitae: Functions of Mímir, Oðinn, Viðofnir and Svipdagr. In: Amsterdam Contributions to Older German Studies. 61, 1, 2006, ISSN 0165-7305 , pp. 65-86, here p. 83.