Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
We Beg The Gods
We beg the gods of the high snow country,
Odin, Tiwaz and Thor, Njord and Freya,
to join our childhoods like two silk threads,
softer and whiter than the first snowdrops!
Translated into English by Norton Hodges
Notes:
Scandinavian gods:
The god of the Clear Sky is Tyr. On alt-Germanic his name sounded "Tiw", that corresponds Greek Zeus.
The god of Thunder is Scandinavian Thor . To him corresponds Germanic Donner. In both “Edda" Thor the opponent World the Serpent behaves as a mighty warrior, he fights against giants and monsters. Pays on itself his familiarity to people that is not absolutely typical for Thunder god.
Many characteristics of the God of Earth Powers were incorporated by Odin that proves to be true on an example of comparison with Celtic tradition. Famous epithet Odin - "All father" corresponds to nickname Dahghda - " Father of all ".
Odin - the Cultural Hero (German Wotan, Anglo-Saxon Woden) - has occupied the Supreme position in Scandinavian pantheon. His grandiose image was considered variously. The most simple treatment - "the Supreme god", is more complex - "the god of war", is even deeper - "Apparently, Wodan in genesis - a chthonic demon, the patron of the military unions and military initiation and the god - sorcerer (shaman)."
One of major Odinn's functions was collecting souls died (but it is extreme the heroes falling in fight) in illusive palace Valhalla. He patronised brave warriors even at their live. But also the Scandinavian god has cunning and insidiousness in not a smaller degree, than Hermes. Odin was the reason of destruction of many heroes to which helped before (Sigmund, Helge, Heirred). "Danish king Harald has received the plan of military actions and the promise of numerous victories from the god. However during fight, Odin has taken his place of chariot man and has ruined Harald. In reply to a question why he has denuded promised good luck, One has answered, that "the grey wolf observes of halls of gods".
According to Persian sacral texts ‘Frashegird' there will be great disasters at last centuries of the world. All wolves will be left together and will merge in one huge wolf. People will beat with it and will win. After centuries, all snakes will be slipped together and will grow together in the huge snake. And again, people will battle to it and will win.
Scandinavian and ancient Persian cultures have a line of the similar moments and besides eschatology. The plot about gold of dwarf Andvari, paid by gods is widely known as the repayment for death of his son, killed in an image of an otter. The damnation (the given plot has served as a begining to a history about Sigurd (Siegfried) and Nibelung) was imposed on this gold. And in Zoroastrian Iran above all animals the otter - "a water dog" was esteemed. For murder of an otter severe compensation in case of which default the person was cursed was imposed.
The great Goddess of ancient Germanics was Nertus. In "Germany", Tacitus describes her cult. A statue of the goddess kept in a sacred grove, and only priest could come there. In certain time Nertus put on a chariot, harnessed with bulls, and carried through all country. These days all wars stopped, and general fun because this goddess named "Terra Mater", returned fertility to the world began. Then the chariot and its contents were cleared in sacred lake, and ritual was so confidential.
Name Nertus is not known from the Scandinavian sources. As reflections of the Great Goddess can be considered Erd, Frigg, Freyja and even Valkyrie . Erd, whose name is meant with the ground, it is considered mother Scandinavian Thor. It is more about her it is not known. Frigg - "Beloved" was Odinn's wife and the goddess of a marriage, love, the family center. She had gift of a prediction. Frigg to some extent it is possible to correlate with Greek Hera (the same as Erd with Greek Gaia).
Freyja ("Mistress") was as a matter of fact double of Frigg. She was considered as the wife the Odd (probably, variant of Odinn). Unlikely Frigg, Freyja in "Edda" concerns to Vanir - small group of gods of fertility, and is Freyr's sister. She embodied fertility, love, and beauty. Forage of that, the goddess daily divides and chooses together with Odin killed warriors. As representative of Vanir, Freyja had knowledge of magic (from Asir Odin owned to it only). There are in Scandinavia groups of women, venerated her cult, were considered owning as prophetical force. It is no wonder, that Christians considered their as witches, no less than itself Freyja, drives on a chariot, harnessed with cats.
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We Beg The Gods
We Beg The Gods
