Aldgesegen Anglecynn : Anglo-Saxon mythology reconstruction

[piratedude]

Before Woden was wise he would go to his uncle, Ingemynd, for council and advice. Ingemynd always had good council, for he had lived long and remembered. One day, Woden asked of his uncle how his Cynn, the Ése, came to be.

Wise Ingemynd began; "It was Ídel then, void of life, before the beginning of ages. There was hot shifting flame and cold swirling mist. At their farthest reaches the flames formed a white sparks and great fires, and where the mists were far away from the flames, they formed fresh snow and salty ice.

"But where these came together, they formed life. The first was a wight named Ysmir, and the second was a great cow named Gebreost. When Ysmir was awake he would suck rich milk from the teats of Gebreost, and when he slept she would eat the snow and lick the ice and grow fat again with milk.

"From time to time, drops of milk would drip from the teats of Gebreost, or flow undrinken from Ysmir's chin, and it mixed with the world. Where milk met the freshly fallen snow it formed the first of the Wani. Where milk met the ice it formed the first of the Ése."

Tired from recalling old memories, Ingemynd sent Woden away, so that he may rest a while. And so Woden left him, though he wished to know more.

 

[PuffyClouds]

I read the first few words, then scrolled down to see how long this was. Didn't read anything else except for the word "teats".
Have a like for teats' sake.

 

[piratedude]

Hello!
This thread was spawned by a bit of world building i did in this thread, and i felt it deserved to be expanded on. It probably also helps that ive recently been listening to niel gaiman read norse mythology.

To give a brief summary of what this is. it is a hypothetical reconstruction of the anglo-saxon mythos, or rather, the mythos of who OTL labled the North Angles in the Arthurian story I'm working on.

The codex eboraci is a book ITTL that was writen by pagans, as part of an effort to resist conversion. As such it is unique in the world of comparative mythology, and is oft a companion to the norse/icelandic eddas. The two traditions are separate however, and also had different factors effecting their compellation. While one might be wary of pro-christian bias in the eddas, one has to be aware of the opposite problem in the Eboraci.

Now ITTL, the Eboraci is composed of both prose and poems. Prose i can do, but I'm helpless with poetry, let alone in an archaic language and style as Anglisc poetry. So if you have the talent and desire, please feel free to post some poetry! I only ask you include a modern english translation for us poor monolingual bastards.

 

[piratedude]

I read the first few words, then scrolled down to see how long this was. Didn't read anything else except for the word "teats".
Have a like for teats' sake.

Fair enough

 

[piratedude]

Woden could not wait for to Ingemynd to rest, so he came to him grey hooded, and giving his as name Geapælf, roused Ingemynd from his rest to learn more. “Tell me, wise rememberer, of the First the Wani Folk. They are my mother's cynn, but they are much estranged from me. Tell me too of of the Ése, the slayers of Ysmir.”

Ingemynd rose grudgingly, and began to speak again. “First of the Wani were Drós, who fathered Eard and Stan; Holm, who had many daughters; Deóran, who begat Frig and Eastre.They came forth when the rich milk of Gebreost fell from the chin of Ysmir into the fresh snow.

“The first among the Ése was Bur, who came from the milk of Gebreost that dripped from her teats upon the Salty ice. He begat three sons; Bor, who begat Woden, Willi, and Weoh; Neor, who begat Beautiful Ingwe; And Ingemynd, myself.

“Now be gone, for I go to slumber.” Ingemynd dismissed Geapælf, and returned to his bed. Geapælf, who was Woden, left him again, though he desired to learn yet more.

 

[Icedaemon]

Ingemynd is a replacement for Vafþrúðnir, correct? So, rather than the cow uncovering Buri from beneath the ice, Bur is born simply of fallen milk. It seems the Wani and the Ése would be more closely linked in this tale.

 

[piratedude]

Ingemynd is a replacement for Vafþrúðnir, correct? So, rather than the cow uncovering Buri from beneath the ice, Bur is born simply of fallen milk. It seems the Wani and the Ése would be more closely linked in this tale.

Functionally, he is like vafþruđnir so far, but his name and kinship to woden make him similar to mímir (though here he is his paternal uncle isntead of maternal).

As for the Wani, yeah they are going to be closer. After doing some brief research, i learned that the Vanir didn't really appear outside of scandinavia, the continental germanic peoples just didn't make any distinctions between their gods it seems. But a linguist did proposed a reconstructed cognate in a north anglian dialect *uuani, so im just going to run with it.

 

[Derekc2]

So I am interested in this but what, exactly, is the POD?

edit: Never mind I relooked the thread and saw it. Sorry for the post.

 

[piratedude]

A third time Woden came to Ingemynd while he rested, but now he gave his name as Hriđcrawe, and he hid his face with a wide brimmed hat. “Tell me old thinker, from whence come the Ettin, great foes of the milk-born? From whence comes their hatred of Beor’s Folk?”

Angrily woke, and angrily spoke, was old Ingemynd. “Whence comes the enmity of the wolf and the hart? Once the wolf slew the hart, now the hart slays the wolf, now slays the wolf, and so goes the unending season. As it is with beasts of the wood, so it is with gods and giants.

“Ysmir was fast asleep when the gods awoke, and they were content to be merry and share the nourishing milk that flowed from the great cow’s teats, growing strong and powerful from the milk satisfied all thirst and hunger. When Beor’s sons grew into the height of manhood, great Ysmir awoke and went forth to drink the milk of Gebreost as he had done in countless years past. Greedily drank the great wight, never stopping save to move from one teat to the next. All the gods worried that the cow would be milked dry and they would starve if Ysmir’s drinking continued unabated. Thus went Bur and Beor and I on behalf of the ice-cynn, and so went Drós and Deóran and Holm for the snow-cynn, to see the wight hear us. But he knew us not, and thought us but mean little things. Enraged by his rebuffs, Beor struck him upon the shin. Then grew the anger of Ysmir, who struck back in kind. He crushed Bur and Beor with one slap of his hand, and slew he Drós and Deóran with his stamping foot.

“Thus began the strife of the Ettin folk and the gods. Woden lead the gods in their vengeance, beginning the first battle of the world when he threw an icicle into Ysmir’s side. So long and hard fought was that storm of knives that Ysmir began to sweat, which fell from him, mixing with sparks from the fiery realm to birth the Ettin. From their father the first of the Eoten-cynn gained their wrath for the children of Gebreost.”

Ingemynd left Hriđcrawe with nothing more and returned to his bed, again tired from remembering. Hriđcrawe, who was Woden, departed as well though he wished to learn more.

 

[The Professor]

Hey, looking good. Usual spelling Anglian corrections though:
"Aldgesegen" would be the more correct Anglian.
"Geapaelf" should be "Geapælf" or "Geapelf" since ælf/elf is strong.

 

[piratedude]

Hey, looking good. Usual spelling Anglian corrections though:
"Aldgesegen" would be the more correct Anglian.
"Geapaelf" should be "Geapælf" or "Geapelf" since ælf/elf is strong.

Thanks. I'm actually surprised that there's only a few spelling errors

 

[piratedude]

Woden journeyed once more to the home of his uncle, to Hygescofa, where he was received at the threshold.

“Hail, well-knowing Ingemynd! I am Gríma, and I wish to challenge you. None of my cynn have beaten me in a game of knowledge, but surely a great rememberer such as yourself shall challenge me?”

“Surely your cynn are very daft, as are you. I grow weary of strangers and their askings; thrice have I suffered them and thrice have I answered them with nothing given.”

“That is an easy thing to fix! You will ask me a question for each bad guest, and I will ask but one. Whoever loses will be the other's servant for nine years.”

Ingemynd hummed in thought, he did not think it such a bad compensation. A second set of hands would be useful, especially if Gríma was as smart as he claimed. Decided, he asked, “Tell me young one, if you know so much, what dives the winds from the north and the west, the south and the east?”

“The winds come from the four brimfugol who circle the world sea; Norþa, Eásta, Súþa, and Westa. The blast from their mighty wings moves the airs and waters of the worlds.”

Ingemynd hummed appreciatively, Gríma might be a useful servant after all. “Tell me young one, if you know so much, whence comes the lands and the seas, the mountains and the trees?” said Gríma.

“Ysmir’s body they once were. When his age ended, the sons of Beor took his body and made the realms. With the flesh they made fertile dirt; they made deep trenches and filled it with the salty blood, making the oceans; the bones they broke and strewn about, making the jagged peaks; from Ysmir’s hair, from the longest and thickest strands, to the smallest fur, Woden made the trees and the herbs of the worlds.” said Gríma.

“Thirdly,” asked Ingemynd, “Where go the dead of the world, what becomes of their spirit?” Now the old god knew this question to be a trick, for none of the ælfs or ettins knew the truth of this matter, but to his shock Gríma answered rightly.

“To Friþherga go the good dead, who died without shame or dishonor. Frige tends to them there with her maids. But the dishonorable and shameful wander the dark halls below the world, and they are without warmth or comfort.

“My own question is a simple one, old Ingemynd,” said Gríma “What is the destiny of the Gods?”

Ingemynd looked at his guest more closely, and knew him to be Woden. “I know it not, nephew. Lucky and few are the ones who know the fate Wyrde has spun for them. But mine for now is with you, Woden.”

His contest won, Woden returned to Ósgearđ with the wisest adviser of all.

 

[The Professor]

FYI
Whence = from where, thus "from whence" = "from from where".
I assume "Friþhearhga" is a misspelling of "Friþhearga" (Altar/temple of peace) and this would be "Friþherga"
"New" should be "knew"

 

[piratedude]

FYI
Whence = from where, thus "from whence" = "from from where".
I assume "Friþhearhga" is a misspelling of "Friþhearga" (Altar/temple of peace) and this would be "Friþherga"
"New" should be "knew"

Fixed. And Hopefully I'll get better at this so you don't have to be a spellchecker everytime i post lol

 

[The Professor]

Fixed. And Hopefully I'll get better at this so you don't have to be a spellchecker everytime i post lol

It serves as a useful "pedantry patch"

 

[piratedude]

Been having a bit of trouble actually writing a story, so i figure i ought to give you guys some thing, so lets introduce the gods of the Anglisc.

There is Woden, the creator of the universe along with his brothers and the creator of elves with his lover, Eard. He's a god of knowledge/wisdom, seeking to know the outcomes of future battles. He'll even tell you if you're generous to him. He's a god of magic and war; he found the runes for engraving, he helps his friends and allies with spells sung before the battle, guides their spears in the fight, and created the medicinal plants for wounds afterward. He's also a sly god; he may take your best warriors for himself, send down curses and remove his protections to test or take you. He made men to be his army, and he'll only take the best of warriors to his hall.

Frige is his wife, one of the Wani. She has dreams of the future because she drinks the dew that comes off Óswud, the holy tree that has roots in every 'world'. She also is a goddess of magic, particularly for divination, protection, and healing. She's a Goddess of love and friendship, of marriage and child birth. She receives the friends of the gods; the good dead, and tends to them in her sacred hall.

Þunor is Woden's illegitimate son by Eard, who's home is in Þryđfyrhþ (strength-forest). He is the protector of Middangeard and mankind. He is among the most mighty of the gods, and spends much time fighting the enemies of the gods. Like his Scandinavian counterpart, he is very strongly identified with his weapon; a fiery axe whos head his so large in comparison to its handle no other god can use it. Axes and axehead amulets are common finds in the graves of the Anglisc. Þunor tends to be associated with the freeman class (ceorls), while his father is associated with the ruling family of the Anglisc.

 

[piratedude]

Tiw is Woden's legitimate son by Frige. He is a god of honor, oaths, and justice, and by extension of the noble class (earls) who often served as judges. He has a connection with the heavens, The north star is his hand, and he directs the courses of the heavenly bodies. His symbol is often found engraved on swords, so he may also have had a connection to war at an earlier period that is not recorded in the Anglisc written sources.

Eastre, the goddess of fertility, the spring and the dawn. she is Tiw's wife. She is one of the most beautiful among the gods, and is often compared to flowers in poetry. She has many children, and not all of them with her husband...

Ingwe is a popular god, he is a god of agriculture, fertility, and harvests. Many of his idols are rather phallic as a consequence. He is Woden's cousin, and the forefather of the Scilfings, the royal family of the Swedes. He has a sickle that can harvests crops all on it's own, and on one occasion fought on it's own. He is also depicted as wearing or holding a golden torc, a sign of leadership. He gave it away as part a bride price.

 

[piratedude]

Wuldor is the Watchman of the gods and the guardian of Ósgeard, though he also pratrols out into the lands of elves and men. He lives in the land Hámdæll (home dell/hollow), and built a tower on the high mountain above it, from where he can watch the many realms. Only Woden's falcon atop the Óswud sees more than Wuldor in his tower. All know he is the son of nine sisters, but few indeed know his father. He has learned many magics, and has had many children and grandchildren. He invented the bow, and is a god of Hunters.

Hređe is a goddess of hunting, and fittingly is Wuldor's wife. As one of the wani she can perform feats of magic, and oft takes the form of ravens and crows. She is the Wælcyrige, selecting warriors for Wodens' warband. It is a bad omen if a warrior sees her before battle. But she is kind and gentle to the men she takes to woden; in his halls she brings mead that slakes their thirst and food that satisfies even the direst of hungers.

Braga is the poet of the gods, a gift from woden. He invented the harp, and taught men and ælf to sing and play. He also gave men tafel, the boardgame that the gods played in the dark winter. The good scop pays him hommage with good song and merriment.

 

[The Professor]

Ósgearđ

Ósgeard.

 

[piratedude]

Ósgeard.

Woops