by Zabaan | Jun 11, 2015 | Ancient Greek, Classical languages, Greek Mythology, Literature, Norse Mythology, Old English, Old Norse
According to Greek mythology the fate of each and every individual is determined by the cool and steady hand of three sisters, collectively known as the Μοῖραι (moirai). Their name is derived from the verb μείρομαι (mēromai), to receive as one’s lot. Each on her...
by Zabaan | May 31, 2015 | Classical languages, Norse Mythology, Old English, Old Norse
In Norse myth valhöll (the Old Norse term for valhalla) is the hall where warriors feast at Odin’s table after dying in battle. The word is a compound consisting of val (wæl in Old English), the slain and höll (heall in Old English),...
by Zabaan | May 30, 2015 | Classical languages, Norse Mythology, Old Norse
The following passage is translated from the Prose Edda, an Old Icelandic anthology on Norse Myth written around 1220 by Snorri Struluson as a question and answer game between Odin, king of the gods, here called Hárr, lit. the high one, and Gangleri,...
by Zabaan | May 29, 2015 | Classical languages, Norse Mythology, Old Norse
In Norse mythology the earth is surrounded by an ocean encircled by the giant snake Jörmungandr, also called Miðgarðsormr (ð = th of modern English), literally the snake of the middle dwelling, i.e. earth. One day, Thor, the god of thunder, went fishing for it –...
