Hello one and all!
The Merseburg charm manuscript was discovered in 1841, in the Cathedral at Merseburg. When they were published on the 3rd of February 1842, by Jacob Grimm, they caused a sensation. On the parchment were two Germanic pagan spells from the 10th century CE - the only example of the belief system written in Old High German.
The Merseburg Incantations
The first Merseburg incantation went as follows:
"Once the Idisi set forth,
to this place and that;
Some fastened fetters;
some hindered the horde,
Some loosed the bonds from the brave --
Leap forth from the fetters!
Escape from the foes!"
This charm's purpose is to free captives, which was common among other western European spells as well. It was intended to free captive warriors, and the final words, "Leap forth from the fetters!
Escape from the foes!", were intended to be the release. The Idisi were female beings who were thought to release warriors from bonds. These beings also had a connection with the Norse Valkyries.
The second Merseburg incantation is:
"Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods,
and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained
So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it.
and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it.
and Wodan conjured it, as well he could:
Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain,
so joint-sprain:
Bone to bone, blood to blood,
joints to joints, so may they be mended."
This second spell is intended to mend an injury. It is one of the rare instances where the names of the gods from the Germanic pantheon are featured. Balder's horse sprains its foot and Wodan (the god identified with the Norse deity Odin), alongside four goddesses, heals the horse. In some areas of western Europe these pagan spells would persist, but instead of the pagan gods featuring there would be a reference to Jesus.
Thank you for reading!
The Merseburg charm manuscript was discovered in 1841, in the Cathedral at Merseburg. When they were published on the 3rd of February 1842, by Jacob Grimm, they caused a sensation. On the parchment were two Germanic pagan spells from the 10th century CE - the only example of the belief system written in Old High German.
The Merseburg Incantations
 |
| The Merseburg charm manuscript. |
The first Merseburg incantation went as follows:
"Once the Idisi set forth,
to this place and that;
Some fastened fetters;
some hindered the horde,
Some loosed the bonds from the brave --
Leap forth from the fetters!
Escape from the foes!"
This charm's purpose is to free captives, which was common among other western European spells as well. It was intended to free captive warriors, and the final words, "Leap forth from the fetters!
Escape from the foes!", were intended to be the release. The Idisi were female beings who were thought to release warriors from bonds. These beings also had a connection with the Norse Valkyries.
 |
| "The Dises" by Dorothy Hardy (1909). |
The second Merseburg incantation is:
"Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods,
and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained
So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it.
and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it.
and Wodan conjured it, as well he could:
Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain,
so joint-sprain:
Bone to bone, blood to blood,
joints to joints, so may they be mended."
 |
| Wodan heals Balder's Horse" by Emil Doepler (1905). |
This second spell is intended to mend an injury. It is one of the rare instances where the names of the gods from the Germanic pantheon are featured. Balder's horse sprains its foot and Wodan (the god identified with the Norse deity Odin), alongside four goddesses, heals the horse. In some areas of western Europe these pagan spells would persist, but instead of the pagan gods featuring there would be a reference to Jesus.
Thank you for reading!
Comments
Post a Comment