History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2) |
TABLE OF KINGS. BOOK II. THE MIDDLE AGE. APPENDIX. FOOTNOTES.
Title: History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. II (of 2) Author: S. A. (Samuel Astley) Dunham Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) Transcriber’s Note: On page 66 (beginning "seas, and streams, on the same principle" and ending "They also, to a certain extent, retain their distinction into white and") there are several words and phrases in Anglo-Saxon that were impossible to transcribe exactly as in the original. The characters are not available in the Unicode standard. However, those words were found in “The Student’s Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon” by Henry Sweet available on-line here: https://archive.org/details/studentsdictiona00swee and transcribed as well as possible. The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square. CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA. CONDUCTED BY THE REV. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL.D. F.R.S. L.&E. M.R.I.A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c. ASSISTED BY EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN. DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE “HISTORY OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.” VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND JOHN TAYLOR, UPPER GOWER STREET. 1839. HISTORY OF DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NORWAY, BY S. A. DUNHAM, Author of “The History of Spain & Portugal” VOL. II. London: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW AND JOHN TAYLOR, UPPER GOWER STREET. 1839. ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. CHAPTER IV.—continued. MARITIME EXPEDITIONS OF THE NORTHMEN DURING THE PAGAN TIMES. SECTION II. IN THE ORKNEYS, THE HEBRIDES, ICELAND, GREENLAND, NORTH AMERICA, RUSSIA, ETC. 795–1026. ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOVERNMENT IN THE ORKNEYS.—SUCCESSION OF JARLS, ROGNEVALD, SIGURD, HALLAD, EINAR, SIGURD II., ETC.—DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF ICELAND.—DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF GREENLAND.—ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF NORTH AMERICA.—STATEMENT OF FACTS CONNECTED WITH IT.—FOUNDATION OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE BY THE SCANDINAVIAN RURIC. | | Page | 888. | Establishment of a Government in the Orkneys by Harald Harfagre; Sigurd, the first Jarl | 1 | 889–892. | Able Administration of Sigurd; he is succeeded by Einar | 2 | 893–936. | Administration of Einar | 4 | 936–943. | Of Arnkel and Erlend, the Sons of Einar | 5 | 946–980. | Succession of Jarls | 5 | 980–1014. | Sigurd, the next Jarl, compelled to embrace Christianity; Legend | 6 | | Piratical Depredations on the neighbouring Islands | 8 | 861, &c. | Iceland Discovered by the Norwegian Naddod, who is followed by other Navigators | 9 | 874. | Iceland first colonised by Ingulf; Fate of Jorleif | 10 | 884. | Other Colonists, especially Thorolf, the Priest of Thor; Manner in which he established the new Colony | 11 | 874–936. | Progress of the new Colonies | 13 | | Formation of a Northern Code | 14 | 930. | Internal Economy of this important Island; the great Chief of the Law | 15 | | Circumstances which led to the Discovery of Greenland by Eric the Red | 16 | | Christianity Introduced into Greenland by Leif, the Son of Eric | 17 | 1001. | Alleged Discovery of North America by Biarn, a Descendant of Ingulf | 17 | | The newly-discovered Country visited by Leif, the Son of Eric | 18 | | Remarks on this Relation | 19 | 1004–1008. | Voyage of Thorwald, who dies in the Country called Vinland | 19 | 1009. | Thorfin, a Norwegian Chief, makes the first Attempt at Colonisation | 20 | 1026–1121. | The Country visited by other People, especially by the Missionaries | 21 | | The Balance of Evidence decidedly in favour of the alleged Discovery of the American Continent many Ages before Columbus | 22 | 862. | A Scandinavian Dynasty founded in Russia by Ruric | 23 | | Circumstances connected with that memorable Event; how far probable | 24 | 861, 862. | Novogrod the Seat of the new Dynasty | 25 | | The Domination of the Strangers extended to Kief; two Governments | 26 | 882. | Evils arising from the Creation of two States; Kief subdued by the Regent of Novogrod | 27 | | Maritime Expeditions of the Northmen into Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, &c. | 27 | CHAP. V. COSMOGONY AND RELIGION OF SCANDINAVIA. INTRODUCTION. THE TWO EDDAS, THE ELDER AND THE YOUNGER, THE POETIC AND THE PROSE.—CONTENTS OF THE FORMER.—DIVISION INTO CLASSES. 1. THE MYSTICAL. 2. THE MYTHIC-DIDACTIC. 3. THE PURELY MYTHOLOGICAL. 4. THE MYTHIC-HISTORICAL.—POEMS OF EACH CLASS.—THE PROSE EDDA.—SNORRO STURLESON. | Page | Religion of the Pagan Northmen an interesting Subject of Inquiry | 30 | The Two Eddas | 30 | I. SÆmund, reputed Compiler of the Poetic Edda; its slow Publication | 31 | Poems included in the Elder Edda divisible into four Classes | 31 | 1. The Mystic Class:— | | The Voluspa | 32 | The Grougaldor | 32 | The Magic of Odin similar in many Respects to that of Zoroaster | 33 | 2. The Mytho-didactic Class:— | | The Vafthrudnis-mÂl | 34 | Grimnis-mÂl | 34 | Other Pieces of this Class | 36 | The Hava-mÂl | 36 | 3. The purely Mythologic Class:— | | The Hymis-guida | 37 | The Hamars-heimt | 37 | The Rafna-galdur Odins | 37 | The Skirnirs-for | 37 | The Vegtams-Quida | 38 | Undoubted Antiquity of the preceding Poems | 38 | 4. The Mytho-historical Class | 38 | II. The Prose or Younger Edda, usually ascribed to Snorro Sturleson | 39 | Some Account of that celebrated Man | 40 | Sources from which he drew | 42 | THE SCANDINAVIAN UNIVERSE, ITS WORLDS, AND THEIR INHABITANTS IN GENERAL, WITH THE PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION. CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.—YMER.—THE GIANTS.—THE GODS.—OTHER BEINGS.—THE NINE WORLDS, WITH THEIR POSITION AND PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION.—THE TWELVE HOUSES OF ASGARD.—SWARTALFAHEIM.—INHABITANTS OF THE NINE WORLDS.—THE ASER.—THE VEVER, ETC. | Page | Progress of Creation according to that venerable Authority, the Elder Edda | 43 | The Waters of Nifleheim flow into the Abyss and freeze | 43 | But they are thawed by the Fires of Muspelheim | 44 | To the Operation of Cold and Heat on the Waters of Nifleheim must be ascribed the Origin of this visible Universe | 44 | Generation of Ymer, the Patriarch of the Frost Giants | 44 | Creation of the Cow Andumbla, which calls BurÈ into Existence | 45 | From this new Being, half Deity, half Giant, arose Odin, VilÈ, and VÈ | 45 | Ymer destroyed, and the Universe formed from his Body | 45 | Affinities between the Scandinavian and other Systems of Mythology | 46 | The Cow, as a Symbol, very generally diffused | 47 | Physical Interpretation of the Mythos | 47 | Physical Interpretation of another Mythos, the Destruction of Ymer and his Offspring | 48 | Notions concerning a Supreme, Eternal Being entertained by the Scandinavians | 49 | Creation of other Beings, especially the Dwarfs | 50 | Creation of Man | 51 | | Page | The Nine Worlds. | | | Page | GimlÈ and Muspelheim | 53 | Midgard and Utgard | 53 | Asgard | 55 | Divine Residences in Asgard:— | | 1. Ydale | 56 | 2. Alfheim | 57 | 3. Valaskialf | 57 | 4. Soequabeck | 58 | 5. Gladsheim | 58 | 6. Thrymheim | 58 | 7. Breidablik | 59 | 8. Himmelbierg | 60 | 9. Folkvangur | 60 | 10. Glitner | 61 | 11. Noatun | 61 | 12. Landvide | 61 | Residences of Odin | 62 | Diversions of the Einheriar | 62 | Ascent of slain Heroes from Earth to Heaven | 63 | Bloodthirsty Character of the Odinists | 63 | Swartalfaheim | 64 | Residences of the Alfs or Elves | 64 | Their Nature according to Thorlacius | 64 | Origin of the Word | 65 | Universality of the Word | 66 | Traditions still rife respecting them | 67 | Scandinavian Dwarfs | 69 | Two Legends respecting them | 70 | Their wondrous Manufactures at the Instance of Loke | 70 | Physical Interpretation | 72 | Thorston and the Dwarf | 73 | Helheim and Nifleheim | 74 | The Yggdrasil | 75 | Explanation of this Mythos | 77 | Races which inhabited the Scandinavian Universe | 78 | Were the Aser Gods, or Mortals only, or deified Mortals? | 79 | Some Reasons for the Inference that Odin and his Followers really existed | 80 | Hypothesis of two Odins, how far reconcileable with Facts | 81 | Did Odin, in his own Case, inculcate the Doctrine of Metempsychosis? | 82 | Conclusion that Odin and his Companions actually existed on Earth; but how account for the divine Attributes claimed by them? still more, how account for the extraordinary Diffusion of their Worship? | 82 | Their Policy in the North | 83 | Two distinct Systems of Religion evidently prevalent in the North,—the Native and the Foreign,—that of Thor, and that of Odin | 84 | And also two distinct Systems of Magic | 85 | Another Argument for this Distinction | 86 | Progress of Odin and his Companions towards Deification | 88 | Geographical Position of the Aser and Vanir led to their celestial Location | 89 | The Union of two Systems—the Native and the Foreign, the Finnish and the Gothic—every where discernible in the Eddas | 91 | SECTION II. CHIEF MYTHOLOGICAL PERSONAGES OF SCANDINAVIA. ODIN, THOR, AND LOKE.—THEIR CHARACTERS PHYSICALLY INTERPRETED.—THEIR WIVES AND OFFSPRING.—THE THREE DEMON CHILDREN OF LOKE.—INFLUENCE OF THIS DEITY OVER THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE.—HE IS PRESENT IN EVERY GREAT MYTHOS.—RAPE OF IDUNA.—THOR’S VISITS TO JOTUNHEIM.—THOR AND THE GIANT HYMIR.—THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.—NIVOD, FREYR, FREYA.—EXPEDITION OF SKIRNIR-ÆGIR AND RAN.—OTHER DEITIES.—BALDER.—PUNISHMENT OF LOKE.—RAGNAROK.—RECOGNITION OF A GREAT FIRST CAUSE BY THE PAGAN SCANDINAVIANS. | Page | Wives and Sons of Odin | 92 | His Functions, Abodes, and Ministers | 93 | The three Valkyrs | 93 | Legend of Odin and Sterkodder | 94 | This Legend furnishes another Proof of the Fact that Odin was a foreign Deity | 95 | Thor, his Superiority over Odin in the more ancient System of the North, and his three Treasures | 96 | Mythical Interpretation | 97 | Thor peculiarly worshipped in Norway | 97 | The Giants, the everlasting Enemies of Thor | 98 | This Article of popular Belief essentially Celtic | 98 | Loke | 99 | His Description | 100 | His Offspring three:— | | 1. The Great Serpent | 101 | 2. Hela, Queen of Death | 101 | 3. The Wolf Fenris | 102 | Manner in which the last-named Demon was bound by the Gods | 102 | Loke originally the same with Utgardelok, and the Personification of Evil in the Celtic Creed | 103 | Mythological Fables in which Loke is concerned | 104 | | Page | Odin, Hoenir, and Loke visit Utgard | 105 | Loke compelled to promise that he will deliver Iduna into the Power of Thiasse | 105 | He performs his Promise | 106 | Consequent Wrath of the Gods, who compel him to restore her | 106 | Interpretation of this Mythos | 107 | | Page | Loke, taken by the Giants, is compelled to promise that he will bring Thor without Belt or Hammer | 108 | Thor accordingly undertakes the Journey; his Punishment of Geyruth, and the Daughters of that Giant | 109 | Second Journey of Thor to Utgard, accompanied by Loke | 110 | Adventure in the Cottage | 110 | Dreary Wastes through which the Travellers passed | 111 | Adventure in the desert Heath | 112 | Adventures in Utgard itself | 113 | Thor and the Giant Hymir. | Page | Banquet of the Sea-god Ægir | 114 | Thor and Tyr proceed to Giant-land to steal a Caldron | 114 | Adventures at the House of Hymir | 115 | Physical Meaning of this Mythos | 116 | The same Adventures paraphrased by the Danish Poet Ohlenschlager | 117 | Thor and the Giant Thrym. | Page | Thor loses MiÖlner | 124 | Loke discovers the Thief, who is the Giant Thrym | 125 | Thrym will not restore it, unless he have Freya to Wife | 125 | When Freya refuses, Thor is persuaded to assume Female Apparel, and go to Jotunheim | 126 | Adventures there | 127 | Metrical Version of this Legend | 128 | Magnussen’s Interpretation | 129 | Sif, the Wife of Thor | 131 | | Page | Niord, Lord of the Vaner, and a God | 132 | His second Wife is Skada, from whom he separates | 133 | Freyr, the Son of Niord, in love with a Giant Maiden | 133 | Skirnir, his Attendant, goes to Jotunheim and wins her | 134 | Metrical Version of Skirnir’s Expedition | 135 | Freya, the Daughter of Niord, and the Goddess of Love | 136 | Her Functions and Authority in Asgard | 140 | |
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