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Encyclopedia > Merseburg Incantations
The Merseburg Incantations (Merseburger Domstiftsbibliothek, Codex 136, f. 85r, 10th Cy.)
The Merseburg Incantations (Merseburger Domstiftsbibliothek, Codex 136, f. 85r, 10th Cy.)

The Merseburg Incantations (German: die Merseburger Zaubersprüche) are two medieval magic spells, charms or incantations, written in Old High German. They are the only known examples of Germanic pagan belief preserved in this language. They were discovered in 1841 by Georg Waitz[1], who found them in a theological manuscript from Fulda, written in the 9th or 10th century[2], although there remains some speculation about the date of the charms themselves. The manuscript (Cod. 136 f. 85a) was stored in the library of the cathedral chapter of Merseburg, hence the name. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x768, 98 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Odin ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x768, 98 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Odin ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... An incantation is the words spoken during a ritual. ... The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... ROSIE IS A GERMN LADYGermanic paganism refers to the religion of the Germanic nations preceding Christianization. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Georg Waitz (October 9, 1813 - May 24, 1886), German historian, was born at Flensburg, in the duchy of Schleswig. ... Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the Fulda River and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (Kreis). ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... This article incorporates text from the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is in the public domain. ... Merseburg is a city in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. ...

Contents

Form

Each charm is divided into two parts: a preamble telling the story of a mythological event; and the actual spell in the form of a magic analogy (just as it was before... so shall it also be now...). In their verse form, the spells are of a transitional type; the lines show not only alliteration but also the end-rhymes developed in the Christian verse of the 9th century. Alliteration is a structuring device characterized by the reiteration of a sound at the beginning of two consecutive or slightly separated words. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ...


History

Among the preliterate early Germanic tribes, incantations had the function "of rendering usable, through binding words, the magic powers which people wished to make serve them"[3] They have survived in large numbers, particularly from the area of the Germanic languages. However, they all date from the Middle Ages and therefore bear the stamp or show the influence of Christianity. What is unique about the Merseburg Incantations is that they still reflect very clearly their pre-Christian origin (from before the year 750[4][5]. They were written down for an unknown reason in the 10th century by a literate cleric, possibly in the abbey of Fulda, on a blank page of a liturgical book, which later passed to the library at Merseburg. The incantations have thus been transmitted in Caroline minuscule on the flyleaf of a Latin sacramentary. The term Germanic tribes (or Teutonic tribes) applies to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. ... An incantation is the words spoken during a ritual. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Events Last Umayyad caliph Marwan II (744-750) overthrown by first Abbasid caliph, Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah Bold textItalic textLink title GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... A cleric is a member of the clergy of a religion, especially one that has trained or ordained priests, preachers, or other religious professionals. ... Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the Fulda River and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (Kreis). ... From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning the work of the people, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may be refer to, or include, an elaborate... Example from 10th century manuscript Carolingian minuscule is a script developed as a writing standard in Europe so that the Roman alphabet could be easily recognized by the small literate class from one region to another. ... Flyleaf is a rock band[1] from the Temple/Belton, Texas[2] area. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Sacramentary was a musical service book, containing the prayers that were recited by the celebrant during the mass. ...


The spells became famous in modern times through the appreciation of the Grimm brothers, who wrote as follows: Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm The Brothers Grimm (Brüder Grimm) are Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. ...

Lying between Leipzig, Halle and Jena, the extensive library of the Cathedral Chapter of Merseburg has often been visited and made use of by scholars. All have passed over a codex which, if they chanced to take it up, appeared to offer only well-known church items, but which now, valued according to its entire content, offers a treasure such that the most famous libraries have nothing to compare with it..."

The spells were published later by the Brothers Grimm in On two newly-discovered poems from the German Heroic Period (1842) and are now preserved in the library of Merseburg Cathedral. Leipzig ( ; Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk from the Sorbian word for Tilia) is, with a population of over 506,000, the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. ... Halle (also called Halle an der Saale (literally Halle on the Saale, and in some historic references is not uncommonly called Saale after the river) in order to distinguish it from Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia) is the largest town in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. ... This article is about the German town of Jena. ... First page of the Codex Argenteus A codex (Latin for block of wood, book; plural codices) is a handwritten book, in general, one produced from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...


Incantation 1: Liberation of prisoners

The first spell is a "Lösesegen" (blessing of release), describing how a number of "Idisen" (Valkyrie women[6], ) free from their shackles warriors caught during battle. The last two lines contain the magic words "Leap forth from the fetters, escape from the foes" that are intended to release the warriors. The dying Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok exclaimed in Krákumál: the dísir invite me home (to Valhalla). This is an illustration of a lady welcoming Odin back to Valhalla on the Tängvide image stone, Gotland. ... The Valkyries Vigil, by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Robert Hughes. ...

Eiris sazun idisi
sazun hera duoder.
suma hapt heptidun,
suma heri lezidun,
suma clubodun
umbi cuoniouuidi:
insprinc haptbandun,
inuar uigandun.

      

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.

Once sat women,
They sat here, then there.
Some fastened bonds,
Some impeded an army,
Some unraveled fetters:
Escape the bonds,
flee the enemy!
[7]

Incantation 2: Horse cure

Phol (possibly another name for Balder[8]) is with Wodan (Odin) when Balder's horse dislocates its foot while riding through the forest (holza). Odin is saying as a result: "Bone to bone, blood to blood, limb to limb, as if they were glued". Images from the 5th-6th century show Odin healing a horse. Unfortunately, the other gods' names cannot be identified with certainty; the only clear names are "Uuôdan" (Wodan, Wotan, Odin) and "Frîia" (Freyja, one of Odin's lovers). As for the other names, it is not even sure whether they really are names of gods, since different interpretations of their translation are available. In Norse Mythology, Baldur (also Balder, ON Baldr), the god of innocence, beauty, joy, purity, and peace, is Odins second son. ... Balders death is portrayed in this illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript. ... This is the article about the West Germanic deity, for other uses see Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Freyja (sometimes anglicized as Freya), sister of Freyr and daughter of Niord (), is usually seen as a Norse fertility goddess. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ...

A Scandinavian C-bracteate (Seeland-II-C, ca. AD 500): Odin healing his horse.
A Scandinavian C-bracteate (Seeland-II-C, ca. AD 500): Odin healing his horse.

Phol ende uuodan
uuorun zi holza.
du uuart demo balderes uolon
sin uuoz birenkit.
thu biguol en sinthgunt,
sunna era suister;
thu biguol en friia,
uolla era suister;
thu biguol en uuodan,
so he uuola conda:
Image File history File links Brakteat_Odin_Runen. ... A bracteate (from the Latin bractea, a thin piece of metal) is a flat, thin, single-sided gold coin produced in Northern Europe predominantly during the Migration Period of the Germanic Iron Age (in Sweden this includes the Vendel era), but the name is also used for later produced coins... Seeland-II-C (Sjaelland bracteate 2) is a Scandinavian (Sjaelland) C-bracteate dating to the Migration period (ca. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ...


sose benrenki,
sose bluotrenki,
sose lidirenki:
ben zi bena,
bluot zi bluoda,
lid zi geliden,
sose gelimida sin.

      

Phol and Odin
rode into the woods,
There Balder's foal
sprained its foot.
It was charmed by Sinthgunt,
(so did) her sister Sunna.
It was charmed by Frija,
(so did) her sister Volla.
It was charmed by Odin,
as he well knew how:


Bone-sprain,
like blood-sprain,
Like limb-sprain:
Bone to bone,
blood to blood,
Limb to limb,
As though they were glued.

Phol and Wodan
rode to the woods,
Then, Balder's foal
wrenched his foot.
Then did Sinthgunt enchant it,
(so did) Sunna her sister,
then did Freya enchant it.
(so did) Fulla her sister,
then did Wodan enchant it,
as he well could:


If a bone-wrenching,
if a blood-wrenching,
if a limb-wrenching:
Bone to bone,
blood to blood,
Limb to limb,
As if bonded.
[9]

Notes

  • Idisen: Dísir, female deities from Norse mythology, used for both Norns and Valkyries, the ones that decide who should fall on the battlefield.
  • Balder: the god of the light in northern mythology. The word can also merely mean lord, so the identification of Phol with Balder is contested. Some think that here we have Balder's personal name which can be translated as Apollo.[citation needed]
  • Sinthgunt: Although written above as "Sinthgunt", the handwritten manuscript has "Sinhtgunt". She is not known from Scandinavian sources.
  • Sunna: the goddess Sol.

The dying Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok exclaimed in Krákumál: the dísir invite me home (to Valhalla). This is an illustration of a lady welcoming Odin back to Valhalla on the Tängvide image stone, Gotland. ... In Norse mythology, the dísir (sing. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... The Norns spin the threads of fate at the foot of Yggdrasil, the tree of the world. ... The Valkyries Vigil, by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Robert Hughes. ... Balders death is portrayed in this illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript. ... The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Frige (Anglo-Saxon, Friia (Germany) or Frea (Langobard)) was the love goddess of Germanic mythology, and the wife of Wotan (Odin). ... Freyja (sometimes anglicized as Freya), sister of Freyr and daughter of Niord (), is usually seen as a Norse fertility goddess. ... Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the Æsir. ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Æsir, and goddess of the sky. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Æsir, and goddess of the sky. ... Fulla or Fylla is, in Norse mythology, an ásynja. ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Æsir, and goddess of the sky. ... The Trundholm sun chariot pulled by a horse is believed to be a sculpture illustrating an important part of Nordic Bronze Age mythology. ...

Adaptations

Many German rock groups and musicians have been inspired by the Merseburg Incantations and produced their own settings. The already "classic" adaptation of the first incantation comes from the group Ougenweide; it is a free invention based on no real musical tradition. The group In Extremo, whose song Küss mich (Kiss me) was in the 2003 charts, included a version of the first incantation in their album Verehrt und angespien (Adored and spat at) in 1999 and of the second in their album Sünder ohne Zügel (Sinners without reins) in 2001. Also in that year they did the same in the project Helium Vola in a quite different context. The band Corvus Corax features both charms in a single song on the album Ante Casu Peccati (Before the Fall). Yet another adaptation was featured by Tanzwut, a musical project of Corvus Corax, in the album of the same title. A further band, Nagelfar, has included the incantations on Die Sprüche auf Virus West. Corvus Corax Standing (from the left to the right): Teufel, Castus Rabensang, Meister Selbfried, Ardor vom Venushügel, Wim; sitting: Harmann der Drescher, Hatz, Patrick der Kalauer Corvus Corax is the German music band known for playing medieval music using an abundance of authentic instruments. ... Tanzwut is a German industrial and medieval rock band comprised of members from the folk band Corvus Corax. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...


None of these reinterpretations is based on the medieval melodies.


Other

The manuscript of the Merseburg Incantations was on display until November 2004 as part of the exhibition "Between Cathedral and World - 1000 years of the Chapter of Merseburg", at Merseburg cathedral. They were previously exhibited in 1939.


The incantations can be found "freely translated" into English by D. L. Ashliman at his website.


References

  1. ^ Jeep, John. 'Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia'. Routledge; 2001. PP112-113. ISBN 0-8240-7644-3
  2. ^ Calvin, Thomas. 'An Anthology of German Literature', D. C. Heath & co. ASIN: B0008BTK3E,B00089RS3K. P5.
  3. ^ Simek, Rudolf. 'Lexikon der germanischen Mythologie'. A. Kröner, 1995. ISBN 3-520-36802-1
  4. ^ Priest, George Madison. 'A Brief History of German Literature'. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909. P.11. ASIN: B0008AOAGC
  5. ^ Todd, Henry & Weeks, Raymond, Editors,'Romanic Review Quarterly Journal, Volume VII, P.123. Columbia University Press, 1916.
  6. ^ Calvin, Thomas. 'An Anthology of German Literature', D. C. Heath & co. ASIN: B0008BTK3E,B00089RS3K. P5.
  7. ^ Jeep, John. 'Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia'. Routledge; 2001. PP112-113. ISBN 0-8240-7644-3
  8. ^ Calvin, Thomas. 'An Anthology of German Literature', D. C. Heath & co. ASIN: B0008BTK3E,B00089RS3K. P6.
  9. ^ Jeep, John. 'Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia'. Routledge; 2001. PP112-113. ISBN 0-8240-7644-3

Grimm, Jacob. 'Über zwei entdeckte Gedichte aus der Zeit des deutschen Heidentums' In 'Abhandlungen der kgl. preussischen Akadamie,phil.-hist. Klasse'. Berlin 1842. pp. 1-24.


External links

  • http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/merseburger.html
  • http://uweb.cas.usf.edu/~clopez/CAL/AV/DIS/ch1a.htm
  • (German) http://www.darkweb.de/mystik/merseburger_zaubersprueche1.html
  • (German) http://www.mysterium-scribendi.de/merse.html
  • (German) http://www.fh-augsburg.de/~harsch/germanica/Chronologie/08Jh/Merseburg/mer_intr.html

 

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