In Norse mythology, Árvakr (Old Norse: [ˈɑːrˌwɑkz̠], "early awake"[1]) and Alsviðr ([ˈɑlswiðz̠], "very quick"[2]) are the horses which pull the sun, or Sól's chariot, across the sky each day.[2] It is said that the gods fixed bellows underneath the two horses' shoulders to help cool them off as they rode.[3]
Both horses are only mentioned in Gylfaginning and Grímnismál and their names are frequently associated with descriptions of the Sun.[4] In Nordic mythology, gods govern the passage of days, nights, and seasons,[5] and shape the Sun from a spark of the flame Muspelheim, but the Sun stands still without a driver. Sól is kidnapped by the gods to drive the Sun in a chariot pulled by two horses. Two large bellows (Isarnkoll; cold iron) were placed under the shoulders of the two horses to protect them from the immense heat of the Sun. Sól is unable to stop driving the chariot or else Sköll will catch the Sun and devour it; the Sun is expected to be caught and devoured on the day of Ragnarök.[6][7]
The antiquity of the myth that the Sun is pulled by horses is not definitely from the Nordic religion. Many other mythologies and religions contain a solar deity or carriage of the Sun pulled by horses. In Persian and Phrygian mythology, Mithras and Attis perform this task. In Greek mythology, Apollo performs this task, although it was previously performed by Helios.[8] The myth of Árvakr and Alsviðr is thought to have inspired English dramatist and poet James Shirley's play The Triumph of Peace (1663).[9]
^Matthews, John and Caitlin (2005). The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures. Harper Element. p. 17. ISBN978-1-4351-1086-1.
^Kathleen N. Daly; Marian Rengel (2009). Norse Mythology A to Z. Infobase Publishing. p. 5. ISBN9781604134117.
^Marc-André Wagner (2005). The horse in Germanic paganist beliefs. Honoré Champion. p. 293. ISBN978-2-7453-1216-7.
^Snorri Sturluson, Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning: Edited by Anthony Faulkes, London, Viking Society for Northern Research. ISBN0-903521-21-0.
^Patrick Guelpa (26 November 2009). Gods & Nordic myths. Vol. 27. Presses Univ. pp. 45–46. ISBN9782757401200.
^Jane Alexander (2009). The Body, Mind, Spirit Miscellany: The Ultimate Collection of Fascinations, Facts, Truths, and Insights. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 14. ISBN9781844838370.
^Heather O'Donoghue (2014). English Poetry and Old Norse Myth: A History. Oxford University Press. p. 37. ISBN9780199562183.
Bibliographyedit
Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN0-85991-513-1
May 08, 2024
Árvakr, alsviðr, norse, mythology, Árvakr, norse, ˈɑːrˌwɑkz, early, awake, alsviðr, ˈɑlswiðz, very, quick, horses, which, pull, sól, chariot, across, each, said, that, gods, fixed, bellows, underneath, horses, shoulders, help, cool, them, they, rode, both, hor. In Norse mythology Arvakr Old Norse ˈɑːrˌwɑkz early awake 1 and Alsvidr ˈɑlswidz very quick 2 are the horses which pull the sun or Sol s chariot across the sky each day 2 It is said that the gods fixed bellows underneath the two horses shoulders to help cool them off as they rode 3 Both horses are only mentioned in Gylfaginning and Grimnismal and their names are frequently associated with descriptions of the Sun 4 In Nordic mythology gods govern the passage of days nights and seasons 5 and shape the Sun from a spark of the flame Muspelheim but the Sun stands still without a driver Sol is kidnapped by the gods to drive the Sun in a chariot pulled by two horses Two large bellows Isarnkoll cold iron were placed under the shoulders of the two horses to protect them from the immense heat of the Sun Sol is unable to stop driving the chariot or else Skoll will catch the Sun and devour it the Sun is expected to be caught and devoured on the day of Ragnarok 6 7 The antiquity of the myth that the Sun is pulled by horses is not definitely from the Nordic religion Many other mythologies and religions contain a solar deity or carriage of the Sun pulled by horses In Persian and Phrygian mythology Mithras and Attis perform this task In Greek mythology Apollo performs this task although it was previously performed by Helios 8 The myth of Arvakr and Alsvidr is thought to have inspired English dramatist and poet James Shirley s play The Triumph of Peace 1663 9 See also editAlcis gods Ashvins Horses in Germanic paganism List of horses in mythology and folklore Trundholm sun chariotReferences edit Simek 2007 19 a b Simek 2007 10 11 Matthews John and Caitlin 2005 The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures Harper Element p 17 ISBN 978 1 4351 1086 1 Kathleen N Daly Marian Rengel 2009 Norse Mythology A to Z Infobase Publishing p 5 ISBN 9781604134117 Marc Andre Wagner 2005 The horse in Germanic paganist beliefs Honore Champion p 293 ISBN 978 2 7453 1216 7 Snorri Sturluson Edda Prologue and Gylfaginning Edited by Anthony Faulkes London Viking Society for Northern Research ISBN 0 903521 21 0 Patrick Guelpa 26 November 2009 Gods amp Nordic myths Vol 27 Presses Univ pp 45 46 ISBN 9782757401200 Jane Alexander 2009 The Body Mind Spirit Miscellany The Ultimate Collection of Fascinations Facts Truths and Insights Sterling Publishing Company Inc p 14 ISBN 9781844838370 Heather O Donoghue 2014 English Poetry and Old Norse Myth A History Oxford University Press p 37 ISBN 9780199562183 Bibliography editSimek Rudolf 2007 translated by Angela Hall Dictionary of Northern Mythology D S Brewer ISBN 0 85991 513 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arvakr and Alsvidr amp oldid 1157829850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
