The Old Norse name Eggþér ('edge-servant') is a compound formed with the word egg ('edge') attached to þér ('servant').[4][2] It could have denoted a 'bearer of a sword' or 'one who is servant of the sword', perhaps 'one who provides victims for battle'.[5]
According to Peter H. Salus and Paul B. Taylor, the Old Norse Eggþér ('Edge-Servant') is a descriptive agnomen derived from his function as the arouser of the jötnar and wolves to battle during Ragnarök. They argue that there is a "remote similarity" with Ecgþéow, since the latter was also known for the feuds he have brought about by his fighting. Both names could embody, in their respective tradition, the role of arousers of great battles and feuds.[8]Andy Orchard and John Lindow contend however that a mythological parallel between the two figures is most likely a "red herring".[2][3]
AttestationEdit
Eggþér is mentioned in the poem Völuspá (Prophecy of the Völva) as the herder of the jötunn living in Járnviðr (Ironwood) and raising "the kinfolk of Fenrir" (wolves).[2] While the red rooster Fjalarr is heralding the onset of Ragnarök, Eggþér is portrayed as joyfully striking his harp.[5]
Scholar Andy Orchard notes that the scene of Ragnarök has a "curious echo" in the Icelandic Njáls saga, where the hero Gunnar is portrayed as singing joyfully within his own burial mound.[2]
The identity of the gýgr mentioned in the poem is unclear. According to scholars, she is probably the one described in stanza 40 of the same poem, a figure possibly identified with the jötunnAngrboða. She is said to dwell in the forest of Járnviðr (Ironwood), where she raises the offspring of the wolf Fenrir.[1][3] Salus and Taylor contend that the herdsman Eggþér is not a shepherd, but rather a wolf-herder. In this view, Eggþér is portrayed as 'joyful' or 'cheerful' in Völuspá because the "rearing of the wolves will bring about the downfall of the gods", and he is striking his harp to "arouse his charge to ferocious deeds".[8]
Salus, Peter H.; Taylor, Paul B. (1969). "Eikinskjaldi, Fjalarr, And Eggþér: Notes on Dwarves and Giants in the Völuspá". Neophilologus. 53 (1): 76–81. doi:10.1007/BF01511692. ISSN 1572-8668.
August 25, 2023
eggþér, eggther, redirects, here, moon, saturn, eggther, moon, also, eggthér, egdir, norse, ˈeɡːˌθeːz, edge, servant, jötunn, norse, mythology, herder, female, jötunn, probably, angrboða, lives, járnviðr, ironwood, raises, monstrous, wolves, poem, völuspá, des. Eggther redirects here For the moon of Saturn see Eggther moon Eggther also Eggther or Egdir Old Norse ˈeɡːˌ8eːz Edge Servant is a jotunn in Norse mythology He is the herder of the female jotunn probably Angrboda who lives in Jarnvidr Ironwood and raises monstrous wolves 1 2 3 In the poem Voluspa Eggther is described as sitting on a mound and joyfully striking his harp while the red rooster Fjalarr begins to crow to herald the onset of Ragnarok 2 Illustration by Lorenz Frolich Eggther and Fjalar on the right Jarnvidr on the left Contents 1 Name 2 Attestation 3 Theories 4 Legacy 5 References 5 1 BibliographyName EditThe Old Norse name Eggther edge servant is a compound formed with the word egg edge attached to ther servant 4 2 It could have denoted a bearer of a sword or one who is servant of the sword perhaps one who provides victims for battle 5 Eggther is cognate with the Old English personal name Ecgtheow borne by the father of Beowulf in Old English poetry 5 3 and with the Old High German name Eggideo or Eckideo 4 They may stem from a common Proto Germanic form reconstructed as Agjō the g waz 4 6 7 According to Peter H Salus and Paul B Taylor the Old Norse Eggther Edge Servant is a descriptive agnomen derived from his function as the arouser of the jotnar and wolves to battle during Ragnarok They argue that there is a remote similarity with Ecgtheow since the latter was also known for the feuds he have brought about by his fighting Both names could embody in their respective tradition the role of arousers of great battles and feuds 8 Andy Orchard and John Lindow contend however that a mythological parallel between the two figures is most likely a red herring 2 3 Attestation EditEggther is mentioned in the poem Voluspa Prophecy of the Volva as the herder of the jotunn living in Jarnvidr Ironwood and raising the kinfolk of Fenrir wolves 2 While the red rooster Fjalarr is heralding the onset of Ragnarok Eggther is portrayed as joyfully striking his harp 5 Voluspa 42 Sat thar a haugi ok slo horpu gygjar hirdir gladr Egdir gol um hanum i gaglvidi fagrraudr hani sa er Fjalarr heitir 5 dd Salus amp Taylor translation 1969 The giantesses herder joyful Eggther sits on his cairn and strikes the harp the red cock called All Wise crows to him from Birdwood 5 C Larrington translation 1995 He sat on the mound and plucked his harp the herdsman of the giantess cheerful Eggther a rooster crowed in Gallows wood that bright red cockerel who is called FialarTheories EditScholar Andy Orchard notes that the scene of Ragnarok has a curious echo in the Icelandic Njals saga where the hero Gunnar is portrayed as singing joyfully within his own burial mound 2 The identity of the gygr mentioned in the poem is unclear According to scholars she is probably the one described in stanza 40 of the same poem a figure possibly identified with the jotunn Angrboda She is said to dwell in the forest of Jarnvidr Ironwood where she raises the offspring of the wolf Fenrir 1 3 Salus and Taylor contend that the herdsman Eggther is not a shepherd but rather a wolf herder In this view Eggther is portrayed as joyful or cheerful in Voluspa because the rearing of the wolves will bring about the downfall of the gods and he is striking his harp to arouse his charge to ferocious deeds 8 Legacy EditSaturn s moon Eggther is named after him References Edit a b Salus amp Taylor 1969 p 79 a b c d e f Orchard 1997 p 35 a b c d Lindow 2002 p 102 a b c de Vries 1962 pp 94 95 609 a b c d e Salus amp Taylor 1969 p 78 Orel 2003 pp 3 419 Kroonen 2013 p 4 541 a b Salus amp Taylor 1969 p 80 Bibliography Edit de Vries Jan 1962 Altnordisches Etymologisches Worterbuch 1977 ed Brill ISBN 978 90 04 05436 3 Kroonen Guus 2013 Etymological Dictionary of Proto Germanic Brill ISBN 9789004183407 Lindow John 2002 Norse Mythology A Guide to Gods Heroes Rituals and Beliefs Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 983969 8 Orchard Andy 1997 Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend Cassell ISBN 978 0 304 34520 5 Orel Vladimir E 2003 A Handbook of Germanic Etymology Brill ISBN 978 90 04 12875 0 Salus Peter H Taylor Paul B 1969 Eikinskjaldi Fjalarr And Eggther Notes on Dwarves and Giants in the Voluspa Neophilologus 53 1 76 81 doi 10 1007 BF01511692 ISSN 1572 8668 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eggther amp oldid 1130342360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
