In Norse mythology, Líf (identical with the Old Norse noun meaning "life, the life of the body")[1] and Lífþrasir (Old Norse masculine name from líf and þrasir and defined by Lexicon Poëticum as "Livæ amator, vitæ amans, vitæ cupidus" "Líf's lover, lover of life, zest for life"),[2] sometimes anglicized as Lif and Lifthrasir, female and male respectively, are two humans who are foretold to survive the events of Ragnarök by hiding in a wood called Hoddmímis holt and, after the flames have abated, to repopulate the newly risen and fertile world. Líf and Lífþrasir are mentioned in the Poetic Edda, which was compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Many scholars have speculated as to the underlying meaning and origins of both names.
An illustration of Lífþrasir and Líf (1895) by Lorenz Frølich.
In the poem Vafþrúðnismál, collected in the Poetic Edda, the god Odin poses a question to the jötunnVafþrúðnir, asking who among mankind will survive when Fimbulvetr, the winter at the end of the world, occurs. Vafþrúðnir responds that they will be Líf and Lífþrasir, that the two will have hidden in the wood of Hoddmímis Holt, they will consume the morning dew as food, and "from them generations will spring".[3]
In chapter 53 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High tells Gangleri (king Gylfi in disguise) that two people, Líf and Lífþrasir, will lie hid in Hoddmímis Holt during "Surt's fire", and that "from these people there will be descended such a great progeny that the world will be inhabited." The above-mentioned stanza of Vafþrúðnismál is then quoted.[4]
Receptionedit
The world tree Yggdrasil. At the foot of the tree is a well, which is presumably Urðarbrunnr. No caption or title provided in the work, but the illustration appears in a section of Grímnismál labeled "Om Yggdrasil" (Danish: "about (or "around", depending on context) Yggdrasil").
Carolyne Larrington notes that it is nowhere expressly stated what will happen to the world tree Yggdrasil at Ragnarök, points to a connection between Mímir and Yggdrasil in the poem Völuspá, and theorizes that "it is possible that Hoddmimir is another name for Mimir, and that the two survivors hide in Yggdrasill."[5]
Rudolf Simek theorizes that the survival of Líf and Lífþrasir is "a case of reduplication of the anthropogeny, understandable from the cyclic nature of the Eddic eschatology." Simek says that Hoddmímis holt "should not be understood literally as a wood or even a forest in which the two keep themselves hidden, but rather as an alternative name for the world-tree Yggdrasil. Thus, the creation of mankind from tree trunks (Askr, Embla) is repeated after the Ragnarǫk as well." Simek says that in Germanic regions, the concept of mankind originating from trees is ancient. Simek additionally points out legendary parallels in a Bavarian legend of a shepherd who lives inside a tree, whose descendants repopulate the land after life there has been wiped out by plague (citing a retelling by F. R. Schröder). In addition, Simek points to an Old Norse parallel in the figure of Örvar-Oddr, "who is rejuvenated after living as a tree-man (Ǫrvar-Odds saga 24–27)".[6]
See alsoedit
Ask and Embla, the first two humans in Norse mythology
Schröder, F. R. (1931). "Germanische Schöpfungsmythen" in Germanisch-Romanische Monatsschrift 19, pp. 1–26.
May 04, 2024
líf, lífþrasir, norse, mythology, líf, identical, with, norse, noun, meaning, life, life, body, lífþrasir, norse, masculine, name, from, líf, þrasir, defined, lexicon, poëticum, livæ, amator, vitæ, amans, vitæ, cupidus, líf, lover, lover, life, zest, life, som. In Norse mythology Lif identical with the Old Norse noun meaning life the life of the body 1 and Lifthrasir Old Norse masculine name from lif and thrasir and defined by Lexicon Poeticum as Livae amator vitae amans vitae cupidus Lif s lover lover of life zest for life 2 sometimes anglicized as Lif and Lifthrasir female and male respectively are two humans who are foretold to survive the events of Ragnarok by hiding in a wood called Hoddmimis holt and after the flames have abated to repopulate the newly risen and fertile world Lif and Lifthrasir are mentioned in the Poetic Edda which was compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources and the Prose Edda written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson Many scholars have speculated as to the underlying meaning and origins of both names An illustration of Lifthrasir and Lif 1895 by Lorenz Frolich Contents 1 Attestations 2 Reception 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesAttestations editIn the poem Vafthrudnismal collected in the Poetic Edda the god Odin poses a question to the jotunn Vafthrudnir asking who among mankind will survive when Fimbulvetr the winter at the end of the world occurs Vafthrudnir responds that they will be Lif and Lifthrasir that the two will have hidden in the wood of Hoddmimis Holt they will consume the morning dew as food and from them generations will spring 3 In chapter 53 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning High tells Gangleri king Gylfi in disguise that two people Lif and Lifthrasir will lie hid in Hoddmimis Holt during Surt s fire and that from these people there will be descended such a great progeny that the world will be inhabited The above mentioned stanza of Vafthrudnismal is then quoted 4 Reception edit nbsp The world tree Yggdrasil At the foot of the tree is a well which is presumably Urdarbrunnr No caption or title provided in the work but the illustration appears in a section of Grimnismal labeled Om Yggdrasil Danish about or around depending on context Yggdrasil Carolyne Larrington notes that it is nowhere expressly stated what will happen to the world tree Yggdrasil at Ragnarok points to a connection between Mimir and Yggdrasil in the poem Voluspa and theorizes that it is possible that Hoddmimir is another name for Mimir and that the two survivors hide in Yggdrasill 5 Rudolf Simek theorizes that the survival of Lif and Lifthrasir is a case of reduplication of the anthropogeny understandable from the cyclic nature of the Eddic eschatology Simek says that Hoddmimis holt should not be understood literally as a wood or even a forest in which the two keep themselves hidden but rather as an alternative name for the world tree Yggdrasil Thus the creation of mankind from tree trunks Askr Embla is repeated after the Ragnarǫk as well Simek says that in Germanic regions the concept of mankind originating from trees is ancient Simek additionally points out legendary parallels in a Bavarian legend of a shepherd who lives inside a tree whose descendants repopulate the land after life there has been wiped out by plague citing a retelling by F R Schroder In addition Simek points to an Old Norse parallel in the figure of Orvar Oddr who is rejuvenated after living as a tree man Ǫrvar Odds saga 24 27 6 See also editAsk and Embla the first two humans in Norse mythologyNotes edit Cleasby amp Vigfusson s v lif Egilsson s v Lifthrasir Larrington 1999 47 Faulkes 1995 57 Larrington 1999 269 Simek 2007 189 For Schroder see Schroder 1931 References editCleasby Richard and Gudbrandr Vigfusson An Icelandic English Dictionary 2nd ed Oxford Clarendon 1957 Egilsson Sveinbjorn Lexicon Poeticum Antiquae Linguae Septentrionalis Copenhagen J D Qvist amp Co 1860 Larrington Carolyne Trans 1999 The Poetic Edda Oxford World s Classics ISBN 0 19 283946 2 Faulkes Anthony Trans 1995 Edda Everyman ISBN 0 460 87616 3 Orchard Andy 1997 Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend Cassell ISBN 0 304 34520 2 Simek Rudolf 2007 translated by Angela Hall Dictionary of Northern Mythology D S Brewer ISBN 0 85991 513 1 Schroder F R 1931 Germanische Schopfungsmythen in Germanisch Romanische Monatsschrift 19 pp 1 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lif and Lifthrasir amp oldid 1138118171, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
