180 replies to this topic

[nephron]

Just curious...Is anyone else here into Norse Mythology? I've been gobbling up any and all material on that subject for about 20 years. (jeezus....20 years?! Yeah...it has been that long now) I've read the Poetic & Prose Eddas, Bulfinche's and just about anything else Ive been able to find. It's really neat stuff. It all started with Thor comics when I was about 8 years old. ('course now I dry heave at the very thought of comic-book Thor.)

I've always thought it would be neat if someone were to retell those stories with a less scholarly approach. Maybe a prose fiction novel that stays as true to the oldest source material as possible but fills in the blanks and is more readable than english tranlations of 1000-year old poetry. Kinda like what people have been doing with the Arthurian Legends for decades, or what Morgan Llewllyn did with CuChulain.

[Necton29]

I read the Poetic Edda but couldn't make it through the Prose Edda. I found the comment by Snorri Sturluson in his Prose Edda at the end of the Prologue interesting where he wrote:

"The ?sir and some of their sons married with the women of the lands they settled, and their families became so numerous in Germany and thence over the north that their language, that of the men of Asia, became the language proper to all these countries. From the fact that their genealogies are written down, men suppose that these names came along with this language, and that it was brought here to the north of the world, to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, by the ?sir. In England, however, there are ancient district and place names which must be understood as deriving from a different language."

I think Sturluson was there referring to the existence of what we now call Germanic languages.

[Sloth-Amon]

i myself have donated my whole life towards greek mythology

but back to the subject

can any one tell me the name of this one creature from norse myth?

all i know about him is that he is huge and really big, like some kind of titan or giant or something, and it carrys a war hammer

thats all i know since i lost the info

[Ironhand]

can any one tell me the name of this one creature from norse myth?

all i know about him is that he is huge and really big,  like some kind of titan or giant or something,  and it carrys a war hammer

Norse myth recognizes several kinds of giants.

[Kane1701]

mayhap you could be thinking of Thor himself?....he was a giant of a man, oops, I mean god. Well you get the picture, big guy wit a hammer.

[Sloth-Amon]

no, i am pretty sure it was not thor

it looked like some sort of monster

i think i would classify it as being a monstrous humaniod

[Orkin]

Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood

They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up runes;
from that tree I fell.
.........

[Bri]

I've always thought it would be neat if someone were to retell those stories with a less scholarly approach. Maybe a prose fiction novel that stays as true to the oldest source material as possible

You might like David Brin's take on an alternate WWII which involves the Norse gods. Originally a short story Thor meets Captain America, Brin expanded it to create a wonderful (and very recent) graphic novel from DC titled The Life Eaters.

'course now I dry heave at the very thought of comic-book Thor.

Oh. Well never mind, then.
But I might add that it's not a superhero tale.

-Bri

[Sloth-Amon]

Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood

They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up runes;
from that tree I fell.
.........

that sounded cool

[Ironhand]

I've always thought it would be neat if someone were to retell those stories with a less scholarly approach. Maybe a prose fiction novel that stays as true to the oldest source material as possible

You might like David Brin's take on an alternate WWII which involves the Norse gods. Originally a short story Thor meets Captain America, Brin expanded it to create a wonderful (and very recent) graphic novel from DC titled The Life Eaters.

Is that the one where Hitler invokes Thor to help the Nazis defeat the Alllies?

[Bri]

Is that the one where Hitler invokes Thor to help the Nazis defeat the Alllies?

Yes.

[Orkin]

that sounded cool

That the Elder Edda we're talking about. Enjoy.

[Ironhand]

I got this from an email. I hope the link works.

VIKING SHIP FOR SALE - THE FYRDRAKA

I just heard today, thought I'd pass the word, the FYRDRAKA is a mighty vessel, beautiful and worthy of attention. I sailed upon her once five years ago. She became a familiar sight sailing about the Chesapeake Bay. I'm sure she'd make a remarkable impression on Puget Sound.
The Longship Company, Ltd, a non-profit 501? 3 educational organization is seeking expressions of interest in the purchase of the sailing vessel FYRDRAKA, of 32' and 12 oars. Specifications may be found at:

http://www.wam.umd.e...p/fyrdraca.html

The ship is to be sold "as is", is not presently in seagoing condition, and requires repairs below the waterline.
Since the Longship Co. is expecting delivery of a new vessel of 40' and 12 oars in the near future, they do not have the time or resources to put the ship in sailable condition, and they are looking for a good home for her with folks who are willing to devote the time and effort for restoration. In her present condition she would certainly be useful as a dryland exihibit and/or display vessel, and they have entertained several inquiries about her in this role.
The FYRDRAKA has been documented as a "yacht" with the U.S. Coast Guard, and has attended numerous events in the Chesapeake Bay region, and has participated in the Leif Ericsson Millenial Celebration at Newfoundland, Canada in 2000.
Responses should include "FYRDRAKA purchase" in the subject line, and be sent to the Longship Co. at

www.longshipco@hotmail.com.

[Buxom Sorceress]

- In her present condition she would certainly be useful - - -

'TIGRESS WANTS STRONG CREW ?'
-
hey guys !
if u great 'savage buccaneers' will crew the longship + let me be your 'Belit-like' buxom captain, i guarantee u all a most fantastic + satisfying voyage of adventure!

so who wants to be MY '1st mate' then, eh?

who is most worthy to be conan?

what music shall i dance to?

where are we bound for?

what is your previous experience?

well?
cumon, speak up ye scurvy lookin muscle heads?

will your naked captain dance for u ? * * *
[ + oars for rent at reasonable rates, or bring your own ]
thanks Ironhand.

[Orkin]

I used to do battle alongside Atli in the old days, good chap.
Strange to say I never crewed one of his ships... He's probably looking for at least $10,000, or the equivalent in Viking loot.

He says you should never put to sea without a full crew. So, bend to it, my hearties!

[Ironhand]

I got this from an email:

Irish archaeologists find 9th century Viking body A Viking body, believed to be that of a woman who was buried 1,100 years ago, has been discovered at an undisclosed site north
of Dublin, Ireland's National Museum said.

The find has been described as "exciting" and "significant" by the museum.

Archaeological excavation of the remains also led to
the discovery of a bronze oval brooch, an unusually long bone comb and other copper alloy ornaments.

"The brooch is of Scandinavian manufacture and is dated to the early Viking Age - the later ninth century," the museum said in a statement.

"This is a very significant discovery as relatively few such brooches of this type have been uncovered in Ireland, and most importantly it is the first find of an oval brooch for a century."

rest at

http://www.abc.net.a...08/s1181842.htm

[Orkin]

"Exciting"? I have been known to date older ladies, but 1,100 years is out of my range.

[Dragon Girl]

He says you should never put to sea without a full crew.

Full of what, I might ask. Difficult to sail with a drunken crew.

[Ironhand]

This web site has been set up to provide a forum for discussion on all matters relating to the
9th Century Woodstown Viking Site
just outside Waterford City, which was first excavated by archaeologists in April 2003 in preparation for the N25 Waterford Bypass Project.

It is intended as a resource to help people find out more about the Woodstown Site and Viking Waterford Heritage

For those of you interested in the excavation and political
infighting over the Woodstown Viking site in Co. Waterford, check out--

http://www.vikingwaterford.com

[budgie]

Interesting site Ironhand..

However...

The Woodstown Viking site is located near Waterford in the Republic of Ireland not Scotland ( south east corner of Ireland to be exact)

Funny thing is I was on that road and must have passed that place on holiday and never even knew it..

Budgie