THE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS | Tha Engliscan Gesithas

Ale,Beer,Mead,Wine,Cider.

Photo: http://www.steveonsteins.com/in-the-near-future-2

Fimbulvetr. Catastrophy in 536 AD seen in the myths?

A summary/translation of an article by Håkan Lindgren in SvD (Svenska Dagbladet) 24 april 2013 

http://www.svd.se/kultur/katastrofen-ar-536-visar-sig-i-myterna_8115272.svd

In Norse mythology the Fimbulwinter is connected to the Fenris devouring the sun. Many sources speak of the year 536 as a strange year when the sun was veiled. (actually , i would argue it is his son Sköll devouring the sun.).

“The Wolves Pursuing Sol and Mani” (1909) by J. C. Dollman.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the impact of quiescent and explosive volcanism on the Earth’s radiative balance (Fischer et al. 2006). Redrawn after Robock (2000).[fullsize fig]

Pic: http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/ccr/efischer/volcanoes.html

Eruptions of this size are rare and biologist Michael Rampino and astrophysicist Richard Stothers started to study ancient texts to find more of them.

Stothers who also knew classical languages read the Latin and Greek source texts himself. Their article “Volcanic eruptions in the mediterranian before AD 630” was published in “Journal Of Geophysical Research” 1983.

They noted that four authors of late antiquity mentioned 536 as a year when the sun was powerless or veiled. “We are amazed at bodies casting no shadow at mid day” -Roman official Cassiodorus.

He also mentions how “the sun was blueish” and that it was not a temporary thing like an eclipse. He also says that “the air has thickened into some kind of mixture” and that the fields give no crops. “Neither the natural colour, nor warmth from the celestial bodies can penetrate. As if we saw them through a thin skin”.

This had been going on for a year when he wrote the letter.

Though Cassiodorus doesent mention a volcano Stothers and Rampino cant imagine what else it could have been.

Comparisons with ice drill cores from Greenland, around 540, give or take a decade, there was a layer of sulfate that could be from an eruption.

This has made scientists aware of a possible earlier unknown eruption in 536.

Stothers wrote the article “Mystery cloud of AD 536”.

He says the ash cloud and its consequences for the climate exeeds any others for 3000 years back.

Annual rings on trees shows that the climates in the northern hemisphere from the US to Siberia where unusually cold 536-45.

The first to make a connection to Norse archeology was Danish archeologist Morten Axboe.

The gold hords dug down around this time, like the bracteates of Söderby, Uppland (Sweden) might have been to placate higher powers, or possably to protect them from robbers during troubled times.

Axboe connected this climate to the myth of Fimbulvetr and Bo Gräslund continues on that. “Harsh winter have never been a problem in the north” he writes in ”Fimbulvintern, Ragnarök och klimatkrisen år 536–537 e Kr” i Saga och sed 2007.

“But if there where no crops as summer approached you starved”.

Gylfi is tricked in an illustration fromIcelandic Manuscript, SÁM 66

In Gylfaginning it is said that a winter called “Fimbulvetr” shall come before Ragnarök.

It is not a harsh winter, but a winter not followed by summer.

Three winters with no summers in between.

(Björn Colliander translation) “Then something very strange happens, The wolf is let loose and devours the sun and mankind shall find that it is to them a great detriment” (a translation of a translation. Sorry about that).

In “Codex Regius” in Reykyavik there is a sentence :”Ekki nýtr sólar” witch is often translated as “The sun doesent shine”. That is a very free translation. It is more correct to see it as “The sun is of no use”. It shines but has no effect (in contemporary Swedish you kan say “Det är ingen nytta med solen” or “Solen är inte [icke] till någon nytta” with the same meaning. *My comment*).

 

You dont have to comment upon the fact that winter isnt warm, but when “the sun is of no use” during summer you do.

 

Pretty much what Cassiodorus wrote.

 

The Völva says that the moon is robbed away (by Hati) .

“The abodes of the Mights are bloodied, the sun blackened and and the summers after the weather is awry”.

Gräslund connects this to the spectacular sunsets  produced by ththe ash cloud after an eruption.

One of those, after the eruption of Krakatau made Edward Munch (Norway) paint the famous “Skriet” (The Scream). His diary say: “Heaven suddenly became blood red”. And “I fealt as if an endless scream passed through nature”.

 

 

In the Kalevala (Finland) the God Ukko wonders “what is this cloud hiding the moon, what is this mist veiling the sun” as the crops on the fields where freezing.

 

There has long been a knowledge that at this time a lot of agricultural land reverted to woods Gräslund and Neil Price writes in ”Twilight of the gods?” in the British journal “Antiquity” 86, 2012.

 

They estimate that half of the population in Scandinavia starved to death within ten years and it took four to seven generations before agriculture was back as before.

 

In some cases places that had been inhabited for a 1000 years where abandoned and it is the greatest change in habitation in Sweden for 6000 years.

 

Before this was a prosperous time and finds of gold and other prestige items shows that Scandinavia was not an isolated, backwaters place.

 

There where merchant roads all the way down to the continent.

 

 

 

 

 

Solvagn

Pic: http://www.grundskoleboken.se/wiki/Brons%C3%A5lderns_gudar

All this seized in the mid 500´s.Less finds, the sun discs, assumed to be connected with a sun cult, disappear from stones at Gotland and instead the stones are filled with warlike Aesir, as if the sun had fallen from grace.

Picture stone from Hablingbo, Havor. Dated to Iron Age.

Photo: http://www.kulturbilder.dk/bildarkivet/b-Gotland-108201.htm

There is not enough written or archeological material to make any final assumptions about the reactions of the people of the 500´s according to Gräslund.

Did they co operate or did it start an all out war on all fronts?

The Edda songs speak of “axe times” when not even parents or siblings spared eachother.

According to Anders Andrén, proffessor of archeology at the university of Stockholm several people from Norse mythology where historical people.

Sigurd Fafnirbane was the Burgundian king Sigibert, dead 439.

Tjodrik from the Roek stone is the Ostrogothic king Theodrik, dead 526.

Perhaps the time before 536 appeared as a lost golden age and its old kings became mythic heroes.

So where was the actual eruption?

The latest theory is Ilopango in El Salvador.

If this happened today we would at least have the benefit of understanding what happened. In those days it was understood as “the sun might never regain its power” according to Mikael Syriern quoted by Gräslund.

What known volcano is most likely to produce similar results if it erupted today. A number of Swedish geologists all answered “Yellowstone, U.S.A.”.

Wishing those who celebrate it a great Yggdrasil blót! Til ars ok frithar!

This holliday is not (genarally) part of Scandinavian customs (as far as i know) and not from historical sources. It is however often celebrated among Heathens today as part of their custom and a great idea. A day to contemplate your place in the bigger scope of things.

The Kilt. Is it a Skirt? Is it Norse?

The Gaelic word for the kilt is “Feilidh Beag” (small plaid or blanket ) or in the case of the Belted Plaid “Feilidh Mór” or “Breacan An Feile” (seen in “Braveheart).

The word “Kilt” is Scots and (probably) comes from the Norse worde “Kjalta” (to wrap).

From the same root comes “Kjortel” (the type of tunic worn by many people including the Norse).

In Scandinavian languages you have the Danish “kilt” (to tuck), the Swedish “kilta” (to wrap or swathe) AND the swedish and Danish “Kjol” witch in Norwiegian is called “skjört” and Icelandic “skirt” (pronounced “skeert” but with the same meaning as the English “skirt”).

Also, the the Swedish word for the tunic that is part of Sami folk costumes is “kolt”.

The Celts where known to wear trousers (called “bracae” by the Romans).
The Scoti (Gaels) that came to Scotland from Ireland also wore trousers, so did the Gaels in Ireland.

However, male “kiltlike” garments can be found in many cultures (Romans often wore tunics (the word Tunica is Latin) with or without trousers and the Toga is a fabric wrapped around the body. Egyptians also had a garment similar to the modern smaller kilt.

So is the Kilt a Skirt?
Etymologically there is a connection to skirts, tunics and fabrics being “wrapped” around you in general so i would say yes.

Practically, all kilts (great or small) are “wrapped” around so again, yes.

Is it Norse?
Probably, though it might have been worn with a tunic and / or trousers and it would have resembled the great kilt / belted plaid thrown over the shoulder or over the head as a cloak. Though probably not with anything like a tartan.

Tartan came about by weaving as different colours blend you get a tartan / plaid pattern.

Originally tartans where regional. Some dyes where more common than others in different areas, the rest was up to personal taste.
The idea of tartans strongly connected to certain clans , septs or families came later as part of Victorian romanticism.

Is it masculine?
Etymologically all fabrics wrapped around you are connected (Kjalta) regardless of whom it is wrapped around.

The Scottish kilt however is a male garment.
It is however part of the wear of certain dances and in those it is worn by both men and women (in other dances the women wear a tartan dress with a vest called an “Aboyne”).

Traditionall costumes like the Bonnie Prince Charles ,Montrose Doublet or Argyle are usually only worn by men (they all include the kilt).

In todays fashion anyone can wear a kilt that feels like it with or without tartan.
It can be combined with anything one likes and actually that is the most traditional since it did start out as everyday wear.