TRUYỆN CỔ TÍCH TIẾNG ANH

Viking Creation Myth
The Norse creation story has heaps of mythic elements, from the primeval giant Ymir to the cow Audhumla the reader is beseiged with mythic archetypes. This is a problem for the researcher trying to sort out true heathen tra***ion from the trappings of Christianity.
What the Eddas Say
In the beginning there was the void. And the void was called Ginnungagap. What does Ginnungagap mean? Yawning gap, beginning gap, gap with magical potential, mighty gap; these are a few of the educated guesses. Along with the void existed Niflheim the land of fog and ice in the north and Muspelheim the land of fire in the south. There seems to be a bit of confusion as to whether or not these existed after Ginnungagap or along side of it from the beginning.
In Niflheim was a spring called Hvergelmir from which the Elivagar (eleven rivers - Svol, Gunnthra, Fiorm, Fimbulthul, Slidr, Hrid, Sylg, Ylg, Vid, Leiptr, and Gioll) flowed. The Elivargar froze layer upon layer until it filled in the northerly portion of the gap. Concurrently the southern portion was being filled by sparks and molten material from Muspelheim.
The mix of fire and ice caused part of the Elivagar to melt forming the figures Ymir the primeval giant and the cow Audhumla. The cow's milk was Ymir's food. While Ymir slept his under arm sweat begat two frost giants, one male one female, while his two legs begat another male.
While Ymir was busy procreating Audhumla was busy eating. Her nourishment came from licking the salty ice. Her incessant licking formed the god Buri. He had a son named Bor who was the father of Odin, Vili, and Ve.
For some reason the sons of Bor decided to kill poor Ymir. His blood caused a flood which killed all of the frost giants except for two, Bergelmir and his wife, who escaped the deluge in their boat.
Odin, Vili, and Ve put Ymir's corpse into the middle of ginnungagap and created the earth and sky from it. They also created the stars, sun, and moon from sparks coming out of Muspelheim.
Finally, the brothers happened upon two logs lying on the beach and created the first two humans Ask [ash] and Embla [elm or vine] from them.

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Variant Yggdrasill
The Norse world tree, omnipresent, its branches extending over all the known worlds, its roots extending into three of them. The name means Odin's Horse referring to the time he "rode" upon the tree and learned the runes. It is also at times referred to as Hoddmimir, Tree of Mimir, and L?Ưr?Ăd or Lerad. It is usually called an Ash tree.
One of Yggdrasil's roots extends into Asgard, a second root extends into the world of the frost giants while the third is in Niflheim. This is Snorri's description which, of course, differs from that in the Poetic Edda. Grimnism?Ăl has the roots extending into the giants realm, Hel's realm, and one into Midgard.
An eagle sits in the branches of the tree and between its eyes perches a hawk. There is a squirrel called Ratatosk which scurries between the eagle and Nidhogg carrying messages. Nidhogg is the serpent which gnaws at Yggdrasil's Niflheim root.
Along with this menagerie are four stags running in the branches eating the leaves, Heidrun the goat and Eikthyrmir the hart also eating leaves. With all the munching going on the tree needs tending - that is the task of the Norns at Urd's well under one of the roots.
The Norns pour water over the tree every day keeping its bark white. The tree produces honeydew and also berries which help women with pregancy. It appears to be the giver / nourisher of life so it is not surprising when we read that the first humans Ask and Embla were created from trees (one being an Ash) or that two humans Lif and Leifthrasir will hide in the tree during Ragnarok with the tree's honeydew sustaining them until they can go on to restart humanity.
The world tree was a symbol common to many societies. The tree specifically connecting the three regions of man, heaven, and the underworld appears in eastern mythology. Also Odin's nine night suspension in the tree's branches is similar to Finnish shamanistic practices with a nine night stay in a birch tree (Puhvel, 194).

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Old Norse Bifr?ảst
Every day the Aesir, except for Thor who must wade through rivers instead, are said to travel over Bifrost - also called Asbru, the bridge of the gods - to Urd's well to hold counsel. The bridge is supposed to be covered with flame to keep those who are unworthy from gaining entry into Asgard.
Snorri explains that Bifrost is the rainbow and the red we see in it, the burning flames. He also relates that Heimdall stands watch at the point the bridge reaches heaven.
Regarded as the best of bridges, Bifrost will finally break during Ragnarok when the sons of Muspell led by Surt ride through Mirkwood and cross it.
Grimm recorded a medieval German Christian belief that the rainbow will no longer appear prior to Armageddon which seems to stem from heathen thought. However, there is also some evidence that Bifrost originally referred to the Milky Way.
According to Star Names their Lore and Meaning, the Norse knew the Milky Way as the pathway of ghosts going to Valhalla. The book also discusses the belief of various cultures that the Milky Way was the path burnt in the sky by the sun.
Whether Bifrost was thought of as the rainbow or the Milky Way, it was the path traversed by those going to and from the other world.

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ON AsgarÃ?r
Comparable to the Greek Mount Olympus, Asgard was the dwelling place of the ruling gods, the Aesir.
Following the creation of Midgard, the gods built their temples on IÃ?avelli, the shining plain. Here is Thor's Thrudheim or Thrudvangar where his hall Bilskirnir stands with its 540 rooms; Ull's Ydal's plains; Frey's Alfheim where the light elves dwell; Odin's hall Valaskjalf that houses the throne from which he looks over all the worlds, Odin and Saga's Sokkvabekk, Odin's Valhalla with its 540 doors in Gladheim; Skadi's Thrymheim; Baldr's Breidablik; Heimdall's Himinbjorg which stands at the edge of Asgard by Bifrost; Freya's Folkvang and her hall Sessruminir; Forseti's Glitnir; Njord's Noatun by the sea; Frigg's Fensalir and Vidar's land called Vidi.
Surrounding Asgard was a defensive wall and a forest outside the wall. In some descriptions one of Yggdrasil's roots extended into Asgard and under it, Urd's well. The Norns Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld lived in a hall by the well and the gods were said to have court at the well every day riding there "up over Bifrost".
One of the problems with certain descriptions of the cosmology is why would the gods ride up over Bifrost if Urd's well was in Asgard? It seems more logical that Urd's well was in the netherworld, that Asgard was in the branches of the world tree, and that the gods rode down Bifrost instead of up. By later redactors trying to make the norse world picture coincide with that of their present day view, such as Asgard being Troy and just a city of Earth, much of the material we have has been muddled.
Gladsheim was listed as a specific hall by Snorri instead of the area where Valhalla was built. He described it as made of gold inside and out, with 13 thrones for the gods. There was also a separate hall called Vingolf specifically for the goddesses.
In the north of Asgard the Giant Hraesvelg sat in eagle form. All wind was supposed to come from his beating wings. Gimle, which in the Volsupa is the place on the shining plain where the remaining gods will return to reign after Ragnarok, is described by Snorri as standing at the southern end of Asgard in the third heaven called Vidblain.
Snorri lists nine heavens altogether: Vindblain, Heidthornir, Hregg-Mimir, Andland, Vidblain, Vidfedmir, Hriod, Hlyrnir, Gimir, Vet-Mimir, and Skatyrnir which is said to be the highest. However, he also cautions their use saying "the following names for the heavens are written down, but we have not found all these terms in poems. But these poetical terms like others seeem to me not proper to include in poetry unless one finds similar terms already in the work of major poets."
One wonders where the practitioners of the old Scandinavian religion actually thought their gods lived.

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Old Norse Ã?gir
The meaning of his name is associated with water. He was also called Hler and Gymir [the Blinder] (the name of Gerd's father -- it is not known if they are one and the same). Aegir was the god of the seashore or ocean, and called the ruler of the sea by Snorri. He was a personification of the ocean, be it good or evil.
He caused storms with his anger and the skalds said a ship went into "Aegir's wide jaws" when it wrecked. Sailors feared Aegir, and thought he would sometimes surface to destroy ships. According to Sidonius, early Saxons made human sacrifices to a god of the sea, possibly connected with Aegir.
Aegir was one of the Vanir and a giant. His father was Mistarblindi [Mist-Blind], and his brothers, Logi [Fire] (identified by Guerber as Loki), and Kari [Air]. Aegir's wife (and sister) was Ran and they lived under the sea by the island Hlesey. Ran and Aegir had nine daughters who were the waves: Himinglaeva, Dufa, Blodughadda, Hefring, Unn, Hronn, Bylgia, Bara, and Kolga -- all of their names are poetic names for waves.
Aegir brewed ale for the gods after Thor brought him a big enough kettle. Every winter the gods would drink beer at Aegir's home. He was, therefore, famed for his hospitality. Instead of having a fire, gold was put onto the floor of the hall to provide light. Gold is therefore called Aegir's fire. The cups in Aegir's hall were always full, magically refilling themselves. Aegir had two servants in his hall, Fimafeng [Handy] and Eldir [Fire-Kindler]. According to Lee Hollander, Aegir's function as the gods' ale brewer was suggested by the ocean's foam.
After the death of Balder, the gods gathered for a feast in Aegir's hall. Loki showed up and insulted everyone (this is told in Lokasenna in the Poetic Edda). The gods couldn't do Loki harm in the hall since it was a sanctuary where no violence could be committed.
It is interesting to note that in Snorri's Gylfaginning [see Edda] Aegir is not mentioned as one of the gods, and in part of his Skaldskaparmal Aegir, also referred to as Hler, was a man "very skilled in magic" living on the island Hlesey who went to visit the gods in Asgard. During his visit he listened as Bragi told him of the gods' adventures.
In Egil's Saga, after the death by drowning of Egil's second son Bothvar, Egil composed the poem Sonatorrek which mentions Aegir:
Sure, if sword could venge
Such cruel wrong,
Evil times would wait
Aegir, ocean-god.
That wind-giant's brother
Were I strong to slay,
'Gainst him and his sea-brood
Battling would I go.
But I in no wise
Boast, as I ween
Strength that may strive
With the stout ships' bane.
(Leach, A Pageant of Old Scandinavia, p. 321.)

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Old Norse Aurvandill
Aurvandil is briefly mentioned in the Prose Edda, but not at all in the Poetic. The little information we have regarding him is quite intriguing. Referred to as Aurvandil the Bold, he was the husband of the sorceress Groa (named ale-Gefion in the Haustlong)- the woman who attempted to magically remove a whetstone from Thor's forehead. Thor mentioned to her that he had carried her husband in a basket on his back out of Jotunheim and across the Elivigar. What they had been doing is anyone's guess - was Aurvandil one of Thor's frequent companions on the god's adventures against the giants? While crossing the freezing poisonous rivers Aurvandil's toe had frozen so Thor broke it off and threw it into the sky creating the star Aurvandil's Toe. According to Star Names Their Lore and Meaning, Aurvandil's [Orwandil] Toe was Alcor in the big dipper while Rigel, in Orion, was his other toe.
In the Old English Christ I we have another reference to Aurvandil:
Eala earendel,
engla beorhtast,
ofer middangeard
"O Aurvandil, brightest of angels, over Midgaard." Even though the passage is from a Christian poem, it is apparant that a pre-christian mythological figure is being referrenced and that Earendel / Aurvandill was the name of a star or planet. For any Tolkien fans, this was his inspiration for Earendil.
Aurvandil makes another appearance in Saxo's History of the Danes as Horwendil. In this context he appears as a hero. Son of Gerwendil and brother of Feng, Horwendil makes a name for himself as a king of Jutland and then as a Viking. He meets the king of Norway on an island and kills him by hacking off the king's foot. He then married Gerutha daughter of Rorik the Danish king. Together they had a child named Amleth (yes this is the original Hamlet). Of course Horwendil's brother Feng became jealous, killed Horwendil, wed Gerutha, and we all know the rest of the story thanks to Shakespeare.

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Old Norse Baldr, variant Baldur
One of the Aesir, his name means "The Glorious". He was also called the "god of tears" and the "white as". Balder, the son of Odin and Frigg, was described as a very handsome and wise god. Some consider him to be a god of light since he was so bright, light shined from him.
Balder's wife was Nanna and they had a son named Forseti. Balder and Nanna lived in Breidablik [The Broad-Gleaming], where nothing unclean could be and there were "fewest baneful runes". Breidablik had a silver roof on golden pillars.
At one point Balder had a foreboding dream. Odin rode to Hel's realm to wake a volva from the dead to find out the meaning of Balder's dream. She foretold Balder's death by Hod (Hodur), his fraternal twin.
Frigg asked all things to swear not to hurt Balder but didn't ask the mistletoe because it was so young. Loki, diguised as an old woman, visited Frigg and found out Balder was invunerable to everything but mistletoe. Loki then made a dart out of mistletoe and tricked the blind god Hod into throwing it at Balder -- all the other gods were playing games by throwing various items at Balder --, thus killing him.
Nanna died of heartache after Balder's death and was burned with him on his funeral boat -- along with his chopped up horse and an unfortunate dwarf who Thor kicked in at the last minute.
Hermod rode to Hel's realm and got her to agree to let Balder return to the living if all things would weep for him. One giantess named Thokk, Loki in disguise, refused to weep, so he remained dead and was cremated on his funeral boat, hringhorni. He is supposed to come back to life after the Ragnarok. A more complete retelling of Snorri's account of Balder's death is available online.
Snorri and Saxo Grammaticus give very different views of Balder and his death. In Saxo's version of this story, Hod (Hother) is alone responsible for Balder's death.
Balder's name rarely occurs in place names, therefore, it is thought that not many people worshipped him. It has been suggested that Balder was an ancient hero who was elevated to divinity. The poets used his name to mean warrior.
Balder is also mentioned in the Merseburg charm.

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Bil
Listed by Snorri as one of the goddesses. Snorri tells the story of Vidfinn's two children, Bil and Hjuki, who, as they were leaving a well named Byrgir carrying a pail named Saeg on a pole called Simul, were taken from the earth by Moon to accompany him on his journeys.
Snorri mentions that from Earth Bil and Hjuki can be seen with Moon and Grimm relates in his Teutonic Mythology "to this day the Swedish people see in the spots of the moon two persons carrying a big bucket on a pole."
Some people claim this is the original Jack and Jill tale but that nursery rhyme actually had its origin in English politics from the time of King Charles.
Bil is also called the goddess of weaving by Gisli in Gisla saga Surssonar. After Gisli has a prophetic dream regarding his death, he speaks the verse containing the reference to Bil. The tone makes it seem that weaving refers to weaving destiny.

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Bragi
God of poetry, (adopted?) son of Odin and the giantess Gunlod. He was the chief poet of Odin and said to be very wise. He was married to Idun and he had runes cut on his tounge.
In The Lay of Hakon, Bragi is in Valhalla with Odin who tells Bragi to go out and greet Hakon as he arrives. Bragi is also in Valhalla alongside Odin in The Lay of Eirik, and Odin refers to Bragi as one who "knowest everything well". During the feast in Asgard attended by Aegir, it is Bragi who relates to Aegir the tales of the gods.
There was a 9th century skald named Bragi Boddason and some believe he may have been raised to a god by later writers. Others believe Bragi was an aspect of Odin.

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Old Norse Freyr
God of weather and fertility. He ruled over the land of the light elves, Alfheim. He was the son of Njord and Njord's sister (mayhaps Ingun), and the brother of Freya. His step-mother was Skadi.
To make peace, the Aesir and Vanir exchanged hostages. He, along with Njord and Freya, were sent by the Vanir to dwell with the Aesir.
He owned the ship Skidbladnir which was made for him by dwarves. It could sail on the land, sea, or through the air. It was large enough to hold all the gods, yet could be folded up and fit into a pocket.
He also owned a chariot drawn by two boars, Gullinbursti and Slidrugtanni. He could ride Gullinbursti [golden-bristled] through the sky. It was made by dwarves for Loki to give to Frey.
His name means "Lord" and it is thought that he was at one time the consort of his sister Freya [Lady].
His wife was Gerd, a beautiful giantess who he fell in love with when he espied her from Odin's throne. He sent his servant, Skirnir, to win her for him. For this task, Frey lent Skirnir his sword which "swings itself if wise he who wields it" and his horse. After Skirnir's threatening of her, Gerd agreed to give herself to Frey in nine nights at the forest Barri.
At the Ragnarok, Frey will be killed by the fire giant Surt.
Also known as Yng, Frey is named as the progenitor of the swedish royal family. There was a statue of Frey in the temple at Uppsala in Sweden, the center of his worship.

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