Scandinavian and Zoroastrian mythologies.
Speaking about eshatology of ancient Scandinavians, it is necessary to mention that it finds out surprising similarity to similar plots of Zoroastrian Iran. Edda informs that "giant winter" which will come at the end of times. Chthonic monsters - World Wolf Fenrir and World Serpent Jormungand leaves the chasms and will be set on the world of gods. Giants will join them and demonic Loki, released from fetters. The gods and falling heroes from retinue Odin will beat against monsters and will win, but thus the majority of them will be lost.
According to Persian sacral texts ("Frashegird") there will be great disasters at last centuries of the world. All wolves will be left together and will merge in one
huge wolf. People will beat with it and will win. After centuries, all snakes will be slipped together and will grow together in the huge snake. And again, people will battle to it and will win. Will pass years and held down in a muzzle of a volcano Demavend threheaded serpeent Aji-dahaka, former is no time shah, will break off circuits and will escape on light. Then Supreme god Ahuramazda call up great warrior Keresaspa and that will strike a monster. Then Dives and other demons will be destroyed.Scandinavian and ancient Persian cultures have a line of the similar moments and besides eschatology. The plot about gold of dwarf Andvari, paid by gods is widely known as the repayment for death of his son, killed in an image of an otter. The damnation (the given plot has served as a begining to a history about Sigurd (Siegfried) and Nibelung) was imposed on this gold. And in Zoroastrian Iran above all animals the otter - "a water dog" was esteemed. For murder of an otter severe compensation in case of which default the person was cursed was imposed.
But the attention and one fundamental psychological difference of the Iranian and Scandinavian mythology pays to itself. It is in the field of morals. Great sin for ancient Persians was the lie. Therefore, their shahs tried to not break already the made peace contracts (than, by the way, used the Romans, having concerning fidelity to agreements more free representations). As the guarantor of observance of the contract god Mitra - Indo-Iranian variant of the Cultural Hero acted. Scandinavians were not so scrupulous in the given question, and as we saw, an example in it their own Cultural Hero - Odin submitted.
The great Goddess of ancient Germanics was Nertus. In "Germany", Tacitus describes her cult. A statue of the goddess kept in a sacred grove, and only priest could come there. In certain time Nertus put on a chariot, harnessed with bulls, and carried through all country. These days all wars stopped, and general fun because this goddess named "Terra Mater", returned fertility to the world began. Then the chariot and its contents were cleared in sacred lake, and ritual was so confidential, that slaves carrying out it after were betraid death. (Davidson, 1967,74).
Name Nertus is not known from the Scandinavian sources. As reflections of the Great Goddess can be considered Erd, Frigg, Freyja and even
Valkyrie . Erd, whose name is meant with the ground, it is considered mother Scandinavian Thor . It is more about her it is not known. Frigg - "Beloved" was Odinn's wife and the goddess of a marriage, love, the family center. She had gift of a prediction. Frigg to some extent it is possible to correlate with Greek Hera (the same as Erd with Greek Gaia ). Like Hera, Frigg argued with the regal spouse and sometimes took above him top. According to "The History of Langobards" by Paul Diakon, in war between the Langobards and the Vandals, Frigg is helped the Langobards, and by Odinn to the Vandals. Due to cunning of the goddess, the Langobards have won.Freyja ("Mistress") was as a matter of fact double of Frigg. She was considered as the wife the Odd (probably, variant of Odinn). Unlikely Frigg, Freyja in "Edda" concerns to Vanir - small group of gods of fertility, and is Freyr's sister. She embodied fertility, love, and beauty. Forage of that, the goddess daily divides and chooses together with Odin killed warriors. As representative of Vanir, Freyja had knowledge of magic (from Asir
Odin owned to it only). There are in Scandinavia groups of women, venerated her cult, were considered owning as prophetical force. It is no wonder, that Christians considered their as witches, no less than itself Freyja, drives on a chariot, harnessed with cats.Alex Fantalov
CULTURE of BARBAROUS EUROPE:
TYPOLOGY of MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
Chapter 2. Mythological characters of West European barbarians
Scandinavian mythological art of Migration period and Vendel period. MenuFor consultations or tutoring: history, political science, cultural science, art criticism, painting and theories of composition; purchase of pictures and also installing of advertising - E-mail:
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