Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology
Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology
Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology
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substantially the same as that of the subterranean fountains, which contain the elixir of<br />
life, wisdom, and poesy (cp. Nos. 72, 82, and elsewhere).<br />
At what time, Mimir's grove was opened as an asylum for Lif and Leifthrasir,<br />
whether this happened during or shortly before the fimbul-winter, or perchance long<br />
before it, on this point there is not a word in the passages quoted from Vafþrúðnismál.<br />
But by the following investigation, the problem shall be solved.<br />
The <strong>Germanic</strong> mythology has not looked upon the regeneration of the world as a<br />
new creation. The life which in time's morning developed out of chaos is not destroyed<br />
by Surt's flames, but rescues itself, purified, for the coming age of the world. The worldtree<br />
survives the conflagration, for it defies both edge and fire (Fjölsvinnsmál, 20, 21-<br />
fellir-at hann eldur né járn). 1 The Ida-plains are not annihilated. After Ragnarok, as in<br />
the beginning of time, they are the scene of the assemblings of the gods (Völuspá 7-<br />
Hittust æsir á Iðavelli ; Völuspá 61- Finnast æsir á Iðavelli). Vanaheim is not affected by<br />
the destruction, for Njörd shall in aldar rök 2 (Vafþrúðnismál 39) return there "to wise<br />
Vanir ." Odin's dwellings of victory remain, and are inhabited after the regeneration by<br />
Baldur and Hodur (Völuspá 63- Búa þeir Baldur og Höður Hropts sigtóftir). The new sun<br />
is the daughter of the old one, and was born before Ragnarok, which she passes through<br />
unscathed (Vafþrúðnismál 46-47). The ocean does not disappear in Ragnarok, for the<br />
present earth sinks beneath its surface (Völuspá 58- sígur fold í mar), and the new earth<br />
after regeneration rises from its deep (Völuspá 60 - jörð úr ægi). Gods survive (Völuspá<br />
61, 63, 64 - æsir, Höður og Baldur, Hænir); Vafþrúðnismál 51 -Víðar og Váli, Móði og<br />
Magni; cp. Gylfaginning 53). Human beings survive, for Lif and Leifthrasir are destined<br />
to become the connecting link between the present human race and the better race which<br />
is to spring therefrom. Animals and plants survive - though the animals and plants on the<br />
surface of the earth perish; but the earth risen from the sea was decorated with green, and<br />
there is not the slightest reference to a new act of creation to produce the green<br />
vegetation. Its cascades contain living beings, and over them flies the eagle in search of<br />
his prey (Völuspá 60; see further, No. 55). A work of art from antiquity is also preserved<br />
in the new world. The game of tafl, with which the gods played in their youth while they<br />
were yet free from care, is found again amid the grass on the new earth (Völuspá 8 -<br />
Tefldu í túni; Völuspá 62 - gullnar töflur í grasi finnast; see further, No. 55).<br />
If the regeneration had been conceived as a new creation, a wholly new beginning<br />
of life, then the human race of the new era would also have started from a new creation of<br />
a human pair. The myth about Lif and Leifthrasir would then have been unnecessary and<br />
superfluous. But the fundamental idea is that the life of the new era is to be a continuation<br />
of the present life purified and developed to perfection, and from the standpoint of this<br />
fundamental idea Lif and Leifthrasir are necessary.<br />
The idea of improvement and perfection is most clearly held forth in regard to<br />
both the physical and spiritual condition of the future world. All that is weak and evil<br />
shall be redeemed (böls mun alls batna - Völuspá 63). In that perfection of nature, the<br />
fields unsown by men shall yield their harvests. To secure the restored world against<br />
1 The following passages from Old Norse in this paragraph and similar references from here on out are not<br />
found in Rydberg's work, and were added by Eysteinn Björnsson on his website "Viktor Rydberg's Teutonic<br />
<strong>Mythology</strong>" at http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/ugm0.html upon which the current version of the English<br />
text is based.<br />
2 "the doom of men," i.e. Ragnarok.