...Nordic Principal Beliefs of the Origins of the Universe Before the beginning of the cosmos, according to Norse mythology there was Ginnungagap, a bottomless abyss. Within Ginnungagap there was Muspelheim and Niflheim, the homelands of elemental fire and ice. As the two worlds crept closer to one another, the spitting fire of Muspelheim started to melt the surface of Niflheim. From the melting ice lands of Niflheim two beings were formed. The two beings were Ymer, an evil frost giant, and Audhumla, a peaceful cow. The sweat of Ymer melted the ice surfaces further and created additional frost giants while Audhumla discovered a man named Buri after three days of licking the surface of Niflheim. Buri was the first of the Aesir tribe of gods. Buri...
Words: 1353 - Pages: 6
...understand what is behind that mask of evil. This is exactly what Gardner and Grigsby did in their books. They explored the human nature of the monster image. Both authors argue that Grendel is not a creation of another world; he is a part of the human world and actually its product. On the other hand, the two authors take entirely different approaches in demonstrating Grendel’s belonging to the world of people. In both the authors retell the story differently from the original legend. Grigsby explores the legend in terms of religious struggle between two pagan cults practiced by rivaling tribes of the Vanir and the Aesir. In this regard, Grendel and his mother are described as the representatives of the old pagan cult, which practiced human sacrifices and was admired by the Vanir tribe. The new warrior cult was embodied in Odin and Beowulf, worshiped by the Aesir (Grigsby 79). Grigsby argues that the conflict in the legend reflects the conflict between one pagan belief with a new one. In this regard, the character of Grendel becomes even more symbolical than in the original story. According to Grigsby, Grendel was an embodiment of Vanir’s main god Freyr: “and the chief of the Vanir deities of this region was the barley-wreathed god Freyr the brother/lover of the fertility goddess Freyja” (84). What used to be viewed as a monster in the original tale is perceived as a cornerstone of a pagan cult. From Grigsby’s point of view, Grendel is not a monster coming from the evil of man...
Words: 3526 - Pages: 15
...Odin and Thor, along with the later mentioned Loki, are prominent characters within the 21st centuries society. Anyone familiar with the Marvel extended universe are well acquainted with these formidable gods, gods of whom go embarking on adventures and quests with other super heroes within these films. The significance of these three no longer remain solely within the mythological stories they once were solely held to. They now exist in another wholly unique world of gods mixed with super heroes. The average, modern-day human does not particularly think of them in terms of mythological deities who were of an entirely other realm, instead now viewing them from the theaters, fighting with, against, and amongst humans and non-gods alike. Their significance now heeds on entertainability. Baldr, son of Odin and born second to Thor, as well as a fellow Aesir god of light and purity, was the first god to ever die, as mentioned previously (Lindow 247-248). Murdered by Hod, his blind, half-brother, he was left to suffer in the “world of the dead,” with his death being labeled as “one of the most important moments” within Norse mythology that historians...
Words: 1093 - Pages: 5
...Cosmic Creation Myths Michelle Faunce-Carroll HUM/105 – WORLD MYTHOLOGY BSDC1K2PN1 CHARLES OSBORNE April 11, 2016 Comparing and Contrasting Creation Myths There are many creations myths from different cultures. Two such myths are the Old Testament creation of the Christian culture and the Norse culture of Iceland. These creation myths are both similar in the sense that they start with an emptiness and darkness in which life eventually develops. The Old Testament creation starts with nothingness and complete emptiness. The Norse creation begins with a darkness, emptiness combined with a fieriness of Muspell, where nothing can grow. In Genesis the first book in the Holy bible, the earth was dark, empty, formless matter. It began when the Spirit of God covered the waters to prepare and perform his most creative work. God spoke and his creation was formed. (Genesis 1979) On the first day, "God created the light and separated the light from the darkness, calling light "day" and darkness "night". On the second day, "God created an expanse to separate the waters and called it "sky". On the third day, "God created the dry ground and gathered the waters, calling the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters, "seas”. God also created the plants, flowers, trees, and grasses on day three. On the fourth day, "God created the sun, moon, and the stars to give light to the earth and to govern and separate the day and the night". These also serve to mark the years, days,...
Words: 1141 - Pages: 5
...Creation Myths Across Cultures Angie Laird HUM/105 - World Mythology Class Group: BSDH16JHC0 University of Phoenix Online Instructor: Gerald Grudzen February 11, 2013 Comparing and contrasting creation myths The two creation myths chosen to compare and contrast focuses on the Norse culture of Iceland Vikings and the Genesis creation of the Hebrew origin of Christian culture. Both creation myths begin with an empty void where chaos or conflict develops. The Norse myth narrates a conflict between the fiery realm of Muspell and the dark, cold realm of Niflheim within the emptiness called ginnungagap and where nothing could grow. The Genesis conflict was between God and nothing, loneliness, and the need to create something beautiful. There are specifically nine classifications of creation myths and many employ more than one motif. Genesis cosmogonies apply both the deus faber and ex nihilo motifs. The story often considered the ex nihilo myth, meaning "out of nothing" is the account in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, of God's creation in six days by speaking into existence light and darkness, sun and moon, stars and earth, plants and animals, and birds and fish. God then generates Adam in His image from the dust and breathes life into him and Eve was formed from one of Adam's ribs, therefore combining deus faber (the "maker-God") with ex nihilo motifs. The Nordic creation myths tend to combine accretion/conjunction, secretion, and sacrifice motifs. It features...
Words: 1779 - Pages: 8
...s paper one will discuss two myths from different cultures. The two myths chosen for this paper are the Genesis creation (Hebrew origin) of the Christian culture, and the Norse culture of Iceland (the Vikings). Both of these creation myths start with an emptiness where conflict and chaos eventually develop. The Genesis crearion is between God, nothing, blackness, emptiness, loneliness, and the need to create something. The Norse creation is between the dark cold realm of Niflheim, within the emptiness of Ginnungagap, and the fiery realm of Muspell, where nothing can grow. There are nine classifications of creation myths, which most include more than one motif. The Genesis cosmogonies applies both ex nihilo, and deus faber motifs. The story begins with the ex nihilo myth, which God creates the light, the dark, the sun, the moon, the earth, the stars, plants, animals, birds, and fish, within six days out of nothing. This account is told in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. Then God creates a man, Adam, in his own image from the dust of the earth and breathes life into him. When God realizes it is not good for man to be alone, he causes a deep sleep to come upon Adam. Then he takes a rib from Adams side and forms a woman. Therefore, combining deus faber (the "maker-God") with ex nihilo motifs. The Norse creation myths combines secretion, sacrifice, and accretion/conjunction motifs. It combines fire and ice in a random conjoining of elements. The myth begins with...
Words: 1760 - Pages: 8
...World Mythology LIT 229 Dennis Flanders Professor Lee When we think of competition the first thought that comes to mind ids sports. Competition is relevant in many things. Spirts is not the only thing. Competition is engrained in our DNA from the day we are born and we all have a different competitive spirit within. Competition has no racial or gender bias. Competition within has bene around for ages. Competition has shaped many cultures and is an important social building block. Competition is defined as “a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage.” There is no real historical background on competition as it is ingrained within our DNA the day we are born. We are taught at a young age to win, not lose. This is echoed within every culture and seems to be a main similarity within all cultures. Learning the word competition and how to “win” a young age is not always a good thing. Teaching children that winning is the only way is not as helpful to their future as parents may be lead to believe. Competition is prevalent in many situations from test taking to elections. A debatable quote that one may hear is “If you aren’t first, you are last.” Obviously, this isn’t the most accurate picture we should be painting about competition and teaching children but it is what it is and is throughout all cultures. One glaring similarity in regards to competition throughout several cultures is that parents want their children to succeed at any cost and to be the best at everything...
Words: 2566 - Pages: 11
...PY 10 Filipino EP E D C O Modyul para sa Mag-aaral D Ang aklat na ito ay magkatuwang na inihanda at sinuri ng mga edukador mula sa mga publiko at pribadong paaralan at pamantasan. Hinihikayat namin ang mga guro at ibang nasa larangan ng edukasyon na mag-email ng inyong mga puna at mungkahi sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa action@deped.gov.ph. Mahalaga sa amin ang inyong mga puna at mungkahi. ng kagamitan sa pagtuturong ito ay magkatuwang na inihanda at Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sinuri ng mga edukador mula sa mga publiko at pribadong paaralan, Republika ng Pilipinas kolehiyo, at / o unibersidad. Hinihikayat namin ang mga guro at ibang nasa larangan ng edukasyon na mag-email ng kanilang puna at mungkahi sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa action@deped.gov.ph. Mahalaga sa amin ang inyong mga puna at mungkahi. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2015. EP E D C O PY Filipino – Ikasampung Baitang Modyul para sa Mag-aaral Unang Edisyon 2015 Isinasaad ng Batas Republika 8293, seksiyon 176 na “Hindi maaaring magkaroon ng karapatang-ari (sipi) sa anumang akda ang Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas. Gayunman, kailangan muna ang pahintulot ng ahensiya o tanggapan ng pamahalaan na naghanda ng akda kung ito’y pagkakakitaan. Kabilang sa mga maaaring gawin ng nasabing...
Words: 47092 - Pages: 189
...CSS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MCQS General Knowledge Q/A Q/A 1. The river Danube rises in which country? Germany. 2. Which US state has the sugar maple as its state tree and is the leading US producer of maple sugar? Vermont. 3. Which country is nicknamed ‘The Cockpit of Europe’ because of the number of battles throughout history fought on its soil? Belgium. 4. What is the capital of Libya? Tripoli. 5. Apart from French, German and Romansch, what is the fourth official language of the Switzerland? Italian. 6. Which country is the world’s largest producer of coffee? Brazil. 7. In which city was the world’s first underground train was service opened in 1863? London. 8. How many pairs of ribs are there in the human body? 12. 9. Which country is separated form Ethiopia by the Red Sea? Yemen. 10. What is the main port of Italy? Genoa. 11. Mount Logan is the highest peak in which country? Canada. 12. In which state is Harvard University? New Jersey. 13. Which is larger: Norway or Finland? Finland. 14. Which city was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy until 1865? Turin. 15. What is measured by an ammeter? Electric current. 16. What is a rhinoceros horn made of? Hair. 17. Which three countries, apart from the former Yugoslavia, share borders with Greece? Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey. 18. The Palk Strait separates which two countries? India and Sri Lanka. 19. Ga is the symbol for which element? Gallium. 20....
Words: 18242 - Pages: 73
