West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-01-16
MORSE MYTHOLOGY.
Reasons which Commend Its study to
Those Interested Ia Such Subjects.

H"aSohs Nhlch Commend Its study to
Those Interested Ia Such Subjects
While every nation has a mythology.
that of the Norsoman is one OF the most
interesting. Although the Norscmen
were heather, their mythology. more
than any other, seems to hint of the
true religion. The Morse. like other
mythologies, told of the force ard
workings of nature; as, i'm the thunder
storm. Thor rides i'm his chariot and
strikes with his hammer (Mjolncr).
In the growth of fresh grass, Loke
(heaO cuts OF Sifs hair (graSS) and
the gods force him to make dwarfS
forge her golden hair anew. Tho COM
ing of winter was because Lokc (hrnD
had the blind god Hod (wintcr) sIay
Baldcr (Summcr). The aurora was
Loke's tears over the dcsolation caused
by him.
From giving personal attributes 10
the causes and effects of nature. the
system of mythology expanded into de-
scribing the characteristics of those
gods; rs, Thor'S strength was doubled
whenever he put on his gloves of steel:
double strength was also conferred on
him 10y girding himself with his belt of
steel Odin had two ravens. Hugin
rchcction) and Munin mcmor,) which
pcrchcd upon his shoulders and whis-
pcrcd i'm her ears.
Al one time the Morse mythology ex-
tended over the present Scandinavia.
including Iceland, England and much
of France and Germany. Only i'm lee
land was written anything like com
plete record of it, The Grimms and
their school have done much to revive
interest in, and increase knowledge of.
Morse mythology. The two Eddas. en-
balmcd in Runic. reveal the soul of the
history OF the early Gothic and Tcutonic
nations. What an immense influence
the Morse and Greek mythologics have
had upon Europc's social, political aud
literary dcstincsl
MythOlogics are developed like Ian
guages. Greek mythology grew and
tourishcd in sunny climcs. 1t was
nourished 10y genial influences. Morse
mythology also partook of the nature of
It's parcntag1 and surroundings. being
strong and rugged. The Greek mythol-
ogy is an epic poem; the Morse,
tragedy. The Greek is more human:
the Morse, more supernatural While
the Greek has many beautiful parts. IL
lacks unity; the Morse has more cen
tral ideas. The Greek is dilusc i'm
treatment of subjects and results; the
Morse, concentrated The Greek has
moro grace aud beauty; the Morse.
more power and grandeur The Greek
Is like "A vine; the Morse, like an oak.
Comparative mythology is an interest
ing study. IL is curious to note the re-
-emblance OF ideas in the three great
mythologics Ncdic, Greek and Morse.
From the most important TO us few
examples must here suffice In the
Greek, memory is Mncmosyne. mother
Of the muses.; I'm the Morse il is Munin.
one of the ravens pcrchcd upon Odin's
shoulders. In the Morse the rainbow
is the masculine Hcimdal; in the Greek.
the feminine Iris. The Morse Baldcr is
the Greek Adunis; Frigg, Baldcr's
mother, mourns his death, while Aphro
ditc lamcnts for her lover The Morse
Thor, protector OF heaven and earth, is
the Greek Ieus, father of gods. and
men. The Greek gods are dcathless:
the Morse divinitics are mortal: Odin
falls and IS swallowed by the Fcuris-
wolf; Thor vanquishcs the Midgard
serpent, retreats only nine pace and
dies, poisoned by the scrpcnCs breath;
the good and beautiful Baldcr is slain.
at last, by the charm Of the fatal mistlc-
toe. The Greek gods abode on the
earth, on the crown OF Mount Olympus,
payilioned by clouds The Morse Val
hal is in the sky. Above Odin there is
god, Of whom chants the skald in
Hyndla' Lay OF the Elder Edda:
"Ihon comes another
Yet moro mighty:
But him dare not
Venture ~ Name
compare that with PaUIs words on
Mars Hill
In the Greek mythology the wicked
arc punished in various ways; as. Tity-
as, Ixion, Tanta.u-, S.syphus and the
Danaidcs. In the Morse the wicked
suffer in one place; in Nastrand. far
from the sum- In cave whose walls arc
the watt!cd bodies Of -crpeuts. with
their heads all turned into the cave.
and emitting streams Of poison. ian
which wade the tOrmcntod pcriurrrs.
murdcrer5 and adultercrs, the Norsc's
three kind of sinners
One great reason for the Morse
mythology being upcriOr to the Greek is
u.s. decency Iti- just a. poctical ~ the
Greek. u gives an insight of the
thoughts and deeds Of the Northern
peoples These three rca sous, although
Others might bc given. should commend
the study Of Morse mythology n IT,
LubOtHc. no ChicuyO CUrreUL