CAPRICORN Heimdallr – The God with the Wet Back by Peter Krüger ©2011 Return to Germanic Astronomy Heimdall painting by Emil Doepler |
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46.
Leika
Míms synir, |
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If we now search the Roman and Greek constallations for a horn we find a constellation that includes the word 'horn' in its name. This is Capricornus, usually translated as the “horned male goat” or “goat-horn”. In Anglo-Saxon, the constellation was called buccan horn or bucca, 'the buck’s horn'; in German, Steinbock. Despite its faintness, Capricornus has one of the oldest mythological associations and has been represented since ancient times as a hybrid of a goat and a fish, the Goat-fish. |
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On one hand, an identification of the Gjallarhorn with Capricornus would make sense, because among other points, Snorri closely associates Heimdall's epithets Heimdali, Hruthr, and Vedr with a ram. Snorri also tells us that the kennings Heimdall’s head and 'Heimdall’s sword' have the same meaning, while Rydberg suggests that this could refer to the ram's weapons, figuratively his 'sword', which are located on his head. On the other side, this conclusion may seem surprising, and thus requires a closer examination. In Völuspá 27, Heimdall's horn is said to be hidden under the high-reaching holy tree. This tree, with good reason, has often been identified as the Milky Way. Capricornus is a constellation located near the Milky Way. What is interesting is that Capricornus is part of the so-called 'watery region' of the night sky represented by Pisces the Fishes, Aquarius the Water-bearer, Delphinus the Dolphin, Capricorn the Sea-goat, and others. This observation might explain a similarly obscure comment made by Loki in Lokasenna: |
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48. "Þegi þú, Heimdallr,
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Keeping in mind that Capricorn is depicted with a
fish-tail this would be a perfect explanation for the “wet back” of
Heimdallr. It also explains why a mighty stream is said to be pouring
from the horn.
The location of Capricorn may also also explain his role as a
guardian of the Gods. He is the first sign of the Zodiac outside the
arch of the Milky Way (assuming that we will find more gods associated
with the signs of the zodiac in this region of heaven). His role as a
guardian is mentioned in Grímnismál 13: |
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Himingbjorg is the eight, and Heimdall there |
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The poem Völuspá hin skamma (contained in
the Eddic poem Hyndluljóð) contains
three stanza that scholars have frequently interpreted as referring to
Heimdallr and his nine mothers. According to the stanzas, long ago, a
mighty god was born by nine jötunn maidens at the edge of the world.
This boy grew strong, nourished by the strength of the earth, the
ice-cold sea, and the blood of a sacrificial boar. The names of these nine
maidens are listed as Gjálp, Greip, Eistla, Angeyja, Ulfrún, Eyrgjafa, Imðr, Atla,
and Járnsaxa. The stanzas in question read as follows: |
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"One there was born
"Gjalp there
bore him, |
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The location of Capricorn can in fact be
seen as being at the edge of the world. The nine mothers have been
interpreted as nine waves, fitting the connection with the watery
region. There is another interesting fact; in Völuspá 45, cited below, Heimdallr is also brought into connection with all who are on the Hel-road: |
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"Fast move the sons of Mim and fate |
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In Sagittarius, the Greek saw the
Golden Gate of the Gods, an entrance to the netherworlds. Here, the Milky Way
crosses the ecliptic. It seems that the Hel-roads
start at Capricorn, pass Sagittarius (the guardian of the
netherwolds), touching Scorpius (the hel-hound with three heads) and
Niflhel (Ophiuchus the Snake-handler) before coming to Libra, the place of judgement. So, having considered these aspects, the identification of Heimdallr with Capricorn the Sea-goat should not seem as surprising or as unrealistic as it may have on first view. If we can identify Heimdallr as the Sea-goat, a constellation of the zodiac known from Greek myths, then we should also be able to find an equivalent in the Norse myths for the neighboring constellation Aquarius the water-bearer, offering further proof of this identification. |
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Who is Aquarius and what does the cup represent? |
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