Puneet Varma (Editor)

Continental Germanic mythology

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Continental Germanic mythology is a subtype of Germanic paganism as practiced in parts of Central Europe during the 6th to 8th centuries, a period of Christianization. It continued in the legends, and Middle High German epics of the Middle Ages. Traces of these stories, with the sacred elements largely removed, may be found throughout European folklore and fairy tales.

Contents

Tribes

The mythologies of the following tribes are included in this category:

  • Lombards (source: Paulus Diaconus)
  • Alamanni (see: Nordendorf fibula, Pforzen buckle)
  • Franks and Thuringii (see: Frankish mythology, Donar's Oak)
  • Saxons (see: Irminsul)
  • Frisians (source: Life of Saint Willibrord)
  • Paganism

    Compared to North Germanic and, to a lesser extent, Anglo-Saxon mythology, examples of Continental Germanic paganism are extremely fragmentary. Besides a handful of brief Elder Futhark inscriptions the lone, genuinely pagan Continental Germanic documents are the short Old High German Merseburg Incantations. However, pagan mythological elements were preserved in later literature, notably in Middle High German epic poetry, but also in German, Swiss, and Dutch folklore.

    Old High German

  • Lay of Hildebrand
  • Muspilli
  • The Merseburg Incantations
  • Middle High German

  • Nibelungenlied
  • Kudrun
  • Weyland
  • Dietrich von Bern
  • References

    Continental Germanic mythology Wikipedia


    Similar Topics