This could be overstated, I reflect after talking about it with my assistant Stella a little bit. Rán does come up in the prose intro. to Reginsmál in the Poetic Edda (still not mentioned in the poem, which is older) and Egill does express a wish to kill Ægir and Rán (could you poetically express a wish to kill Davy Jones? maybe). The broad point of her very scarce occurrence in narratives, even relative to other minor goddesses (e.g. Iðunn) is worth considering.
Interesting, my family history here in America begins with a shipwreck with a sole survivor, and my last name is related to Aegir, it was originally Aegenwulf.
Wanted to mention something interesting here: According to a "Dictionary Of Vulgar Tongue" written in 1785 explaining what Davy Jones Locked Means: "DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken or Draugr in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden" and "DAVID JONES' LOCKER. The sea" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones%27s_locker
There's also a nice brewery called Ægir 🍻 they have brilliant alcohol free beer (which I nowadays prefer to the other variant - better for me and my life).
Dr. Crawford, you are the best link between public knowledge and the ivory tower of academia on this fascinating subject matter. Thank you for your work!
I don't know if this observation holds any (salt) water in the eyes of an expert, but from my amateur reading of (translated) Norse literature, I have formed the impression that the Norse considered drowning at sea a respectable death, similar to the notorious „death by weapons“ which consigns you to Valhall. I base this mostly on the following two passages from Icelandic sagas: 1) There is this episode in Eyrbyggja saga when the crew of a ship who have drowned in a shipwreck turn up as ghosts at their own funeral feast: "On the first evening of the feast, when all the guests were seated, Thorodd and his companions came into the room, drenched to the skin. Everyone welcomed Thorodd and his men, and thought this a happy omen because in those days it was believed that drowned people had been well received by the sea-goddess, Ran, if they came to their own funeral feast." That the guests seem to derive consolation from their belief that the deceased have been „well received by Ran“ suggests that they imagine Ran's hall as a better location than Hel (as Hel is not an attractive location, believing that someone was „well received by Hel“ probably wouldn't be much of a consolation). 2) Then there is Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka, in which King Half and his champions are caught in a big sea storm: "Their ship was taking water, too much to bail. Then the decision was taken to cast lots for who should go overboard, but there was no need for that, as each man volunteered to go overboard on behalf of his mate. And as they climbed over the gunwales, they said, 'There’s no straw on the sea floor!'" Half's champions are characterized as the toughest and most undaunted Viking band ever. That they would willingly chose death by drowning suggests that they consider it a reputable death, similar to death by weapons. My interpretation of the line „there is no straw on the sea floor“ is that they are affirming that drowning at sea is better than a „straw death“, i.e. an ignominious death by old age. In a maritime culture where drowning at sea is an unavoidable risk for many, it makes a lot of sense to frame drowning as a „honorable“ way of dying. And if that was the case with the pagan Norse, then „Ran's hall“ as a location of the dead would necessarily be „a step up“ compared to Hel--even if "Ran's hall" is simply an euphemism for the bottom of the sea.
Fascinating interpretation. I'd be very curious to know what an expert thinks of this. It would make sense to me that a deeply seafaring people would regard death at sea somewhat highly, at least relatively. Since, as you said, it was an often unavoidable aspect of that lifestyle. Just as dying in battle, losing your life at sea could be thought of as dying for your people, vaguely similar to the modern idea of dying for one's nation.
We also use rán for robbery in Faroese. I also keep finding it interesting that the word drengr (valiant man) becomes the generic word for "boy" in Faroese (drongur) and Danish (dreng).
Thought it was Horsetooth. (There used to be a great cross-country jump course (for horses) there - maybe there still is (which has nothing to do with the name of the reservoir, of course.) I really enjoy the way you try to tease out how people were actually relating to the figures mentioned in the Eddas.
Just stumbled upon your channel and I adore it!!! I would love if you made a short or small video going through the 9 daughters/descriptions of waves in old Norse. I’m very curious about how seas were described that isn’t using google translate.
If you make it to the east coast, we need to get a crew together and take you out on our viking ship replica. The long ship company is amazing. Having an outing on the sea with Doc Crawford would be epic!
In English "water pours", in Swedish "vatten rinner". Rinna is the movement of water. Ränna is where it flows. There are several places in Sweden that starts with Ran- which are connected with water.
I live close to Randlev. A big viking site. The biggest burial place found in Denmark i believe. Some believe the church was build on a place dedicated to Ran.
Great video, Mr. Crawford, love your books and videos. My question is, could the nine daughters of Aegir and Ran possibly be the nine mothers of Heimdall? Do we have any idea who the nine mothers of Heimdall actually are?
My great grandfather, who became a captain circa 100 years ago, experienced two shipwrecks, swimming to land both times, the second marking the end of his time working at sea. I am glad the man escaped Rán's hospitality to become the oldest man in the country.
Last year I was joking with people about their names when a man named Ron told me that he learned that somewhere his name was the word for Rum. It was of no consequence to me until I connected pirates and their love of Rum, and the song "Brandy" where it is said that sailors love the sea. Ràn, Ron, Rum... coincidence? Maybe
English gets the word "ransack" from the same Old Norse word, and it went into Scottish Gaelic as the verb "rannsach/rannsachadh", which means "to seek/search/search for".
I read somewhere that she was Odin's wife. I remember an illustration of this mythic figure proceeding out of a stormy sea, with men cast away clinging desperately to their golden jewelry to pat her.
I wonder if it's like the sirens, luring to the rocks. Or she is like mare/Mari, the name of the water/the sea itself. Like Maritimes. Mother Mary, our vader, who art in heaven, hallowed be the name... And I Ran, I ran so far away, couldn't get away (since the deity of water occupies every body, sees through our own eyes, we host consciousness in our person, heaven in the body both in the liquid and intercellular space, aethera) The Sami people and Lapanders might come from nomadic peoples, interesting imaginative kin. Some deities can be ...genderfluid. 😅 Seastars, sometimes seven, waves in 9 is notable mathematically Also, the stories of deities that can spit fish is interesting. Hel, Garden of Idunn, were both people and places, sometimes objectified as things.
Wanted to mention something interesting here: According to a "Dictionary Of Vulgar Tongue" written in 1785 explaining what Davy Jones Locked Means: "DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken or Draugr in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden" and "DAVID JONES' LOCKER. The sea" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones%27s_locker
This could be overstated, I reflect after talking about it with my assistant Stella a little bit. Rán does come up in the prose intro. to Reginsmál in the Poetic Edda (still not mentioned in the poem, which is older) and Egill does express a wish to kill Ægir and Rán (could you poetically express a wish to kill Davy Jones? maybe). The broad point of her very scarce occurrence in narratives, even relative to other minor goddesses (e.g. Iðunn) is worth considering.
Interesting, my family history here in America begins with a shipwreck with a sole survivor, and my last name is related to Aegir, it was originally Aegenwulf.
Wow! @@clayainsworth9018
Wanted to mention something interesting here: According to a "Dictionary Of Vulgar Tongue" written in 1785 explaining what Davy Jones Locked Means: "DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken or Draugr in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden" and "DAVID JONES' LOCKER. The sea" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones%27s_locker
There's also a nice brewery called Ægir 🍻 they have brilliant alcohol free beer (which I nowadays prefer to the other variant - better for me and my life).
@@johanneswerner1140what's the point then lmao?
"Arrr, the sea!" - sound of laughter in the background 😄
Dr. Crawford, you are the best link between public knowledge and the ivory tower of academia on this fascinating subject matter. Thank you for your work!
I don't know if this observation holds any (salt) water in the eyes of an expert, but from my amateur reading of (translated) Norse literature, I have formed the impression that the Norse considered drowning at sea a respectable death, similar to the notorious „death by weapons“ which consigns you to Valhall. I base this mostly on the following two passages from Icelandic sagas:
1) There is this episode in Eyrbyggja saga when the crew of a ship who have drowned in a shipwreck turn up as ghosts at their own funeral feast:
"On the first evening of the feast, when all the guests were seated, Thorodd and his companions came into the room, drenched to the skin. Everyone welcomed Thorodd and his men, and thought this a happy omen because in those days it was believed that drowned people had been well received by the sea-goddess, Ran, if they came to their own funeral feast."
That the guests seem to derive consolation from their belief that the deceased have been „well received by Ran“ suggests that they imagine Ran's hall as a better location than Hel (as Hel is not an attractive location, believing that someone was „well received by Hel“ probably wouldn't be much of a consolation).
2) Then there is Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka, in which King Half and his champions are caught in a big sea storm:
"Their ship was taking water, too much to bail. Then the decision was taken to cast lots for who should go overboard, but there was no need for that, as each man volunteered to go overboard on behalf of his mate. And as they climbed over the gunwales, they said, 'There’s no straw on the sea floor!'"
Half's champions are characterized as the toughest and most undaunted Viking band ever. That they would willingly chose death by drowning suggests that they consider it a reputable death, similar to death by weapons. My interpretation of the line „there is no straw on the sea floor“ is that they are affirming that drowning at sea is better than a „straw death“, i.e. an ignominious death by old age.
In a maritime culture where drowning at sea is an unavoidable risk for many, it makes a lot of sense to frame drowning as a „honorable“ way of dying. And if that was the case with the pagan Norse, then „Ran's hall“ as a location of the dead would necessarily be „a step up“ compared to Hel--even if "Ran's hall" is simply an euphemism for the bottom of the sea.
Fascinating interpretation. I'd be very curious to know what an expert thinks of this. It would make sense to me that a deeply seafaring people would regard death at sea somewhat highly, at least relatively. Since, as you said, it was an often unavoidable aspect of that lifestyle. Just as dying in battle, losing your life at sea could be thought of as dying for your people, vaguely similar to the modern idea of dying for one's nation.
Oooaaaarrrr! We now have a Viking Cowboy Pirate! Awesome!
1) Great intro music.
2) Ran seems to be the way to deal with how dangerus the sea was.
Very educative and interesting
We also use rán for robbery in Faroese. I also keep finding it interesting that the word drengr (valiant man) becomes the generic word for "boy" in Faroese (drongur) and Danish (dreng).
And danish
Danish aswell. Old word for rob
Knecht eller knægt is also the same word as knight. Similar to the evolution of drengr
Love the stirring intro music.
Great video! I used Rán as the main goddess in my Viking Pantomime - Vaudeville in Valhalla.
The intro was fantastic
Loving the cinema intros Dr!!! Please keep them coming!! 😂😂
Thanks, never fails to be interesting.
You, sir, arrrrr awesome!!
I love this, seen it three times and each time I learn a bit more. Keep up the great work!
Great subject.
Fantastic! Love the light hearted delivery.
I like the change up with the music. I am still waiting to see my name as a Patrion supporter. I joined in September.
Very interesting. I really enjoy your vidoes.
I really enjoy these short videos, there’s a lot of interesting information packed in.
Thought it was Horsetooth. (There used to be a great cross-country jump course (for horses) there - maybe there still is (which has nothing to do with the name of the reservoir, of course.) I really enjoy the way you try to tease out how people were actually relating to the figures mentioned in the Eddas.
Just stumbled upon your channel and I adore it!!! I would love if you made a short or small video going through the 9 daughters/descriptions of waves in old Norse. I’m very curious about how seas were described that isn’t using google translate.
If you make it to the east coast, we need to get a crew together and take you out on our viking ship replica. The long ship company is amazing. Having an outing on the sea with Doc Crawford would be epic!
In English "water pours", in Swedish "vatten rinner". Rinna is the movement of water. Ränna is where it flows. There are several places in Sweden that starts with Ran- which are connected with water.
I live close to Randlev. A big viking site. The biggest burial place found in Denmark i believe.
Some believe the church was build on a place dedicated to Ran.
Great video, Mr. Crawford, love your books and videos. My question is, could the nine daughters of Aegir and Ran possibly be the nine mothers of Heimdall? Do we have any idea who the nine mothers of Heimdall actually are?
My great grandfather, who became a captain circa 100 years ago, experienced two shipwrecks, swimming to land both times, the second marking the end of his time working at sea.
I am glad the man escaped Rán's hospitality to become the oldest man in the country.
Another analogy would be to the Grim Reaper. Ran and her net, the Rapper and his Scythe-poetic images, but no one actually believed in them.
It’s interesting that the phrase “Davey Jones’ Locker” is still fairly widely familiar in English. I guess we have pirate movies to thank for that.
Water Witch by The Secret Sisters.
I am going to go look at your books to see if you have this glorious dictionary available! 😊
That's horsetooth reservoir
What does it mean?
Last year I was joking with people about their names when a man named Ron told me that he learned that somewhere his name was the word for Rum. It was of no consequence to me until I connected pirates and their love of Rum, and the song "Brandy" where it is said that sailors love the sea. Ràn, Ron, Rum... coincidence? Maybe
Definitely coincidence. 🙂
Pirates of the Norwegian
English gets the word "ransack" from the same Old Norse word, and it went into Scottish Gaelic as the verb "rannsach/rannsachadh", which means "to seek/search/search for".
That tree behind you's shaped kinda like great britain
"You are by far the least stereotypical Old Norse scholar I've ever heard of."
"But you have heard of me!"
Is there a connection between Ran the spirit/goddess of shipwrecks and ran as in "robbery" as mentioned in the notes to the video?
Is there anything which can be gleaned from the supposed fact that Ranrike (old folk name for the Swedish west coast) would literally be her queendom?
Jon Solo sent me.. I think I'll stay :)
😂😂😂😂 hilarious intro
Feeding the algorithm
Please open all your videos with this intro music.
🎉
I read somewhere that she was Odin's wife. I remember an illustration of this mythic figure proceeding out of a stormy sea, with men cast away clinging desperately to their golden jewelry to pat her.
I wonder if it's like the sirens, luring to the rocks.
Or she is like mare/Mari, the name of the water/the sea itself. Like Maritimes. Mother Mary, our vader, who art in heaven, hallowed be the name...
And I Ran, I ran so far away, couldn't get away (since the deity of water occupies every body, sees through our own eyes, we host consciousness in our person, heaven in the body both in the liquid and intercellular space, aethera)
The Sami people and Lapanders might come from nomadic peoples, interesting imaginative kin.
Some deities can be ...genderfluid. 😅
Seastars, sometimes seven, waves in 9 is notable mathematically
Also, the stories of deities that can spit fish is interesting.
Hel, Garden of Idunn, were both people and places, sometimes objectified as things.
Blue Mesa?
Wanted to mention something interesting here: According to a "Dictionary Of Vulgar Tongue" written in 1785 explaining what Davy Jones Locked Means: "DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken or Draugr in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden" and "DAVID JONES' LOCKER. The sea" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones%27s_locker
I like the change up with the music. I am still waiting to see my name as a Patrion supporter. I joined in September.
I like the change up with the music. I am still waiting to see my name as a Patrion supporter. I joined in September.