Very cool video. It's always really surprising to me how widespread and what a big deal it was to claim Trojan pedigree throughout Europe, long after Troy itself was gone. Heck they might have been doing the same thing in Asia, for all I know...
So , are we off handedly dismissing the Asian origins of the Aesir? Simply because maybe we don't want to credit any Asian influence on the Nordic Gods?
Well, the Jotuns were in the east, as Thor was always off in the East battling Jotuns. Asia being east of the Norse realms. However, Asia was mostly thought of as what we call Turkey today back then, if I recall correctly. Still east but more south. Aesir took Jotun brides, so 'Asian' brides?
@@alanb8884 After reading a little bit of the “Historical Odin,” this is what it pretty much says for the frist half. The Vanaquisl River separates the world into three continents. To the east is Asia, to the west is Enea, and to the north is Svithjod. Svithjod is cold mountainous region in which many inhabit - Humans, Giants, Dwarves, Dragons, and then “Blue Men” Asaland is east of the Vanaquisl River. The capital city of Asaland is Asgard, which is where Odin lives. He is the leader of the Asaland people. Odin was a fierce warrior who conquered many neighboring kingdoms. For this, the people of Asaland revered him. Sacrificial practices were not uncommon in Asgard. There were twelve priests who oversaw such sacrifices. These priests would also act as judges. Before Odin would send his soldiers into battle, he would go to each of them and place his hand on their heads, and would then bless them. Whenever the people of Asgard were in danger, they would call upon Odin for his help. Odin had two brothers, Ve & Vile, who would lead Asgard in Odin’s absence. Odin would often go on long journeys, and so when gone, Ve & Vile would take care of his wife, Frigg. The people of Vanaland lived along the Vanaquisl River. This river separates the world into three continents. Odin and the Asaland people were at war with the Vanaland people. Both sides would endure many losses, and so their only option was to form peace with one another. They did this through an exchange of prominent political figures. The people of Asaland sent Hœner, who was renowned for his pleasant features, and then Mimer, who was said to be very wise. The people of Vanaland sent Njord, who was considerably wealthy, and his two children, Frey & Freyja. They then sent Quaser, who was also a wise man, but nowhere near as wise as Mimer. When Hœner arrived at Vanaland, they immediately appointed him as their leader. Though this wouldn’t last long. You see, Hœner would always rely on Mimer for advice with everywhere he went and with everything he did. One day, during a debate, Mimer was not there to give him advice. And so whenever the people of Vanaland asked for Hœner’s input, he would always redirect the question to someone else. Because of this, the people of Vanaland had suspected that the people of Asaland had made a poor exchange, for Hœner was a poor leader. In retaliation to this poor exchange of prominent political figures, the Vanaland people captured Mimer and then beheaded him. They then sent the head to Asaland for Odin to see. Odin took Mimer’s head and began to smear herbs and ointments from where his head was cut from his neck to prevent rot. Once that was done, Odin began to sing in some unknown language, and from this, Mimer’s head came back to life. From there, Mimer served as Odin’s advisor. Odin appointed Njord and his son Frey as priests in the sacrificial practices of the Asaland people. Njord’s daughter, Freyja, was given the position of priestess, and would teach the people of Asaland the ways of Vanaland magic. Njord’s children were born of insest, as Vanaland law does not prohibit it. Though this is frowned upon in Asaland.
Always instructive, Dr. Crawford. It’s amusing, because my adult son and I were talking about the fact that Snorri Sturlsson was writing down history/legends from a few centuries earlier just last night. It’s helpful to remember that Snorri was more concerned with preserving the poetic traditions than with history.
Regarding Mímir probably being one of the jotnar rather than one of the æsir/vanir: In addition to his well lying by the root stretching from the Jotunheimar, it seems there's a morphological name similarity of sorts. Confer: Ymir Skrymir Hymir Gymir (only known as father of Gerd) And indeed Þrymr himself.
It's a bit similar to how people view folklore in general, expecting a neat division of lore into specific categories. Especially with creatures, wanting these to be well-defined in their own little niches, like a D&D Monster Manual.
I know you’re trying to temper expectations, which is good to some extent. But in my opinion, if someone takes a very significant portion of his time to help preserve the understanding AND practice of writing pagan poetry then he has more than a little sympathy for it.
I think a sort of equivalent is all the different versions of folk ballads that exist. At the core they are telling the same story but it changes slightly with each teller.
It amazes me how many people in the medieval world liked to claim descent/association with Troy despite that fact that that city was on the eastern side of Europe. I could buy the Romans as being descendants of Troy, but not the peoples of Scandinavia, the Baltic, the British Isles, or really any nation that does not border the Mediterranean Sea. That said, this was an interesting video, as usual.
I don’t think they cared so much that the place was one sea away. If anything, you see a repeated insistence that their ancestors came from the East at some point, and from what we understand of the Indo-European migrations that’s true. It’s just that they later specified it as the mythic city of Troy.
Are you going to write more books on the other sagas like you did on the Sagas of the Volslungs & the Poetic Edda? They're both really beautifully written! I recommend your books & channel to anyone who is even slightly interested in Vikings/Pagans.
I love how he introduces himself as just, Jackson Crawford, not trying to cram his PHD into every conversation like some people do, very humble move there.
@@Valerio_the_wandering_sprite Well either way, I refuse to not call someone who has clearly worked very hard for the education they have, by their correct title.
Imagine how cool it would be if we had alien visitors. Visitors that lather come forth and as a gift helped us filling holes in our lore and history. They could do this due to being there recording the events as they happened.
Or perhaps he found new evidence or sources the second time he wrote the story....after all there probably went along time before he wrote the next one
I have been told that has already happened, as evidence they usually cite snorri's version of past tense when talking about the end being prevented by one of the gods. can someone verify or weigh in on this
Troy is not essential to an Odin coming to Sweden a generation before Frey or Yngwe started the Yngling dynasty. It more likely _is_ essential to qualifying Ynglings (among whom St. Olaf) as normal Christian royalty, when all other dynasties claimed Trojan descent one way or another. Remember the 'prologue' to Sir Gawain "When the siege and the assualt had ceased at Troy ..." ... one Trojan called Brutus came to Britain ... just so Brits are no more Barbarians than the Romans. If Snorri hadn't said this about Troy, one would have predicted some high noses among clergy on the continent - _what,_ your kings descend from _a false god?_ And not the human ones we know from Greece?
The one dislike on this video is from Snorri himself
the other Snorri is one of the likes ;)
2 dislikes
"It's getting out of hand, now there're two of them!"
@@towardsthesky9081 3, we're in vandræðum
I'm betting Snorri would be REALY surprised to be so famous 800 years later.
Very cool video. It's always really surprising to me how widespread and what a big deal it was to claim Trojan pedigree throughout Europe, long after Troy itself was gone. Heck they might have been doing the same thing in Asia, for all I know...
So , are we off handedly dismissing the Asian origins of the Aesir? Simply because maybe we don't want to credit any Asian influence on the Nordic Gods?
Are you serious? 😂
Well, the Jotuns were in the east, as Thor was always off in the East battling Jotuns. Asia being east of the Norse realms. However, Asia was mostly thought of as what we call Turkey today back then, if I recall correctly. Still east but more south.
Aesir took Jotun brides, so 'Asian' brides?
@@alanb8884 After reading a little bit of the “Historical Odin,” this is what it pretty much says for the frist half.
The Vanaquisl River separates the world into three continents. To the east is Asia, to the west is Enea, and to the north is Svithjod. Svithjod is cold mountainous region in which many inhabit - Humans, Giants, Dwarves, Dragons, and then “Blue Men”
Asaland is east of the Vanaquisl River. The capital city of Asaland is Asgard, which is where Odin lives. He is the leader of the Asaland people. Odin was a fierce warrior who conquered many neighboring kingdoms. For this, the people of Asaland revered him.
Sacrificial practices were not uncommon in Asgard. There were twelve priests who oversaw such sacrifices. These priests would also act as judges.
Before Odin would send his soldiers into battle, he would go to each of them and place his hand on their heads, and would then bless them. Whenever the people of Asgard were in danger, they would call upon Odin for his help.
Odin had two brothers, Ve & Vile, who would lead Asgard in Odin’s absence. Odin would often go on long journeys, and so when gone, Ve & Vile would take care of his wife, Frigg.
The people of Vanaland lived along the Vanaquisl River. This river separates the world into three continents. Odin and the Asaland people were at war with the Vanaland people. Both sides would endure many losses, and so their only option was to form peace with one another. They did this through an exchange of prominent political figures.
The people of Asaland sent Hœner, who was renowned for his pleasant features, and then Mimer, who was said to be very wise. The people of Vanaland sent Njord, who was considerably wealthy, and his two children, Frey & Freyja. They then sent Quaser, who was also a wise man, but nowhere near as wise as Mimer.
When Hœner arrived at Vanaland, they immediately appointed him as their leader. Though this wouldn’t last long. You see, Hœner would always rely on Mimer for advice with everywhere he went and with everything he did. One day, during a debate, Mimer was not there to give him advice. And so whenever the people of Vanaland asked for Hœner’s input, he would always redirect the question to someone else. Because of this, the people of Vanaland had suspected that the people of Asaland had made a poor exchange, for Hœner was a poor leader. In retaliation to this poor exchange of prominent political figures, the Vanaland people captured Mimer and then beheaded him. They then sent the head to Asaland for Odin to see.
Odin took Mimer’s head and began to smear herbs and ointments from where his head was cut from his neck to prevent rot. Once that was done, Odin began to sing in some unknown language, and from this, Mimer’s head came back to life. From there, Mimer served as Odin’s advisor.
Odin appointed Njord and his son Frey as priests in the sacrificial practices of the Asaland people. Njord’s daughter, Freyja, was given the position of priestess, and would teach the people of Asaland the ways of Vanaland magic. Njord’s children were born of insest, as Vanaland law does not prohibit it. Though this is frowned upon in Asaland.
Snorri v Snorris: Dawn of Eddas
Top 10 most epic -anime- Old Norse battles
"I am an old norse specialist who can frequently heard on this chanel..."
*surprised pikachu face*
Always instructive, Dr. Crawford.
It’s amusing, because my adult son and I were talking about the fact that Snorri Sturlsson was writing down history/legends from a few centuries earlier just last night. It’s helpful to remember that Snorri was more concerned with preserving the poetic traditions than with history.
The dislike is from snorri
Don't worry, he also gave the video a like on his other account
Regarding Mímir probably being one of the jotnar rather than one of the æsir/vanir: In addition to his well lying by the root stretching from the Jotunheimar, it seems there's a morphological name similarity of sorts. Confer:
Ymir
Skrymir
Hymir
Gymir (only known as father of Gerd)
And indeed Þrymr himself.
Interesting that Dr. Jackson didn't bring that up.
**that meme of Spiderman pointing at himself** SNORRI
Or the "trust no one, not even yourself" meme
I'm so in my own TH-cam world I searched for Jackson and thought this was gonna show up first...
Is that a TH-cam icon on your collar? Or am seeing things?
Hold up, someone needs to hit up Matt Groening to see if Futurama's head jars were intended as a mythological reference.
thanks for the video! I remember reading prose edda and was so confused by the troy part.
I was hoping to see two guys called Snorri duke it out but this is good
It sounds like Snorri got confused with ullr in the prose edda.
It's a bit similar to how people view folklore in general, expecting a neat division of lore into specific categories. Especially with creatures, wanting these to be well-defined in their own little niches, like a D&D Monster Manual.
Thanks for your videos!
Crawford makes Snorri's history sound a bit like a Norse version of the Aeneid, *IF* Virgil had written it after Rome has converted to Christianity.
Had the exact same thought
Always a good look to your vids. Nice TH-cam pin.
I just talked about this yesterday lmao
I know you’re trying to temper expectations, which is good to some extent.
But in my opinion, if someone takes a very significant portion of his time to help preserve the understanding AND practice of writing pagan poetry then he has more than a little sympathy for it.
I think a sort of equivalent is all the different versions of folk ballads that exist. At the core they are telling the same story but it changes slightly with each teller.
It amazes me how many people in the medieval world liked to claim descent/association with Troy despite that fact that that city was on the eastern side of Europe. I could buy the Romans as being descendants of Troy, but not the peoples of Scandinavia, the Baltic, the British Isles, or really any nation that does not border the Mediterranean Sea.
That said, this was an interesting video, as usual.
I don’t think they cared so much that the place was one sea away. If anything, you see a repeated insistence that their ancestors came from the East at some point, and from what we understand of the Indo-European migrations that’s true. It’s just that they later specified it as the mythic city of Troy.
@@LordJagd Fair point.
Are you going to write more books on the other sagas like you did on the Sagas of the Volslungs & the Poetic Edda?
They're both really beautifully written!
I recommend your books & channel to anyone who is even slightly interested in Vikings/Pagans.
Maybe you should get a sponsorship from a sunglasses company. My eyes are watering watching you go blind. 🙂
Snorri-I just love that name! It sounds like a good name for someone with narcolepsy.
Or a sleepy pet
Wow ! that’s some beautiful country.
great video!
I love how he introduces himself as just, Jackson Crawford, not trying to cram his PHD into every conversation like some people do, very humble move there.
@@Valerio_the_wandering_sprite Well either way, I refuse to not call someone who has clearly worked very hard for the education they have, by their correct title.
@@VndNvwYvvSvv Yeah, I just like honoring the hard work someone has put into what they do.
So many questions! Someone invent a time machine already!
Imagine how cool it would be if we had alien visitors. Visitors that lather come forth and as a gift helped us filling holes in our lore and history. They could do this due to being there recording the events as they happened.
I like your ring.
That is interesting, in the 2018 game God of War, Mimir is hinted at being a Celtic god that 'travels' to the realm of Norse gods.
There's that name Hønir again... so was he originally an Æsir God? As far as he writes I guess?
Or perhaps he found new evidence or sources the second time he wrote the story....after all there probably went along time before he wrote the next one
I have been told that has already happened, as evidence they usually cite snorri's version of past tense when talking about the end being prevented by one of the gods. can someone verify or weigh in on this
Snorri congeals with Snorri and they become Snorri^2
Great video
Interesting topic, I'd love to hear more..
‘Formerly’ Celtic speaking world. Oof.
Press F for the Celtic language and traditions.
They spat in a vat? This is the Dr. Seuss version?
Thank you for clarification.
Maybe Snorri's a girl. Have you read the Septimus Heap series ? ;)
@@VndNvwYvvSvv I was just referring to the name "Snorri" being used for a girl in the Septimus Heap book-series. Nothing special, you can move along.
I find Snorri interesting for sure
Troy is not essential to an Odin coming to Sweden a generation before Frey or Yngwe started the Yngling dynasty.
It more likely _is_ essential to qualifying Ynglings (among whom St. Olaf) as normal Christian royalty, when all other dynasties claimed Trojan descent one way or another.
Remember the 'prologue' to Sir Gawain
"When the siege and the assualt had ceased at Troy ..."
... one Trojan called Brutus came to Britain ... just so Brits are no more Barbarians than the Romans.
If Snorri hadn't said this about Troy, one would have predicted some high noses among clergy on the continent - _what,_ your kings descend from _a false god?_ And not the human ones we know from Greece?