Apple
In Teutonic mythology, the apple symbolizes eternal youth.
Without consuming the golden apples of the goddess Idun, the gods
would grow old and wither because their bodies are physically human
(Crossley-Holland, 38).
Apple as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Blindness
Teutonic mythology portrayed blindness as simpleness and
gullibility, though a trait of the good-willed. In the myths, the
blind god Hod, having been tricked by Loki, accidentally slays his
brother Balder, an event that was said to be the first signal of the
approach of Ragnarok, the end of the world (Crossley-Holland,
150-161).
Blood
In Teutonic cultures, blood is a symbol of truth and loyalty, as
well as life. Blood oaths were sacred, representing the key role of
the bond between men. Also, during times of famine, royal and sacred
blood had to flow to appease the gods. Like Christian holy water,
blood was shed in sacrifices; it was sprinkled on temple walls and on
people; and hunters often even drank warm blood--all to avert bad
luck and to ensure the fruitfulness of the coming year (Chantepie de
la Saussaye, p.372; Davidson, Myths and Symbols in Pagan
Europe, p.58).
Blood as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Bridge
In Teutonic mythology, Bifrost, a "flaming three-strand rainbow
bridge" is guarded by the god Heimdall and connects the middle world
of people, Midgard, to the upper world of the gods, Asgard
(Crossley-Holland, 240).
Bridge as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Cave
For Teutonic cultures, caves and clefts in the earth were seen as
a means of communicating with the underworld. For example, in the
myth that is the source for Wagner's Ring, the dwarf Andvari
lived in a cave where he kept his treasure. However, to pay a ransom
for the death of a giant named Otter, the god Loki managed to extract
the treasure from Andvari by fooling him into thinking the cave spoke
to him, though the voice was only Loki's echo. In retaliation against
the god's theft, Andvari placed a curse upon the stolen treasure,
which included the ring, saying that it would destroy whomever owned
it (Davidson, Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe, 26;
Crossley-Holland, 239).
Cave as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Dog
For example, in Teutonic mythology, Garm is the Hound of the
Underworld, a giant-dog, who at the end of the world in Ragnarok will
kill the god Tyr. According to the epic Gylfaginning, Garm
guards the island Lyngvi, where Loki the trickster god and his son
the wolf Fenrir are chained. The "foremost of all dogs," Garm "is to
bark with all its might when the chains of Loke and Fenrer threaten
to burst asunder"(Rydberg, p.384-5).
Dragon
Teutonic myths say that in Niflheim, near the Spring of
Hvergelmir, Nidhogg the dragon and his accomplices gnaw at the roots
of Yggdrasill, the World Ash Tree, trying to loosen its foundation
and thereby put an end to the eternal (Crossley-Holland, 15).
Dragon as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Eagle
Teutonic mythology shows an eagle who lives in the top branches
of Yggdrasill, the World Ash Tree, and who watches the goings-on of
the worlds below. One myth says that when this eagle first flapped
its wings, the winds of the nine worlds were born. Since this bird
sits in the highest position of observation in the Teutonic universe,
the eagle symbolically came to represent the sky and the sovereignty,
both associate with the omnipotent power of the all-father god, Odin
(Davidson, Myths and Symbols, 91, 175).
Eagle as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Eyes
In the Teutonic myths, Odin gave up an eye at the Spring of Mimir
in order to gain wisdom. The eye of Wotan was called "the star of the
skull" because in the Teutonic myth of creation the skull of the
giant Ymir became the world of man. Also, Teutonic culture said that
the hero's courage and glory were exposed through the glory in his
eyes (Cord, III:1, 122; Crossley-Holland, 15).
Eyes as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Fire
In Teutonic mythology, fire symbolizes both fear and renewal. A
land of fire, Muspellheim, is one of the nine worlds within the
Teutonic universe. According to these myths, at Ragnarok, the end of
the world, Black Surt, the guardian of Muspellheim, and his
companions, the sons of Muspell, will savage the gods and cause all
nine worlds to be engulfed in flames (Davidson, Gods and Myths of
N. Europe, 37-8).
Fire as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Fog
In Teutonic myths, fog symbolizes the vagueness that exists where
the worlds of humans and gods come together, especially in sacred and
mysterious places, like the FOREST and the CAVE. Also, fog, as that
which covers the light or good, can come to represent darkness or
evil. In the original myth of Siegfried and the Nibelungen, which is
essentially a creation myth, Siegfried is first victorious and rises
in splendor as a light hero, but falls into fog and darkness after he
meets the Nibelungen or "children of the mist or fog"(Chantepie de la
Saussaye, 144).
Fog in Wagner's Ring
Forest
To the ancient Teutons, forest were magical places inhabited by
gods. Certain sacred groves were linked with communication with other
worlds; and some woods were seen as especially close to the divine,
so it was believed prayers would be heard more readily there.
Forests, like the symbol of the TREE, were fundamental to Teutonic
cosmology in connection to the World Ash Tree, Yggdrasill. Forests
were like temples: people held ceremonies and offered sacrifices to
the gods there. The mysterious silence of the forests was feared and
revered--for, though forests were composed of earthly material, they
were links, even portals, to the supernatural worlds (Davidson,
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe, 16-17, 24-5, 104, 156).
Forest as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Garden
The origin of the word "garden" is of Teutonic origin, though the
English usage of it probably derives from old French. Thus, the idea
of a garden is linked directly to the Teutonic imagination through
the endings "-yard" or "-jard" or "-gard" that name the mythological
places of Asgard, Utgard and Midgard, the worlds of gods, giants and
humans respectively.
Giant
In the Teutonic story of creation, the first being in existence
was the frost giant Ymir. He was the father of the race of giants,
and the nine worlds were constructed from his body. Ancient Teutons
believed that though the gods created women and men, the giants
preceded even the gods. In early myths, giants were seen as having
great wisdom. However, in later myths, after falling out with the
gods, giants were seen as stupid and slow. The giants in Teutonic
myths were like the gods and dwarves in their human forms, but were
bigger and stronger. Their only skill was as builders. Giants
travelled in pairs, were easily angered and were very dangerous,
inclined to a wildness and fierceness which later would associate
them with the violence of nature (Davidson, Myths and Symbols in
Pagan Europe, 173).
Giant as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Gold
Much of the TREASURE of the Teutonic gods was of gold and was
envied by the giants, dwarves and gods alike. Idun's APPLEs of gold
gave the gods immortal youth; and the goddess Sif, after being the
victim of one of Loki's tricks, was given HAIR of gold. Teutonic
traditional beliefs held that hoards of gold were hidden in the
Rhine, in the mountains, and in waterfalls (Davidson, 175).
Gold as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Hair
In Teutonic mythology, the goddess Sif was renowned for her
golden-yellow hair. However, the trickster god Loki mischeviously
shaved off Sif's lovely locks. Once caught by the gods, Loki was
forced to approach the dwarves and demand that they forge hair of
real gold for Sif. So, clever and perhaps falsely repetant, Loki
redeems himself in the eyes of the gods by presenting them with a
gift of magical treasure, including Sif's new hair of magical GOLD
and Mjollnir, Thor's short-handled hammer (Crossley-Holland, 48-9).
Hammer
In Teutonic mythology, the hammer is a symbol of power to ward
off cold and chaos. The god Thor owned a short-handled hammer called
Mjollnir which made thunder and lightening, could shatter rocks,
could make dents in mountains and worked to keep all beings under the
control of the gods' laws. Mjollnir is the most famous article in all
of early Teutonic thought as an instrument of consecration and
resurrection, especially since this hammer will be the only divine
article to survive Ragnarok (Cord, III:1, 31-9; Davidson, 12,
25).
Hammer in Wagner's Ring
Hand
In Teutonic cultures, the hand symbolizes loyalty, highlighting
the importance of the bond of the oath. According to one myth, to
bind the wolf Fenrir who was ravaging Asgard and also posed a threat
to Odin's life, the god Tyr kept the pledge of the gods by placing
his hand in Fenrir's mouth as a sign of trust, though Tyr's hand
subsequently was bitten off (Crossley-Holland, 192-3).
Hell
In Teutonic cultures, it was believed that after death everyone
went to Hel, the realm of the dead, except for certain select
warriors who would be raised up to Valhalla. Thus, Hel was inhabited
by women, children and men who died ignobly. Hel is also the name of
the giant-woman who guards the palace of the dead (Chantepie de la
Saussaye, 280, 347).
Hell in Wagner's Ring
Horns
One of the four harts who destructively eats the leaves of Yggdrasill
is a goat named EIkdrynir ("the Oak-thorned"). From one of the horns
of this goat comes a stream that falls into the spring Hvergelmir out
which all rivers flow (Cord, I, 16).
Drinking horns--To many societies, drinking horns are
significant in festivals and sacred rites. In Teutonic cultures, wine
and mead was drunk out of common large horns rather than smaller
individual vessels, a practice which encouraged community and loyalty
amongst family and neighbors. Also, the blood from animals was
imbibed from horns after sacrifice as a silent closing to the ritual
(Davidson, 43-4, 50-2).
Musical horns--
Horse
The most important animal in early Teutonic culture was the horse,
especially as a symbol of fertility and warrior virtue. The name of
the World Ash Tree, "Yggdrasill," means "the horse of Yggr" (Yggr is
another name for Odin). Horses were the gods' main means of support,
as divinities had to ride across Bifrost in order to get to the lower
worlds. In some cases, a sacred horse was held to understand the will
of the gods more clearly than the priests. Odin owned an eight-legged
steed, Sleipnir; Night had a horse, Hrimfaxi, who rode with her
around the world every two and a half days; and Day's horse,
Skinfaxi, lights up the sky and earth every day with his bright mane
(Davidson, 53; Rydberg, 164).
Horse as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Ice
However, in Teutonic mythology, ice symbolizes birth and
creation. At the beginning of everything, life supposedly first
quickened in frozen water droplets, and from them the frost giant
Ymir, the first being of the nine worlds, came into existence.
According to one myth, not long after Ymir's birth, the liquid of
melting ice "took the form of a cow...called Audumla" who
subsequently created a man by licking him out of the ice. This man
became known as Buri; Buri's son was Bor; and Bor's sons were Odin,
Vili and Ve, the fathers of all gods, humans and the builders of the
worlds on which they live (Crossley-Holland, 3-4).
Kiss
Ancient Teutons believed a kiss had great powers. At times it
could place the recipient in a state of complete forgetfulness or
could revive memories. A kiss could put one into a stupor, "intensify
the emotional state" and "cause one to sense a personal satisfaction
in all things, a state in which no evil would be perceived"(Cord,
III:1, 260-2).
Kiss as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Leaf
Along with the image of the World Ash Tree,
Yggdrasill, in Teutonic mythology, leaves are closely linked to the
cycles of death and renewal. Yggdrasill is tortured by goats and deer
tearing off new shoots and eating leaves. Yet, two humans, Lif and
Lifthrasir, whose names mean "life" but also may be cognates with the
word "leaf", hide within Yggdrasill and survive Ragnarok to re-begin
the human race in the next cycle of worlds.
Lightning
Teutonic mythology attributes lightning to the god Thor. Though
lightning is most often associated with Thor's hammer, Mjollnir,
several myths describe the sparks of light that flash across the sky
as originating from fragments of whetstone lodged in Thor's head.
After the rise of a new world, natural phenomena like lightning and
thunder were seen as a good thing by many in Teutonic cultures. They
associated these happenings with the growth of crops and thus may
have perceived lightning as a positive prophetic sign, especially if
seen before planting or harvest (Cord, 35-9; Crossley-Holland,
xxvii).
Lightning as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Necklace
Teutonic mythology associates the necklace with fertility.
According one of these myths, the goddess Freyja lusted after the
Necklace of the Brisings and slept with two dwarves in order to
obtain it. Through this myth, the necklace also comes to symbolize
desire, especially sexual passion and material avarice
(Crossley-Holland, 65-9).
Oak
The oak was the most sacred TREE to the
ancient Teutons. Despite their mythology which elevated the ash tree,
the Teutons revered oak for its healing and magical properties. The
bark of the oak cured illness; its acorns were used in a drink of
forgetfulness; and its twigs and brances were used in fertility
ceremonies (Cord, I, 11; Davidson, 37).
Oak as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Rainbow
For Rainbow in Teutonic mythology, see
BRIDGE.
Rainbow as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Ring
For Teutonic cultures, the ring was
TREASURE, a symbol of wealth, omnipotence and
magic. Two rings feature prominently in Teutonic mythology: the ring
of Odin, called Draupnir, from which eight rings of equal weight will
drop every ninth night; and Andvari's ring, Andvaranaut, which was
supposedly cursed by its creator, the dwarf Andvari, to bring doom
upon whomever owns it (Chantepie de la Saussaye, 326;
Crossley-Holland, 106).
Ring in Wagner's Ring
River
In Teutonic mythology, all rivers flowed from the third root of
Yggdrasill, the World Ash Tree. Throughout stories of this culture,
rivers, especially the Rhine, are connected with magic, fertility and
baptism. The water of some sacred rivers was believed to give
warriors strength and luck in battle (Cord, III:2, 361-6).
River as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Serpent
Serpents were prominent throughout Teutonic culture, especially as
decoration on artwork and materials like swords, shields and the
prows of ships. These signs were thought to frighten away enemies;
but, the serpent's shape was also seen as beautiful, though its bite
was terrible. The serpents in Teutonic mythology commanded respect
and reverence. Jormungand, the Midgard serpent, who is also the son
of Loki by a giantess, was thrown into the ocean by the gods due to
his enormous size. He is said to be so long that he encircles the
world and thus bites his own tail. In another myth which explains why
Odin is the god of poetry, this All-Father turned himself into a
serpent to make his way through a small hole in a mountain to steal
the Mead of Inspiration (Crossley-Holland, xxi; Cord, III:2,
393).
Serpent as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Sword
The sword was of great "cultural importance...in ancient Teutonic
life. This single weapon became the means for physical survival...but
it also became something more than a mere weapon. As the sword
assumed its elevated, almost divine, position in the cultural mind,
it also became the principal requisite by which the warrior could
achieve a noble or heroic status." The sword was also "an instrument
of truth. (It) became the witness...to the most hallowed and
sacrosanct of all Germanic acts, the giving of an oath...." In
Teutonic cultures, the sword was the only "item that was formed...by
the people" that could "boast its own deity." This god of the sword
was Tyr, the god of war (Cord, 83-4).
Sword as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Three
Many elements in the Teutonic universe reflected the sacredness of
the number three. The World Tree, Yggdrasill, had three roots one of
which delved into each of the three levels of the world; the destiny
of mortals was controlled by the three Norns, Fate, Being and
Necessity. Moreover, multiples of the number three figure greatly
into the mythology of the Teutons, especially the number nine, which
thought to be the holiest and most magical number.
Thunder
Teutonic mythology associates thunder with the god Thor, whose name
is the basis for the word. It was believed that the loud blasting
roll of thunder was caused by Thor hitting the skies with his hammer,
Mjollnir.
Thunder as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Tree
In Teutonic mythology, the backbone of the cosmos was believed to be
an ash tree called Yggdrasill. This World Tree was the only living
inanimate object associated with creation; it was believed that
Yggdrasill will outlast both the gods and humans. As a forest
culture, Teutonic society created stories that revolved around trees.
A tree is permanent, eternal, and earthly but ethereal for it is at
once of the Earth and of the heavens.
Tree as a symbol in Wagner's
Ring
Wolf as a symbol in Wagner's Ring
Wolf as a symbol in Wagner's Ring