Words of the Old Gods

This painting, "Idise" (1905) by Emil Doepler, depicts a scene from the Merseburg Zaubersprüche (magic charms), two texts written in Old High German (Althochdeutsch) around the 9th century. They represent the only preserved texts describing German pagan belief that were not written by Christians. The first of two charms, depicted here, is a Lösesegen (blessing of loose-letting) describing how Idisen (the word is clearly related to the Norse dísir, and some scholars think that the Idisen are roughly equivalent to norse valkyries, based on behavior. The existance of the German word Walküre(n) does not preclude this; as it is simply a later borrowing from Old Norse) freed captured warriors during battle. Like most spells recovered from the period, the incantation consists of a short reference to magic performed in the past, and then an invocation for the effect to repeat itself (as it was then, so shall it be now). Following is the text in Old High German, and then translations into modern German and English. If you want to read this aloud, remember that <z> and <uu> are pronounced as [ts] and [w], respectively. Eiris sazun idisi, Sazun hera duoder; Suma hapt heptidun, Suma heri lezidun, Suma clubodun umbi cuoniouuidi: Insprinc haptbandun, inuar uigandum! Einstmals setzen sich Idisen; sie setzten sich hierhin und dorthin. Einige hefteten, andere hemmten das Heer, andere nesteln an festen Fesseln: Entspringt den Banden, entweicht den Feinden! Once sat Idisen/dísir here and there. Some fastened bonds, some impeded an army, some unraveled fetters: Escape now these bonds! Flee from the enemy! More info to come in later posts! DM for info on sources :)

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