Of gods & elves

*ansiwǫ̂… albijǫ̂

by C Ryan Moniz

original research· spring 2013 - harvest 2021
updated & published· spring 2022

philology

Mjǫðr Óðins· Reconstructing Germanic verse formulae


This formula, also noted by Lotte Motz¹, is a collocation between vowel-alliterating reflexes of Proto-Germanic *ansiwiz ‘gods’ and of *albīz ‘elves,’ with gods always as the first element, and elves as the second. In the example given from Béowulf, the slot usually occupied by the reflex of *ansiwiz is taken by eotenas ‘ettins.’

Motz, L 1973. “Of Elves and Dwarves.” Arv: Tidskift för Nordisk Folkmennisforskning, p 99:

“[W]e have noted the alliterative formula æsir ok álfar, the word álfr which parallels that of Óðinn as ancestor of kings, the practice of the skalds who employ the word ‘elf’ as they employ the names of gods[.]”


Old Norse

  ása… alfa

Hávamál 143

óðinn með ásum   en fyr alfum dáinn

Hávamál 160

afl gól hann ásum   en alfum frama

Hávamál 159; Lokasenna 2, 13, 30; Skírnismál 7

ása ok alfa

Grímnismál 4

ásum ok alfum

Vǫluspá 48

hvat er með ásum · hvat er með alfum

 

Old English

  ésa… ylfa

Wið fǽrstice 24a-27b

gif hit wǽre ésa gescot   oððe hit wǽre ylfa gescot
oððe hit wǽre hægtessan gescot   nú ic wille ðín helpan
þis ðé tó bóte ésa gescotes   ðis ðé tó bóte ylfa gescotes
ðis ðé tó bóte hægtessan gescotes   ic ðín wille helpan

Béowulf 112

eotenasylfe   ⁊ orcnéas

 


Mjǫðr Óðins· Reconstructing Germanic verse formulae


philology