Of gods & elves
*ansiwǫ̂… albijǫ̂
by C Ryan Moniz
original research· spring 2013 - harvest 2021
updated & published· spring 2022
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.’
1· 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
eotenas ⁊ ylfe ⁊ orcnéas
Mjǫðr Óðins· Reconstructing Germanic verse formulae