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A Viking Curse on Terrorism

Discussion in 'Religion & Spirituality Forum' started by ECILAM, Sep 17, 2004.

  1. CosmikCatNip

    CosmikCatNip of myth and lore

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    i realize that this is somewhat semantics, seeing as how the english word is taken from hel, but hel was a diety, rather than a place. the correct term for it is actually niflheim. it is correct that the netherworld was not necessarily a realm of suffering and torment like the christian hell, and certainly not a place of eternal damnation. the thing that i have always found interesting about the norse myths are how they are significantly different than any other culture's creation/destruction stories. i have not heard of the niflheim being leveled. not saying it is wrong or right, but it doesn't fit with the other aspects of the place. considering that hel's subjects were little more than attendants to the decomposing queen while they awaited the call to ragnarok, a heirarchy of punishment doesn't seem to have prominence. this may be where the source got the idea that the niflheim was a place of status or rest, although in that context, they seem to be comparing it to purgatory. actually, i might harbor a guess to say the source of that information might be borrowing aspects of dante's hell from the divine comedy. hell was a seven-tiered realm, each level worse as you descended, until finally coming to the bottom, which somewhat ironically, was not a lake of fire, but a frozen lake where all emotions die. this last level is where satan dwelled, physically trapped in the frozen lake, consuming the bodies of the poor unfortunate souls caught there.
    not so certain about the serpent hall as well. the punishment described here was loki's punishment. loki showed up uninvited to aegir's feast and tormented the other gods with insults, tricks, sneers and general mischief. to escape their wrath, loki changed himself into a salmon. odin located and caught the fish, and loki was put into a cave. loki's son vali was transformed into a wolf, who immediately attacked and killed his brother narvi. narvi's intestines were used to bind loki, face up, beneath the dripping mouth of a venomous snake, supplied by skadi, the goddess of hunt. it was in this state that loki would remain until ragnarok.
    given the nature of the myths, "hel's realm awaits them" means not only will they die, but they will be the unworthy dead. in a culture were battle was celebrated and revered, this would be akin to the christian concept of burning.

    for further reference on norse myths, i suggest
    the saga of the volsung: the norse epic of sigurd the dragon slayer
    norse mythology (john lindow) good starter guide to the myths and characters. it doesn't go into great detail, but it does give background info.
     
  2. ECILAM

    ECILAM Celebrate Diversity

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    You're absolutely right; my mistake. Thanks for the correction.
     

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