Almáttki áss
Encyclopedia
Hinn almáttki áss is an unknown Norse divinity
evoked in an Iceland
ic legal oath sworn on a temple ring
. This oath is especially mentioned in Landnámabók
(Hauksbók
268):
is by far the most common. The adjective "almighty" applies particularly well to him and he had a prominent position by the time of the settlement of Iceland.
for in Atlakviða
(30) Gudrún
mentions the oaths Gunnar
sworn by Ull’s ring. Rudolf Simek
theorizes that this hypothesis was in contradiction with the insignificance of the cult of Ullr.
, as the most important god of the Norse pantheon. But apart from the fact that his cult was not very widespread in Iceland, his unpredictable nature strongly goes against this solution.
).
thus suggested that maybe the author "meant the 'almighty áss' to be a noble pagan anticipation of the new religion that was to come". Régis Boyer shares this opinion, underscoring that the word "almáttki" is nowhere else to be found in a pagan context.
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
evoked in an Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic legal oath sworn on a temple ring
Temple ring
Temple rings are part of Slavic medieval woman dress. Most were made of base metals such as copper alloys or iron, though silver and even gold were occasionally used...
. This oath is especially mentioned in Landnámabók
Landnámabók
Landnámabók , often shortened to Landnáma, is a medieval Icelandic written work describing in considerable detail the settlement of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries AD.-Landnáma:...
(Hauksbók
Hauksbók
The Hauksbók is one of the few medieval Norse manuscripts of which the author is known. His name was Haukr Erlendsson , and as long back as it is possible to trace the manuscript it has been called the Hauksbók after its author. It was partly written by Haukr himself, partly by assistants...
268):
Hjálpi mér svá Freyr ok Njörðr ok inn almáttki Áss |
May Freyr Freyr Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"... and Njörd Njord In Norse mythology, Njörðr is a god among the Vanir. Njörðr is father of the deities Freyr and Freyja by his unnamed Van sister, was in an ill-fated marriage with the goddess Skaði, lives in Nóatún and is associated with sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility.Njörðr is attested... and the almighty ás help me |
Thor
The identification with ThorThor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
is by far the most common. The adjective "almighty" applies particularly well to him and he had a prominent position by the time of the settlement of Iceland.
Ullr
The almáttki áss can be identified with UllrUllr
In early Germanic paganism, *Wulþuz appears to have been a major god, or an epithet of an important god, in prehistoric times....
for in Atlakviða
Atlakviða
Atlakviða is one of the heroic poems of the Poetic Edda. One of the main characters is Atli who originates from Attila the Hun. It is one of the most archaic Eddic poems. It is preserved in the Codex Regius and the same story is related in the Völsunga saga...
(30) Gudrún
Gudrun
Gudrun is a major figure in the early Germanic literature centered on the hero Sigurd, son of Sigmund. She appears as Kriemhild in the Nibelungenlied and as Gutrune in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.-Norse mythology:...
mentions the oaths Gunnar
Gunnar
Gunnar is a male first name of Nordic origin The name Gunnar means fighter, soldier and attacker . Gunder is a Danish variant, Günther is the modern German variant...
sworn by Ull’s ring. Rudolf Simek
Rudolf Simek
Rudolf Simek is an Austrian Germanist and Philologian.Simek studied German literature, philosophy and Catholic theology in the University of Vienna, before becoming a librarian and a docent at the institution. He taught among others in the universities of Edinburgh, Tromsø and Sydney...
theorizes that this hypothesis was in contradiction with the insignificance of the cult of Ullr.
Odin
The expression could also refer to OdinOdin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, as the most important god of the Norse pantheon. But apart from the fact that his cult was not very widespread in Iceland, his unpredictable nature strongly goes against this solution.
Týr
Rudolf Simek also suggested that the almáttki áss might be Týr. Even if this god was little known in Iceland, the oath was a legal one and Týr was historically linked to law (cf. Mars Thingsus and possibly regnator omnium deusRegnator omnium deus
In Tacitus' work Germania from the year 98, regnator omnium deus was a deity worshipped by the Semnones tribe in a sacred grove...
).
Christianity
Finally, as the oath was transmitted by a Christian author, the almáttki áss could have a Christian meaning. John LindowJohn Lindow
John Lindow is a professor specializing in Scandinavian medieval studies and folklore at the University of California, Berkeley and author. Lindow's works include Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Rituals, and Beliefs, a handbook for Norse mythology...
thus suggested that maybe the author "meant the 'almighty áss' to be a noble pagan anticipation of the new religion that was to come". Régis Boyer shares this opinion, underscoring that the word "almáttki" is nowhere else to be found in a pagan context.