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It has been suggested that Hörgr be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
In Norse paganism, a vé is a type of shrine or sacred enclosure. The term appears in skaldic poetry and in place names in Scandinavia (with the exception of Iceland), often in connection with a Norse deity or a geographic feature. The name of the Norse god Vé, refers to the practice.[1] Andy Orchard says that a vé may have surrounded a temple or have been simply a marked, open place where worship occurred. Orchard points out that Tacitus, in his 1st century CE work Germania, says that the Germanic peoples, unlike the Romans, "did not seek to contain their deities within temple walls."[2]
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Etymology
Vé derives from a Common Germanic word meaning sacred or holy, cf. Gothic weihs (holy), Old English wéoh, wig (idol), German weihen (consecrate, sanctify), German Weihnachten (christmas).
References in Norse literature
References to a vé are made in Old Norse literature without emphasis. For example, the Prose Edda quotes a verse of the Skáldskaparmál of Skúli Þórsteinsson and mentions a vé:
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Toponyms
Examples of -vé appearing in toponyms after the names of Norse gods and goddesses:
- Dís - Disevid in Östergötland in Sweden.[5]
- Freyja - Härnevi in Uppland,[6] and probably Järnevi in Östergötland, Sweden.[7]
- Freyr - Frösvi in Östergötland, Sweden.[7]
- Njörðr - Nalavi in Närke[7] and two locations named Mjärdevi, in Sweden.[8]
- Odin - Odensvi in Närke, Sweden.[7] In Denmark, all 5 place names using the -vé suffix focus on Odin (examples include Odense, Denmark).[9]
- Rindr - Vrinnevid in Östergötland, Sweden.[7]
- Skaði - possibly Skövde in Västergötland, Skadevi in Uppland, and a number of locations named Sked(e)vi in Sweden.[10]
- Thor - Torsvi in Uppland, Sweden.[7]
- Ullr - numerous locations named Ull(e)vi or Ullavi in Sweden.[11]
See also
Notes
- ^ Simek (2007:355) and Orchard (1997:173).
- ^ Orchard (1997:173–174).
- ^ From Finnur Jónsson's edition, here taken from http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/skul2.html
- ^ From Faulkes' translation of the Prose Edda, here divided into four lines for convenience. Snorri Sturluson 1995:93.
- ^ Hellquist (1922:93)
- ^ The article Härnevi in Nationalencyklopedin.
- ^ a b c d e f Hellquist (1922:1116)
- ^ Hellquist (1922:519)
- ^ Simek (2007:355).
- ^ Hellquist (1922:780)
- ^ Hellquist (1922:1057)
References
- Hellquist, E. (1922): Svensk etymologisk ordbok. C. W. K. Gleerups förlag, Lund.
- Jónsson Finnur (1923). Den Oldnorske og Oldislandske Litteraturs Historie. København, G.E.C Gads forlag.
- Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2
- Simek, Rudolf (2007), translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0859915131
- Snorri Sturluson (translated by Anthony Faulkes) (1995). Snorri Sturluson: Edda. First published in 1987. Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3.
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