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ancient myth
final exam beowulf to loki, kurnugi to adonis
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Undergraduate 1
04/21/2012

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Term
Beowulf
Definition
C. 650-1000 CE, from Northern England, Anglo-Saxon culture, set in Scandinavia,
Term
Anglo-Saxon
Definition
north england culture...
Term
Kenning
Definition
Riddle. such as "whale-path" which would mean sea.
Term
ash
Definition
old English letter no longer used, in Beowulf
Term
thorn
Definition
old English letter no longer used, in Beowulf
Term
eth
Definition
old English letter no longer used, in Beowulf
Term
Shield Sheafson
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, King of Danes, his funeral foreshadows Beowulf's
Term
Hrothgar
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, grandson of Shield Sheafson
Term
Heorot
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, Mead hall/feasting hall, built by Hrothgar
Term
Grendel
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, possibly part water spirit, skin is impervious to weapons, angry at festivities of Heorot, 12 years of feasting go on, Grendel continuously attacks, Beowulf fights Grendel and tears off arm, Grendel flees to pool and dies
Term
Hygelac
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, King of Geats, gave Beowulf land
Term
Geats
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, Once ruled by Hygelac, after Beowulf defeats Grendel's mother, he becomes king of geats
Term
Geatland
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, area that Beowulf returns to after defeating Grendel's mother
Term
Hrunting
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, sword given to Beowulf by Unferth, fails him when he uses it against Grendel's mother
Term
Unferth
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, Challenges Beowulf and questions his greatness
Term
Wiglaf
Definition
Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf story, Beowulf's "second-self", or sidekick. Helps Beowulf fight the dragon by weakening it.
Term
lof
Definition
Lof is the Anglo-Saxon word that means "glory" or "fame after death." It means the same thing as the Greek word "kleos." Beowulf does all of his heroic deeds because he wants to get lof; that is, he wants to be remembered after his death.
Term
lof-geornost
Definition
Anglo-Saxon (or Old English) word; it is the last word in Beowulf. It means "the most desirous of lof," and it refers to Beowulf. The author is saying that Beowulf wanted glory more than any other man did, and that is why he is the greatest hero.
Term
Ragnarok
Definition
The appocalypse in Norse culture. Where the world tree(yggdrasil) is killed. "End of gods", future destruciton of god's world. 10 signs of Ragnarok

i. 3 winters, no summers
ii. Battles (humans lose kinship bonds)
iii. Sun, moon, swallowed by wolves
iv. Giant earthquake frees Fenrir(wolf), Midgard Serpent
v. Final battle (AEsir vs. Jotnar
vi. Surt(giants); Loki (souls from hel); Odin (gods, souls from Valhalla)
vii. Thor, Midgard Serpent kill each other
viii. Odin swallowed by Fenrir
ix. Loki and god Heimdall kill each other
x. Surt burns earth
Term
Midgard
Definition
home of humans, Norse culture,
Term
Utgard
Definition
home of giants, Norse culture
Term
Asgard
Definition
Home of AEsir, Norse culture *note the AE in AEsir is the weird combined letter thing.*
Term
Bifrost
Definition
Rainbow bridge between Asgard and Midgard (AEsir and humans)
Term
yggdrasil
Definition
World tree, Norse culture, dies in Ragnarok
Term
Valhalla
Definition
One of 2 death realms of Norse culture. For warriors killed in battle, its a hall in Asgard
Term
Hel
Definition
Norse, located in roots of yggdrasil, lowest place you can go after you die,
Term
Odin
Definition
Norse culture, ruler of Valhalla the death realm.
Term
Valkyries
Definition
female warrior spirits in Norse mythology. They carry the souls of those who die in battle over the bridge Bifrost to Valhalla, in Asgard.
Term
Saehrimnir
Definition
Norse culture, Boar of Valhalla, used for daily feasting, eat this replenishing hog.
Term
Heidrum
Definition
Norse culture, Goat of Valhalla, used for the daily feasting, drink the mead(milk) from this replenishing goat
Term
Loki
Definition
Norse Culture, Trickster God, Kills Baldr with mistletoe(one thing that wasn't sworn to be safe from killing Baldr), which is a sign of Ragnarok, refuses to weep of Baldr which keeps him in the underworld
Term
Kurnugi
Definition
Mesopotamian, "Land of no return", Sumerian kur "earth/ground" also translated "Mountain" general said to be in the west
Term
kur
Definition
sumerian, meaning "earth/ground"
Term
Ereshkigal
Definition
Mesopotamian afterlife, "Queen of the Great Below", Queen of the underworld, lives in palace at Ganzir, Sleeps with Nergal, or Demands Dumuzi in place of Ishtar(two different poems).
Term
Ganzir
Definition
Mesopotamian afterlife, area near entrance to underworld, nice area
Term
gallas
Definition
Mesopotamian afterlife, demons(underworld spirits), sometimes go to humans and drag them to the underworld
Term
gidim
Definition
Mesopotamian afterlife, wander around thirsty for blood of living because they live in a world of dust
Term
Namtar
Definition
Mesopotamian afterlife, Son of Ereshkigal. Messenger bc Ereshkigal cannot leave the underworld. Reports Nergal's negligence to bow to him in honor of his mother.
Term
Nergal
Definition
Mesopotamian, god of plague, flood, war, and fertility.becomes husband of Ereshkigal, King of underworld
Term
Dumuzi
Definition
Mesopotamian god, the young and handsome lover of the goddess Ishtar. He is associated with agricultural fertility. Ishtar is the goddess of sex. When she gets trapped in the underworld, all reproduction on earth ceases, and nothing can grow. The gods insist that Ishtar be returned, but the underworld goddess Ereshkigal demands that another god take her place. Dumuzi ends up taking the place of Ishtar. He stays in the underworld with Ereshkigal half of the year, and for half of the year he is released to the realm of the living. This cycle reflects the seasonal growth cycle of plants.
Term
Adonis
Definition
Greek god or hero who is similar to Dumuzi. He is the young and handsome lover of the goddess Aphrodite, he is associated with agricultural fertility, and he dies and goes to the underworld.
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