Atter
Atter (Old Norse: eitr) is an older term for "poisonous bodily fluid", especially venom of a venomous animal, such as a snake, dragon or other reptile, but also other vile corrupt or morbid substance from the body, such as pus from a sore or wound, as well as bitter substance, such as bile.[1][2][3] Figuratively, it can also mean moral corruption or corruptness; noxious or corrupt influence, poison to the soul, evil, anger, envy, hatred; as well as destruction and death.[1][3]
Etymology[edit]
Atter is derived from Old English: ātor, which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic: *aitrą (“poison, pus”), stemming from a Proto-Indo-European:'*h₂eyd-ro-m' (“to swell; swelling, tumour, abscess”). It is cognate with terms in North Germanic languages meaning poison such as Icelandic: eitur and Swedish: etter, both of which stem from Old Norse: eitr.[3]
Norse mythology[edit]
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Today, atter, or its Norse counterpart eitr, is commonly associated with the Norse mythology, were it appears of importance various times. There, it is the origin of the first jötunn, Ymir, who was conceived from atter dripped from the icy rivers called the Élivágar.
Atter is also produced by venomous snakes, such as the worm Jörmungandr. In Gylfaginning, atter is dripped on Loki by a venomous snake placed above him by Skaði, and blown by Jörmungandr during Ragnarök, leading to the death of Thor.[4][5][6]
Role in cosmogony[edit]
In Gylfaginning, atter is described as forming in Ginnungagap, which gave rise to the primordial being Ymir,[7][8] as described by the jötunn Vafþrúðnir in Vafþrúðnismál:
| Old Norse text[9] | Bellows translation[10] |
|---|---|
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Citations[edit]
- ^ a b "atter n." quod.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ "atter". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ a b c "etter". saob.se. Swedish Academy. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ Sturluson 2018, Gylfaginning, chapter 50 & 51.
- ^ Gylfaginning, Chapter 50 & 51.
- ^ Simek 2008, p. 324.
- ^ Sturluson 2018, Gylfaginning, chapter 5.
- ^ Gylfaginning, Chapter 5.
- ^ Vafþrúðnismál (ON), Stanza 31.
- ^ Bellows 2004, Vafþrúðnismál stanza 31.
Bibliography[edit]
Primary[edit]
- Bellows, Henry Adam (2004). The poetic Edda: the mythological poems. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. ISBN 9780486437101.
- Sturluson, Snorri (2018). The Prose Edda. Translated by Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist. Franklin Classics Trade Press. ISBN 9780344335013.
- "Gylfaginning (Old Norse)". heimskringla.no. Retrieved 26 November 2022.[better source needed]
- "Vafþrúðnismál (Old Norse)". heimskringla.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.[better source needed]
Secondary[edit]
- Simek, Rudolf (2008). A Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Hall, Angela. BOYE6. ISBN 9780859915137.