The Eddas: A Journey Through Scandinavian Myths and Armenian Linguistics

In the early 13th century, between 1222 and 1225, the renowned Icelandic poet, scholar, and public figure Snorri Sturluson compiled a collection of Scandinavian myths and tales known as the “Edda.” For many years, this work was regarded as a product of Sturluson’s creative imagination, devoid of any historical foundation.

However, in 1643, Icelandic bishop Brionlf Sveinsson unearthed an ancient manuscript containing songs about gods and heroes that bore striking similarities to Sturluson’s Edda. This discovery led to Sturluson’s work being referred to as the “Younger Edda,” while the newly found manuscript was dubbed the “Elder Edda.” Our primary source of information on this topic is Vladimir Ivanovich Shcherbakov’s book “Where did the heroes of the Eddic myths live?”, published in Moscow in 1989.

It is important to note that Shcherbakov’s book serves as a source of information rather than definitive conclusions. The author, unfamiliar with the Armenian language, ventured into Central Asia in his research. Nevertheless, we will return to the “Eddas” as presented by Shcherbakov and examine the information through the lens of Armenian linguistics and our adopted perspective.

Both the “Eddas” recount the post-flood migration of the Scandinavians from Asia Minor, particularly from Troy. Troy is linked to Asgard, the city of the gods, with its chief deity named As. In Asgard, there is a sanctuary of the gods, described as being made of pure gold, called Valaskjalf. The ancestors of the Scandinavians are associated with the Vanir tribe, who resided in Vanaheim, and the people known as the Aspurgians.

The myths also mention a giantess named Hyurokkin and a field of tireless labor called Idavell. The Einherjar, brave warriors who fell in battle, also appear in these tales. Now, let us apply Armenian linguistics to these names and concepts.

Starting with the supreme god As, in Armenian, God is Astvats (where As means star and tvats means given). Hyurokkin can be broken down into HUR (special soul) + OK + KIN (woman). The sanctuary Valaskjalf translates to Bol (solid) + oskialv (golden). The Vanir tribe and the Van people clearly point to the ancestral homeland of the Armenians, Lake Van, and the Van region.

The Aspurgian tribe can be interpreted as the ancient Armenian principality of Vaspurakan, which means high-born. Finally, the Einherjar, or fallen warriors, can be directly linked to the Armenian term for ancient fathers or forefathers, pin + Kayr.

In conclusion, the Armenian trace, or rather the root, is evident and undeniable in these myths. We hope that our exploration of the Armenian origins of the great migration of peoples and the roots of the Celts and Scandinavians has been both interesting and convincing to our readers.

Artatsolum

Based on an excerpt from the book by Artashes Artsruni: “And There Was One Language”, Monograph, 2010.