Nine Herbs Charm
The Nine Herbs Charm, also Nine word Galdor (English Nine Herbs blessing or magic ) is a work of Old English poetry from the 9th or 10th century AD, describes the impact and preparation of nine herbs. It is recorded in the manuscript of Lacnunga, a collection of old English, predominantly pagan healing methods.
Content
The text consists of three parts: the herbs incantation, the spell and the recipe. Nine herbs are addressed in turn and give reasons for its action. The latter is often done by analogies: The resistance of plantain by the roadside, for example, should be transferred to the patient:
Translation:
The herbs have been able to be clearly identified only in part:
These herbs will help against the poison of snakes and worms and against infection, according to the spell.
In the second part of the text is told how Woden hewed a snake in nine pieces, and there are all diseases and poisons enumerated in formulaic repetitions, against which the mentioned herbs to help. Power of blessing otherwise the impression of a collection of recipes, here shines through the character of the old Germanic spell.
Translation:
The recipe, the last part of the text is a guide for the preparation of nine herbs and the application of the resulting ointment.
Reception
The identification of the herb turns out to be biggest challenge Possible approaches are similarity of names and the similarity in the preparation and the effect - some of these herbs (like nettle, mugwort, parsley, camomile) are today known for their medicinal properties. The decryption of the mythological allusions is a research field of science.