Fylgja

The Fylgja ( Old Norse plural: Fylgjur, Germanized plural: Fylgjen or Fylgien ) is a female spirit episode ( Old-norse fylgja = follow ) in Norse mythology, a kind of guardian angel who accompanies a man. These beings are the elves and norns comparable. The Fylgjur are normally not visible in human form, but they are already giving birth to her protégé in any (animal) form present. If they appear, then as a dream in the face female figure or shape of that animal that resembles the soul of each human being. So a warlike man could have a wolf or bear, horse or bird to Fylgja. Your protégé it manifests itself only at the moment of death. At this point it is consubstantial with the Valkyrie, whose terrible sight dispels the chosen warriors, bringing him to death. In her female form then has carried on his grave, revived him by her love and life potions ( OE aluminum, beer ) to high then to lead him on horseback to Valhalla. Since the Fylgja is a companion character, you can compare them with the guardian angels of the Christian vision, but not with the soul. After Else Mundal these creatures have their origin in ancestor worship. The Fylgjen Þorgerð and Irp helped Håkon Jarl at the Battle of Hjørungavåg to victory over the Jomsvikinger. They are presented as Fylgjen his race and should have been the ancestress of the family of Joeten. The Fylgjen a clan followed especially the chief. Their job was to help him and protect him. In some sources, they also bring the person to whom they followed, when he died, to himself and the other ancestors.

The Fylgja on the rune box of Auzon

The runes box of Auzon (after the founder also " Franks Casket " called ) proudly presents the image sequence, the occurrence of Fylgja or Valkyrie clear way: In the Mage image, a representation of the homage of Jesus by the Magi, they (occurs as water bird swan or goose) in the place of the angel. In Wieland image next to the swan-maidens appears - here as a companion and helper - hidden by two floral runes, featuring the Valkyrie. The fact that this character is like the impression of a bird's foot, will hardly be a coincidence. As Rune refers to the reeds, whose sharp foliage is place of the Valkyries. On the image of Romulus and Remus seem to be presented with the two wolves whose Fylgjas. On the back, the Titus image can be found at an arcade three pairs of animals (probably horse, wolf and raven, emblems of Ziu, OE Tiw, north. Tyr, and Wotan, OE Woden, north. Odin ), while the floral flag the Valkyrie is placed over the arch of the arcade.

The illustration on the right shows a warrior, his Valkyrie, here is a hybrid creature with predominantly animal trains, and then met at the grave - now in human form - is visited by her. As with corresponding representations on Gotland picture stones mark Odinsknoten ( an. valknutr ) the horse's grave as Odin's Sleipnir. Finally, the cover image shows an archer Ægil, maybe the - after the Völundarkviða - Wieland brother Egil, who is also romantically involved with a swan girl. Then it would Oelrun ( " the mystery of the beer skilled ") that sitting under an arch, her protégé procured the unerring and deadly arrows. In the scene it will be the defense of Valhalla against the frost giants, which suggest the knot ornaments ( valknutr ) here. The image conjures program according to this interpretation, the resume of a man of high birth, beyond the grave, to the life of Wotan / Woden / Odin's hall under the protection of Fylgja.

357562
de