Old Saxon Genesis

The Old Saxon Genesis is next to the Heliand the only great seal of the 9th century in old Saxon ( altniederdeutscher ) language. It was written around 840 by an unknown author in long lines as alliteration. Takes you into the Biblical Genesis, where style elements of Germanic heroes seals used and contemporary legal concepts are included. Presumably apocryphal sources were used here ( Antichrist and Enoch legend, angels fall).

Today, of the Old Saxon Genesis three fragments of a total of 337 verses preserved. They are available as supplements along with an excerpt from the Heliand in a computistical manuscript of the 9th century. from Mainz. A close affiliation with the Heliand is also reflected in the fact that in the Latin Heliand Praefatio ( preface ) which it is stated that King Louis ( the Pious? The German? ) Is said to have granted the Saxon poet also commissioned uetus ac nouum Testamentum in Germanicam linguam poetice transferre ( " the old and transfer the new testament poetically in the German language "). However, the Praefatio should only be written in some time has elapsed, and the author of Genesis is kept rather for a successor to the style-defining role model than for the same man. Further insight into the form and content arising from the Anglo-Saxon Genesis (B ), which is a faithful translation of the Old Saxon poetry in parts.

  • Fragment I: After the Fall
  • Fragment II: After the murder of Abel
  • Fragment III: The Fall of Sodom
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