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Anglo-Saxon Metrical Charms
Anglo-Saxon metrical charms were sets of instructions generally written to magically resolve a situation or disease. Usually, these charms involve some sort of physical action, including making a medical potion, repeating a certain set of words, or writing a specific set of words on an object. These Anglo-Saxon charms tell a great deal about medieval medical theory and practice. Although most medical texts found from the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon period are translations of Classical texts in Latin, these charms were originally written in Old English.The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Medieval Period, pg. 32-35. Today, some alternative medical practicioners continue to use herbal remedies, but these are often based on some sort of scientific reasoning. The medical procedures and herbal remedies in these Anglo-Saxon medical charms are not based on science, but on spiritual qualities. While many of these charms do have pagan qualities, Christian influences are regularly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
For Loss Of Cattle
"For Loss or Theft of Cattle," or "For Loss of Cattle," is the name given to three Anglo-Saxon metrical charms that were intended for use in keeping cattle from being stolen and ensuring their return. Charm V and Charm X represent two versions of the same macaronic text in Old English and Latin. Felix Grendon pointed out that lines 6–19 of Charm IX are significantly more " heathen" than the prose introduction. Charm V (For Loss of Cattle 1) This charm is found in the ''Lacnunga'' manuscript.Fraaije, Karel Felix; (2021) ''Magical Verse from Early Medieval England: The Metrical Charms in Context''. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London). When someone says to you that your property has been lost, thenyou must say first, before you say anything else: The town is called Bethlehem where Christ was born, that is well known throughout all middle-earth— so he performed a famous deed for mankind through that Holy Rood! Amen! Loo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anglo-Saxon
The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons happened within Britain, and the identity was not merely imported. Anglo-Saxon identity arose from interaction between incoming groups from several Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes, both amongst themselves, and with Celtic Britons, indigenous Britons. Many of the natives, over time, adopted Anglo-Saxon culture and language and were assimilated. The Anglo-Saxons established the concept, and the Kingdom of England, Kingdom, of England, and though the modern English language owes somewhat less than 26% of its words to their language, this includes the vast majority of words used in everyday speech. Historically, the Anglo-Saxon period denotes the period in Britain between about 450 and 1066, after Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Against A Dwarf
Three Anglo-Saxon metrical charms "Against a dwarf" ( ang, Ƿið dƿeorh) are contained within in the Lacnunga, which seek to heal an afflicted person by ridding them of a dwarf. Charms Remedies LXXXVIIc and LXXXVIIIc The remedies LXXXVIIc and LXXXVIIIc consist of writing Christian symbols, such as crosses and both Latin and Greek letters, along the arms of the sick person. This is then followed by mixing grated celandine with ale and invoking the names of saints, including the Welsh Saint Macutus. Remedy XCIIIb Remedy XCIIIb is the most detailed of the charms, consisting of writing the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus on Communion wafers before reciting a : It has been noted that several components of this charm suggest that it was old at the time of its recording, such as the use of the word "", which would have had no clear meaning at the time of writing, and a lack of an alliterating vowel where expected in line 5 of the galdor. Interpretation and discussion It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including arthritis and "non-articular rheumatism", also known as "regional pain syndrome" or "soft tissue rheumatism". There is a close overlap between the term soft tissue disorder and rheumatism. Sometimes the term "soft tissue rheumatic disorders" is used to describe these conditions. The term "Rheumatic Diseases" is used in MeSH to refer to connective tissue disorders. The branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatism is called rheumatology. Types Many rheumatic disorders of chronic, intermittent pain (including joint pain, neck pain or back pain) have historically been caused by infectious diseases. Their etiology was unknown until the 20th century and not treatable. Postinfectious arthritis, also known as reactive art ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wið Færstice
"Wið færstice" is an Old English medical text surviving in the collection known now as ''Lacnunga'' in the British Library. ''Wið fǣrstiċe'' means 'against a sudden/violent stabbing pain'; and according to Felix Grendon, whose collection of Anglo-Saxon charms appeared in the Journal of American Folklore in 1908, “the charm is intended to cure a sudden twinge or stitch, possibly rheumatism that can be due to being shot by witches, elves, and other spirits that fly through the air.” Scholars have often sought to identify this as rheumatism, but other possibilities should not be excluded. The remedy describes how to make a salve, but its main interest lies in the unique charm which follows. This describes how the ''færstice'' has been caused by the projectiles of 'mighty women' (''ða mihtigan wif''), whom the healer will combat. The charm also mentions elves, believed responsible for elfshot, and provides the only attestation outside personal names of the Old English form of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
For The Water-Elf Disease
"For Water-Elf Disease" ( ang, Wiþ Wæterælfadle) is an Anglo-Saxon metrical charm that was intended for use in curing the "water-elf disease," which was a disease supposedly caused by elf-shot from water elves. It is written in Old English and derives from ''Bald's Leechbook'' (10th century). Some historians have suggested that the disease referred to may be chicken pox or dropsy (oedema). A poultice is made with many herbs and placed on the wound. Text Translated by Dr. Aaron K. Hostetter. If someone comes down with the “water-elf-disease,” then his finger-nails will become black and his eyes teary and will wish to look downwards.Do this for them as a remedy: take from below carline thistle, cassock, yewberry, lupine, elecampane, marshmallow sprout, fen-mint, dill, lily, cock's-spur, pennyroyal, marrabulum, sorrel, elder, felterry, wormwood, strawberry leaf, and comfrey. Soak them withale, then mix them with holy water, and sing th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
For Delayed Birth
The so-called "For Delayed Birth" is an Old English poetic medical text found in the manuscript London, British Library, Harley 585, ff. 185r-v, in a collection of medical texts known since the nineteenth century as ''Lacnunga'' (‘remedies’). The manuscript was probably copied in the early eleventh century, though its sources may have been older. The text is in fact a set of prose instructions which include a series of short poems which should be recited as part of one or more rituals. The text is an important witness to non-orthodox Anglo-Saxon Christian religious practice and to women's history: it is unique among Anglo-Saxon medical texts for being explicitly for use and recitation by a woman. However, 'this charm is perhaps misnamed, because it deals, not with delayed birth as such, but with the inability of the ''wifman'' oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southweste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
For A Swarm Of Bees
"For a Swarm of Bees" is an Anglo-Saxon metrical charm that was intended for use in keeping honey bees from swarming. The text was discovered by John Mitchell Kemble in the 19th century. The charm is named for its opening words, "'", meaning "against (or towards) a swarm of bees". In the most often studied portion, towards the end of the text where the charm itself is located, the bees are referred to as ', "victory-women". The word has been associated by Kemble, Jacob Grimm, and other scholars with the notion of valkyries (Old English '), and " shield maidens", hosts of female beings attested in Old Norse and, to a lesser extent, Old English sources, similar to or identical with the Idise of the Merseburg Incantations. Some scholars have theorized the compound to be a simple metaphor for the "victorious sword" (the stinging) of the bees. In 1909, the scholar Felix Grendon recorded what he saw as similarities between the charm and the Lorsch Bee Blessing, a manuscript portion o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Journey Charm
The so-called "Journey Charm" ( ang, Færeld Spell) is one of the 12 Anglo-Saxon metrical charms written in Old English. It is a prayer written to summon protection from God and various other Christian figures from the hazards of the road. It is of particular interest as evidence for popular Anglo-Saxon Christian religion. Content ''A Journey Charm'' was a Speech Act, or a performative incantation, chant or prayer that was performed before a journey to ward off evil on the journey. It mainly deals with a list of biblical characters, invoking their blessing, including everyone from Adam to Christ to Peter and Paul. The poem reflects the martial character of Anglo-Saxon Christian culture: Luke gives the journeyer a sword, Seraphim give him a "glorious spear of radiant good light", and he is well armed, with mail and shield too. The text gives us a unique insight into popular religious practices of Anglo-Saxon culture, and the particular rituals prescribed for journeys. History ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Against A Wen
"Against a Wen" is an Old English metrical charm and medical text found in the London, British Library, Royal MS. 4A.XIV. It appears to describe a remedy for ridding oneself of a wen, which is an Old English term for a cyst or skin blemish. The charm is addressed to the wen itself, asking it to leave. The charm prescribes methods for curing the blemish, and describes it as it gradually shrinks until it disappears. Charm Genre Along with eight other of the Anglo-Saxon Metrical charms Anglo-Saxon metrical charms were sets of instructions generally written to magically resolve a situation or disease. Usually, these charms involve some sort of physical action, including making a medical potion, repeating a certain set of words, or ..., Grendon classifies the "Against a Wen" charm under class A: "Exorcisms of diseases or disease-spirit" due to its verbal incantation element. The performative speech within a ritual context is a defining feature of the charm genre. Characteristics com ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Æcerbot
The Æcerbot (; Old English for "Field-Remedy") is an Anglo-Saxon metrical charm recorded in the 11th century, intended to remedy fields that yielded poorly.Grigsby (2005:96f, 246). Overview The charm consists of a partially Christianized prayer and a day-long ritual that began at night with four sods taken from the field, to the root-mats of which a poultice was applied in the form of yeast, honey, oil and milk mixed with parts of all the good herbs that grew, save buckwheat and woody plants. In Christian times the sods were taken to mass and returned to the field before nightfall, each with a small cross planted in it. This was the extent to which the ritual was Christianized. Once more in the field, the healer faced the east, where the sun would rise, turning three times clockwise and calling upon the "holy guardian of the heavenly kingdom" to "fill the earth", that the crops would grow. A plough was then anointed with a "hallowed" mix of oil, paste, frankincense, salt and fennel, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old English
Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century, and the first Old English literature, Old English literary works date from the mid-7th century. After the Norman conquest of 1066, English was replaced, for a time, by Anglo-Norman language, Anglo-Norman (a langues d'oïl, relative of French) as the language of the upper classes. This is regarded as marking the end of the Old English era, since during this period the English language was heavily influenced by Anglo-Norman, developing into a phase known now as Middle English in England and Early Scots in Scotland. Old English developed from a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian or Ingvaeonic dialects originally spoken by Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes traditionally known as the Angles, Sa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
