A Brief History of Latin and Romance Languages: With Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
How many times have you heard someone say 'Latin is a dead language'? More often than not they are referring to Classical Latin, a formal and literary style of Latin that existed at a finite period of time, accounting for about 30% of the language's timeline as a whole. A dead language is one that no longer has any native speakers, even if the language is still in use. However, Latin is not dead because it lives on in the Romance Languages, which are its continuation. In previous centuries, education traditionally focused heavily on Classical Latin because of what was written in that time, building on what the Romans had achieved in the same way that the Romans had built on the achievements of the Ancient Greeks. In the midst of this focus, some Latin teachers even went so far as to tell their students 'There is no such thing as Medieval Latin, there is only Classical Latin, and mistakes'. Is someone speaking Latin incorrectly if they are not following the style of its golden age like one of Cicero's speeches? Transposing that same question to English, is someone speaking English incorrectly because they are not following the style of Charles Dickens? or William Shakespeare? or Chaucer? or Beowulf? Of course not. These so-called 'mistakes' or 'vulgarisms' are a reflection of how people actually spoke across the Roman world in their day to day lives, and how that changed over time. It was Vulgar Latin that evolved into the Romance Languages, which are spoken around the world to this day. This book explores the history of Latin, both in literature and in every day speech, from the Roman Empire to its collapse, linguistic and political reinvention, and the flourishing of literature in the vernacular during the Medieval Period. With texts along the way fully translated with word lists for easy reference. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for Latin, Romance Languages, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8854692236
A Brief History of Opium: Mythology, Culture, Medicine, Trade, and Conflict
The origin of humankind's relationship with the opium poppy is complex, and the further back in time we look, the more speculation we find filling in the gaps. This strange and mysterious plant has the power to inspire the imagination, as much in the study of its history, as when the Romantic Poets used its extracts to stimulate their imagination to write their poetry. From ancient civilisations to the present day, the opium poppy (Papaver Somniferum) has a fascinating history, from the dark symbolism of trance, sleep, dreams, and death in Greco-Roman mythology, to the search for ever stronger pain relief. Since its discovery as a powerful painkiller in ancient medical texts, to the battlefields of the American Civil War, 'God's Own Medicine' has been both a blessing and a curse. The growth of the opium trade has caused and funded wars. It has both relieved pain, and been the cause of pain and suffering. Its illicit use, addiction, and surrounding war and politics have plagued humankind to this day. There is no more effective painkiller than that which has its origins in this beautiful plant. There is also little in the way of medicine which carries with it such dangers of addiction, ruin, misery and death. Attempts by scientists to isolate and refine opium to safely regulate its dosage and reduce addiction, have unwittingly opened a Pandora's box of consequences which have gone on to shape the modern world. In ancient mythology, this opium giving plant could be seen as a gift from the gods. But like those cautionary tales revealing the flaws in human nature, such a gift comes at a great price. This book is a brief introduction to the history of opium from its earliest beginnings to modern times. Its chapters break this history down into periods of historical significance. Each chapter carries its own different themes and episodes in the overall story of civilisation, humankind, and its relationship with nature.
ISBN 979-8461567767
A Who's Who of the Viking Age: People, Legends and Myths
Who were the players? Where do they exist on the scale of history, legend, and myth? And how do we know? From the first raids by the mysterious 'Northmen' in the darkness of the 8th century, to the chieftains, earls, and kings who changed the development of Europe and influenced the medieval world, the Viking Age produced stories and accounts of unique figures in history preserved in oral tradition, and written in chronicles, and sagas. With a distinctive culture, shaped by the bleak and unforgiving landscape of Northern Europe, the character and outlook of the Norse people was driven by the brutal reality of a struggle for land, resources, and survival. The varied geography of Scandinavia with its fjords, mountains, lakes, islands, and marshlands set the stage for developments in seafaring and boat building that were far ahead of the rest of Europe, allowing the bold and adventurous to travel further and further afield in search of routes for exploration, plunder, trade, and settlement. Those who raided are today known as Vikings, a term coined in the 18th century at the beginning of a period of renewed interest in local mythology and folklore as a means of national identity (the Old Norse word 'víkingr' meant a sea-rover or a pirate). The sagas and stories of their activities were translated and later embellished to fit romantic ideals of the heroic warrior or the noble savage. Many of the popular misconceptions about the Vikings and the Viking Age come from this period. This book outlines who they were, what we know about them from accounts at or near that time, and how each of these figures shaped the story of the age.
ISBN 979-8427164030
Anglo-Saxon Poetry 1: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old English (Ænglisc) is the earliest recorded form of the English language. It was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century. The first literary works in Old English date from the mid 7th century. Spelling was not standardised but varied by region and dialect over time. Contained in this book:
A Proverb from Winfrid's Time, The Gloria II, Bede's Death Song (Northumbrian Version), Bede's Death Song (The Hague Version), Bede's Death Song (West Saxon Version), Latin-English Proverbs, The Brussels Cross, Caedmon's Hymn (Northumbrian Version), Caedmon's Hymn (West Saxon Version), Pharaoh, Alms-Giving, The Capture of the Five Boroughs, Thureth, The Lord's Prayer I, Charm 8 For a Swarm of Bees, Charm 12 Against a Wen, The Partridge, Aldhelm, Homiletic Fragment II, Charm 10 For Loss of Cattle, Charm 7 For the Water-Elf Disease, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Coronation of Edgar, Durham, Charm 5 For Loss of Cattle, Charm 9 For Loss of Cattle, Charm 3 Against a Dwarf, A Summons to Prayer, The Death of Edward, Waldere B, Waldere A, The Death of Alfred
The texts are presented in their original Old English, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old English worked and how it has evolved. Also included are individual word lists for each text, and an overall word list with 1575 Old English words translated into English, and 1234 English words translated into Old English. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old English language, Anglo-Saxon history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863680637
Anglo-Saxon Poetry 2: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old English (Ænglisc) is the earliest recorded form of the English language. It was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century. The first literary works in Old English date from the mid 7th century. Spelling was not standardised but varied by region and dialect over time. Contained in this book:
Charm 4 For a Sudden Stitch, The Death of Edgar, Deor, The Ruin, The Kentish Hymn, Charm 6 For Delayed Birth, Homiletic Fragment I, Charm 11 A Journey Charm, The Husband's Message, The Battle of Finnsburh, The Wife's Lament
The texts are presented in their original Old English, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old English worked and how it has evolved. Also included are individual word lists for each text, and an overall word list with 1493 Old English words translated into English, and 1180 English words translated into Old English. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old English language, Anglo-Saxon history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863680644
Anglo-Saxon Poetry 3: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old English (Ænglisc) is the earliest recorded form of the English language. It was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century. The first literary works in Old English date from the mid 7th century. Spelling was not standardised but varied by region and dialect over time. Contained in this book:
The Creed, The Gloria I, The Battle of Brunanburh, The Panther, Maxims II, The Whale, A Prayer
The texts are presented in their original Old English, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old English worked and how it has evolved. Also included are individual word lists for each text, and an overall word list with 1522 Old English words translated into English, and 1221 English words translated into Old English. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old English language, Anglo-Saxon history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863680651
Anglo-Saxon Poetry 4: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old English (Ænglisc) is the earliest recorded form of the English language. It was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century. The first literary works in Old English date from the mid 7th century. Spelling was not standardised but varied by region and dialect over time. Contained in this book:
Vainglory, The Rhyming Poem, Charm 2 The Nine Herbs Charm, The Fortunes of Men, The Rune Poem
The texts are presented in their original Old English, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old English worked and how it has evolved. Also included are individual word lists for each text, and an overall word list with 1506 Old English words translated into English, and 1247 English words translated into Old English. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old English language, Anglo-Saxon history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863680668
Anglo-Saxon Word List: A Brief Glossary of 15,000 Old English Words
Old English (Ænglisc) is the earliest recorded form of the English language. It was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th century. The first literary works in Old English date from the mid 7th century. Spelling was not standardised but varied by region and dialect over time. This book contains a list of over 15,000 Old English words translated into English. Also included are notes on alphabet, grammar, numbers, and a list of over 7,000 English words translated into Old English. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old English language, Anglo-Saxon history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8839027459
Marie de France - Bisclavret: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
Marie de France (fl 1160 to 1215) was a poet born in France who lived in England during the late 12th century. She was well known at the Plantagenet royal court of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and she is believed to have been an abbess of a monastery. Her poems or 'Lais' are believed to have been written sometime between 1160 and 1175 drawing upon Breton and Arthurian myths and legends. It is written in a form of Old French known as 'Anglo-Norman', which came from 'Old Norman', part of the 'Langues d'oïl' dialect continuum of Gallo-Romance languages. Old French is the result of a gradual separation from Vulgar Latin and Common Romance, coming into contact with influences from Gaulish (Continental Celtic), and Frankish (Germanic). The text is presented in the original Old French, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old French worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,318 Old French words translated in to English, and 1,271 English words translated into Old French. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old French language, French history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863454115
Bisclavret And Melion: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
Bisclavret was written by Marie de France between 1160 and 1175, while Melion was written by an unknown or anonymous writer between 1190 and 1204. While they are several decades apart, they have a number of similarities. This has led some people to believe that they could in fact originate from the same story, or perhaps they are both inventions drawing on the same source of icons and motifs found in the folklore, myth, and legends of the time. They are both written in Old French, Bisclavret is in 'Anglo-Norman', whereas Melion is in the 'Picard dialect', both of which are part of the 'Langues d'oïl' dialect continuum of Gallo-Romance languages. Old French is the result of a gradual separation from Vulgar Latin and Common Romance, coming into contact with influences from Gaulish (Continental Celtic), and Frankish (Germanic). The text is presented in the original Old French, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old French worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 2,030 Old French words translated in to English, and 1,842 English words translated into Old French. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old French language, French history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863454122
Dante Alighieri - De Vulgari Eloquentia: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet, writer, and philosopher. His 'La Comedia' (Comedy) or 'La Divina Comedia' (Divine Comedy) is considered one of the most important poems of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language. Along with Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch, they are often referred to as the fathers of Italian literature, or the fathers of the Italian language. They set the stage for the flourishing of vernacular Italian literature that followed. At a time when most poetry was written in Latin, Dante's 'De Vulgari Eloquentia' (On the Eloquence of the Vernacular) discusses the relationship between Latin and the vernacular languages, searching for an 'illustrious' vernacular in the Italian region. The second book is an analysis of the structure of the canto or song, a literary genre developed in the Sicilian School of poetry. He presents an argument for giving vernacular language the same dignity and legitimacy as Latin. In his opinion language was not something static, but something that evolves and needs historical contextualisation. Though it as originally meant to consist of four books, it ends abruptly in the middle of the second book. Dante's Medieval Latin frequently makes use of the first person plural 'we' instead of 'I', and frequently refers to people in the Italian peninsula as 'Latins' rather than Italians which was still commonplace at the time. This is further evidence that the 'Latin' identity remained due to the Holy Roman Empire and Roman Catholic Christianity. The text is presented in the original Medieval Latin, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Medieval Latin works. Also included is a word list with 3693 Medieval Latin words translated in to English, and 3007 English words translated into Medieval Latin. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Latin language, medieval history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863531618
Galdrastafir: A Collection of Icelandic Magical Staves
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Galdrastafir are magical staves, symbols, or Sigils from Iceland which are believed to have evolved from the common Germanic tradition of Bindrunes. They are documented in Icelandic manuscripts from the Late Middle Ages until the 20th Century, and they give us a glimpse of a rich tradition of magic in the Norse world. Preserved manuscripts contain a wealth of these magical symbols drawn by hand in personal hand books. In some cases there are accompanying sentences explaining their meanings and instruction on their use, and in many cases the very name of the symbol told them all they needed to know, with their uses open to interpretation.
There are a series of common elements of the design of Galdrastafir which are described as 'modifiers'. Because of the frequency of their occurrence, there are varied yet inconclusive theories on each of their special purposes or functions, such as energy flowing in and out of the stave, being amplified etc., or even invoking gods from the Norse pantheon. Galdrastafir include positive invocations of good luck, success, talismanic protection, and also darker and more morally complex intentions. They show how practitioners of magic attempted to influence the universe in the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods. Some of them even incorporated references to biblical seals and elements of the Christian faith, showing that the relationship between traditional magic and religious symbolism is a complex and varied one.
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ISBN 979-8461576240
Havamal (Hávamál): Sayings of the High One: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
The Havamal (Hávamál) ('sayings of the high one' i.e. 'Odin') is a collection of poetry from the Viking age. It can be described as 'gnomic poetry' in that it contains a series of insightful verses which offer advice in the form of maxims and aphorisms (short statements, observations, and opinions) about how to live one's life, how to conduct oneself in a proper manner, and how to gain and use wisdom in order to survive and prosper in a dangerous world. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. The text is presented in its original Old Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Old Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,471 Old Norse words translated in to English, and 1,148 English words translated into Old Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Old Norse history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863535159
Magical Symbolism: Runes, Bindrunes, Galdrastafir, and Astrological Symbols for Magic
Magical symbols are a fascinating example of the ingenuity of language, communication, and symbolic meaning. They show us human nature's attempt to use them as tools of expression, a divinatory means to understand the forces that exist all around us that shape our lives, and our attempts to influence these forces by signifying our intentions to the divine and the universe. They are an expression of the human spirit. They are part of us. Magic works because we believe that it works. We believe in the process of signalling and communicating our intentions and desirable outcomes to the forces around us, releasing them into the universe, and having the confidence and belief to make it happen. The aim of this book is to explore the traditions of magical symbols both from the Norse world, and the Greco-Roman world of antiquity, and its later revival in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. From the linguistic origins of runes found in the Ancient Italic alphabets in the 1st century B.C.E, to the manuscripts preserved in the Byzantine Empire in the Middle Ages, to the revival and flourishing of both traditions in manuscripts, books, and notebooks during and after the Renaissance, two different cultures from the north and south of the continent give us a glimpse of our collective psyche, the characteristics of the deities that each culture recognised as reflections of our nature, and our belief in the power of symbols and magic. For the last 120 years, runes have been misused, misrepresented, and misinterpreted to fit into systems of propaganda for extreme and objectionable political agendas. This form of cultural appropriation has done great damage in obscuring and twisting the original and true meanings of the runes. This third edition includes an extra chapter that explains this history and sets the record straight for the reader to make informed choices.
ISBN 979-8353992387
Melion : A Medieval Werewolf Tale: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
The author of Melion is unknown, but it is believed to have been written sometime between 1190 and 1204. It is one of around 10 anonymous 'lais' of that time drawing upon Breton and Arthurian myths and legends. These myths and legends often contained elements of the supernatural to ornament what were moral tales of heroism and chivalry. It is written in the Picard dialect of Old French, part of the 'Langues d'oïl' dialect continuum of Gallo-Romance languages. Old French is the result of a gradual separation from Vulgar Latin and Common Romance, coming into contact with influences from Gaulish (Continental Celtic), and Frankish (Germanic). The text is presented in the original Old French, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old French worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,012 Old French words translated in to English, and 946 English words translated into Old French. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old French language, French history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863454146
Ogham: The Ancient Celtic Alphabet: Origins, Evolution, Mythology, Meanings, Divination, and Magic
Ogham is an ancient Celtic writing system, alphabet, or cipher that was primarily designed to inscript Archaic Irish (sometimes called Primitive Irish), later Old Irish, and some Pictish and Old Welsh. As well as having origins documented in the fields of history, linguistics, and archaeology, it also has a history of magic and mythology in Ancient Celtic Religion or Celtic Paganism. Since the 20th century, there has been a revival of interest in this and other ancient polytheistic religions and spiritual practices by a growing number of Pagan or Neo-Pagan communities across the world. It is the aim of this book to provide the bigger picture about where these symbols have come from, how they have developed, how they have been used, and how their use has evolved over two thousand years.
ISBN 979-8758210444
Old Icelandic Tales 1: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The rich tradition of Icelandic storytelling survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. As well as the 'saga', there is also the short story called the 'þáttr' (plural: 'þættir'), meaning a strand of rope or a yarn, comparable to the word 'yarn' in English sometimes used to refer to a story. This book contains:
- The Tale of The Story-Wise Icelander (Íslendings Þáttr Sögufróða)
- The Tale of Ívarr Son of Ingimundr (Ívars þáttr Ingimundarsonar)
- The Tale of Thorstein Shiver (Þorsteins Þáttr Skelks)
- The Tale of Thidrandi and Thorhall (Þiðranda þáttr ok Þórhalls)
The texts are presented in three columns side-by-side, first the original Old Icelandic or Old Norse, second a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and third a modern English translation. In this way it is possible to see, compare, and feel how the language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,035 Norse words translated in to English, and 850 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863445304
Old Icelandic Tales 2: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The rich tradition of Icelandic storytelling survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. As well as the 'saga', there is also the short story called the 'þáttr' (plural: 'þættir'), meaning a strand of rope or a yarn, comparable to the word 'yarn' in English sometimes used to refer to a story. This book contains:
- The Tale of Helgi Thorisson (Helga þáttr Þórissonar)
- The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords (Auðunar þáttr vestfirzka)
- The Tale of Thorstein the Staff-Struck (Þorsteins þáttr stangarhǫggs)
The texts are presented in three columns side-by-side, first the original Old Icelandic or Old Norse, second a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and third a modern English translation. In this way it is possible to see, compare, and feel how the language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,599 Norse words translated in to English, and 1196 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863445328
Old Icelandic Tales 3: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The rich tradition of Icelandic storytelling survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. As well as the 'saga', there is also the short story called the 'þáttr' (plural: 'þættir'), meaning a strand of rope or a yarn, comparable to the word 'yarn' in English sometimes used to refer to a story. This book contains:
- The Tale of Halldor Snorrason II (Halldórs þáttr Snorrasonar inn síðari)
- The Tale of Ale-Hood (Ölkofra þáttr)
- The Tale of Thorleif, the Earl's Poet (Þorleifs þáttr jarlsskálds)
The texts are presented in three columns side-by-side, first the original Old Icelandic or Old Norse, second a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and third a modern English translation. In this way it is possible to see, compare, and feel how the language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 2,342 Norse words translated in to English, and 1,783 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863445342
Old Icelandic Tales 4: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The rich tradition of Icelandic storytelling survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. As well as the 'saga', there is also the short story called the 'þáttr' (plural: 'þættir'), meaning a strand of rope or a yarn, comparable to the word 'yarn' in English sometimes used to refer to a story. This book contains:
- The Tale of Einarr Sokkason (Einars þáttr Sokkasonar)
- The Tale of Hreidar the Fool (Hreiðars þáttr heimska)
- The Tale of Star-Oddi's Dream (Stjörnu-Odda draumr)
The texts are presented in three columns side-by-side, first the original Old Icelandic or Old Norse, second a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and third a modern English translation. In this way it is possible to see, compare, and feel how the language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 2,838 Norse words translated in to English, and 2,102 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863445359
Old Icelandic Tales 5: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The rich tradition of Icelandic storytelling survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. As well as the 'saga', there is also the short story called the 'þáttr' (plural: 'þættir'), meaning a strand of rope or a yarn, comparable to the word 'yarn' in English sometimes used to refer to a story. This book contains:
- The Tale of Bolli Bollason (Bolla þáttr Bollasonar)
- The Tale of Thorstein House-Power (Þorsteins þáttr bæjarmagns)
- The Tale of Sarcastic Halli (Sneglu-Halla þáttr)
The texts are presented in three columns side-by-side, first the original Old Icelandic or Old Norse, second a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and third a modern English translation. In this way it is possible to see, compare, and feel how the language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 3,351 Norse words translated in to English, and 2,533 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863445366
Old Norse Word List: A Brief Glossary of 10,000 Old Norse and Old Icelandic Words
Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The first literary works in Old Icelandic date from the beginning of the 12th century. In this book there are 12,286 Norse words translated into English, and 7,675 English words translated into Norse. Also included are notes on differences between Old Norse and Old Icelandic, grammar, and numbers. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8546167721
Pirates And Their Flags: The Jolly Roger and the Golden Age of Piracy
For as long as there have been seafarers transporting valuable goods by sea, there have also been pirates. The Golden Age of Piracy began in the 1650s with so-called 'buccaneers' attacking colonies and shipping in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. This was followed in the 1690s by attacks along the East India Company trade routes in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Finally, when the War of Spanish Succession ended in 1715, thousands of experienced seamen left military duty and turned to piracy, just as the Atlantic shipping trade was beginning to boom. From the portrayal of piracy in popular culture, whether based on fact, fiction, romanticised legend, from evil antagonist to anti-hero to loveable rogue, or a combination of all of these, we have inherited a set of images conjured up in the mind's eye when we think of pirates, the wooden leg, the parrot perched on the shoulder, the eyepatch, and the stylised accent from the south west of England popularised by Robert Newton in the 1950 film adaptation of 'Treasure Island'. The Jolly Roger or the Skull & Crossbones is another image that comes to immediately to mind when thinking of pirates, a powerful image of mortality whose origins can be traced as far back as the Late Middle Ages. The use of these symbols by pirates on their flags was designed to strike fear into their prey and encourage them to surrender without a fight. They were also a form of brand identity that would carry with them and reinforce the power of the reputation that preceded them. This book examines the origins, history, and evolution of these flags and their common themes and variations.
ISBN 979-8493312823
Runes: Origins, Evolution, Mythology, Meanings, Divination, and Magic
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Runes are a fascinating example of the ingenuity of language, communication, and symbolic meaning.
They show us human nature's attempt to use them as tools of expression, a divinatory means to understand the forces that exist all around us that shape our lives, and our attempts to influence these forces by signifying our intentions to the divine and the universe. For the last 120 years, runes have been misused, misrepresented, and misinterpreted to fit into systems of propaganda for extreme and objectionable political agendas. This form of cultural appropriation has done great damage in obscuring and twisting the original and true meanings of the runes. This fourth edition includes an extra chapter that explains this history and sets the record straight for the reader to make informed choices. It is the aim of this book to provide the bigger picture about where these symbols have come from, how they have developed, how they have been used, and how their use has evolved over two thousand years. They are an expression of the human spirit. They are part of us.
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ISBN 979-8353987741
Ari Thorgilsson - The Book of Icelanders: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
The Book of Icelanders (Íslendingabók) is an important historical work that deals with the early history of Iceland. It was written by Ari Thorgilsson (1067-1148), also known as Ari the Wise (Ari hinn fróði). According to Snorri Sturluson he was the first to write history in Old Norse. The short prose describes the settlement of Iceland, the bringing of laws from Norway, the establishment of the assembly, the changes to the calendar, the partition of Iceland into quarters, the discovery and settlement of Greenland, the conversion of Iceland to Christianity, and the history of the Bishops and law-speakers in Iceland. The text is presented in its original Old Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Old Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,298 Old Norse words translated in to English, and 1,088 English words translated into Old Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Norse language, Old Norse history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863545455
The Saga of Erik the Red: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) is one of the two Icelandic Sagas which make up the Vínland Sagas (Vínlandingasögur), along with The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga), which tell the story of the Norse discovery of North America. The rich tradition of Icelandic literature survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. This book contains:
The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) (Old Norse Version)
The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) (Old Icelandic Version)
The texts are presented in their original Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 2,737 Norse words translated in to English, and 1,792 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863545844
The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue (Gunnlaugs Saga Ormstungu) is the story of a promising young man named Gunnlaug who achieves fame for his bravery and poetry in the courts of kings and earls throughout the Norse world. However, a prophetic dream foretells a love rivalry, betrayal, and tragedy. The rich tradition of Icelandic literature survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. This book contains:
- The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue (Old Norse Version)
- The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue (Old Icelandic Version)
The texts are presented in their original Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 3,019 Norse words translated in to English, and 1,846 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863745541
The Saga of the Gotlanders: Original Text, Translation, and Word Lists
The Saga of the Gotlanders gives an account of how Gotland was discovered and populated, their peace treaty with the King of Sweden and annual tribute, and Olaf II of Norway's visit to Gotland, and its conversion to the Christian faith. The Gutasaga is believed to have been written in the 13th century, and makes up most of what we know about Old Gutnish. What is particularly interesting about the Gutasaga is that it preserves a variety of Old Norse known as Old Gutnish. This variety of Old Norse is believed to have evolved in the 7th century along with Old East Norse and Old West Norse. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. The text is presented in its original Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,112 Norse words translated in to English, and 1,119 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
ISBN 979-8863546544
The Saga of the Greenlanders: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga) is one of the two Icelandic Sagas which make up the Vínland Sagas (Vínlandingasögur), along with The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða), which tell the story of the Norse discovery of North America. The rich tradition of Icelandic literature survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. This book contains:
- The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga) (Old Norse Version)
- The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga) (Old Icelandic Version)
The texts are presented in their original Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,935 Norse words translated in to English, and 1,142 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863546933
The Sagas of Ragnar Lothbrok: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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The legend of Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best known heroes of the Viking Age, has been told and re-told in an increasing variety of media. The rich tradition of Icelandic literature survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Old Norse that emerged during the Old Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. This book contains:
- The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (Ragnars Saga Loðbrókar)
- The Tale of Ragnar's Sons' (Ragnarssona Þáttr)
- The Lay Of Kraka (Krákumál)
The texts are presented in their original Old Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Old Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 3,583 Old Norse words translated in to English, and 2,860 English words translated into Old Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Old Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863717746
The Vinland Sagas: Original Texts, Translations, and Word Lists
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The Vínland Sagas (Vínlandingasögur) contain two Sagas, The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga), and The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) which tell the story of the Norse discovery of North America. These stories survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th Century. Old Norse is a North Germanic language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia from about the 7th to the 15th centuries. Old Icelandic is a variety of Old West Norse that emerged during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the second half of the 9th century. The meaning of the word 'saga' (plural: 'sǫgur' or 'sögur') translates as 'that which is said', or more widely: a 'saying', 'statement', 'story', 'tale', or 'narrative'. This book contains:
- The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga) (Old Norse Version)
- The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grœnlendinga Saga) (Old Icelandic Version)
- The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) (Old Norse Version)
- The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) (Old Icelandic Version)
The texts are presented in their original Norse, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how the Norse language worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 3,695 Norse words translated in to English, and 2,262 English words translated into Norse. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old Norse or Old Icelandic language, Norse history, or languages and history in general.
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ISBN 979-8863722078
Viking Tattoos: Nordic and Norse Pagan Symbols of Spirituality
In recent decades popular culture has rediscovered the Viking Age and North Germanic Paganism with fresh eyes. From the pirates and sea raiders known as Vikings, to the fierce warriors called Berserkers, and the wider Norse or Nordic people as a whole, symbols played an important role in daily life and spirituality. Today we find these symbols visually eye catching and their meanings fascinating. People all over the world are finding meaning in these symbols that resonate with their personality, identity, and spiritual beliefs. They are a representation of a thought or an idea, from a single line to an ever increasingly complex symmetry of lines, circles, intersecting lines, and bold striking angles. Perhaps one of the most popular of these symbols is the Vegvísir, one of the many Galdrastafir (praying or chanting staves) that appeared in Iceland after its settlement by Norse people in the late 9th century, but there are many more. Preserved manuscripts contain a wealth of these magical symbols drawn by hand in personal hand books. In some cases there are accompanying sentences explaining their meanings and instruction on their use, and in many cases the very name of the symbol told them all they needed to know, with their uses open to interpretation. For the last 120 years, runes have been misused, misrepresented, and misinterpreted to fit into systems of propaganda for extreme and objectionable political agendas. This form of cultural appropriation has done great damage in obscuring and twisting the original and true meanings of the runes. This second edition includes an extra chapter that explains this history and sets the record straight for the reader to make informed choices. The magic of the Norse people worked because they believed that it worked. They believed in the process of signalling and communicating their intentions and desirable outcomes to the forces around them, projecting them into the universe, and having the confidence and belief to make things happen. This book explores these symbols and presents them to the reader for their consideration as ideas for tattoos or symbols for personal talismanic magic.
ISBN 979-8353882145
