#merseburg charm ii

[homoeroticfisticuffs]

i think i want one of my next tattoos to be inspired by the second merseburg charm but i'm having trouble finding artistic interpretations of it or even thinking about how to explain what i want in case i want to have art commissioned for it or just have the artist come up with something. alternatively i thought about just getting one of the bracteates tatted but i don't knowwww ughhhhhhh help

[thatswhywelovegermany]

Cathedral and archiepiscopal palace of Merseburg, Saale district, Saxony-Anhalt

The first bichopric of Merseburg was founded by emperor Otto I. in 967, but it ceased to exist when bishop Giselher became archbishop of Magdeburg. The bishopric was renewed in 1004. The foundation of the cathedral was laid in 1015 by bishop Thietmar of Merseburg. It was consecrated in 1021. One of the remarkable artifacts is the oldest surviving medieval memorial plate from 1080 for antiking Rudolf of Rheinfelden, made from cast bronze. In former times it was gilded and adorned with gemstones.

There is also a monolithic baptismal font from 1180 to 1190.

Bishop Thilo von Trotha began to build the palace in 1470. Over the centuries, it was continuously extended and added to. The east wing, which was destroyed in an air raid during world war II was reconstructed until 1971. The castle is now home to the administration of the Saale district, a museum of cultural history, and a music school.

The library of the cathedral chapter hosts the only two surviving pieces of pre-chistian pagan poetry in Old High German, the Merseburg Charms. They were probably written in the mid to late 9th century by a monk of the abbey of Fulda in Caroline minuscule.

Here they are in Old High German, a modern High German approximation, and an English translation.

1st Merseburg Charm, blessing of release

Eiris sazun idisi, sazun hera duoder; suma hapt heptidun, suma heri lezidun, suma clubodun umbi cuoniouuidi: insprinc haptbandun, inuar uigandun.

Einstmals setzten sich Frauen, setzten sich hierhin und dorthin. Einige hefteten Hafte, andere hemmten das Heer, andere nesteln an festen Fesseln: Entspring den Banden, entweich den Feinden.

Once sat women, they sat here, then there. Some fastened bonds, some impeded an army, Some unraveled fetters: Escape the bonds, flee the enemy!

2nd Merseburg Charm, horse-healing spell

Phol ende uuodan uuorun zi holza. du uuart demo balderes uolon sin uuoz birenkit. thu biguol en sinthgunt, sunna era suister; thu biguol en friia, uolla era suister; thu biguol en uuodan, so he uuola conda: sose benrenki, sose bluotrenki, sose lidirenki: ben zi bena, bluot zi bluoda, lid zi geliden, sose gelimida sin!

Phol und Wotan ritten in den Wald. Da wurde Balders Fohlen sein Fuß verrenkt. Da besprach ihn Sinthgunt, Sunnas Schwester, da besprach ihn Frija, Vollas Schwester, da besprach ihn Wotan, der es wohl verstand: Wie Beinverrenkung, so Blutverrenkung, so Gliederverrenkung: Bein zu Bein, Blut zu Blut, Glied zu Gliedern, wie geleimt sollen sie sein!

Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods, and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it; and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it; and Wodan conjured it, as well he could: Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain, so joint-sprain: Bone to bone, blood to blood, joints to joints, so may they be glued.