Reconstruction of a Myth about Origination of Runes

SUMMARY

In this article phenomenon of runic alphabet and its poetization in the context of Germano-Scandinavian mythology has been analysed. Plots connected with runes are selected from Eddic epos and attempts of reconstruction of aetiological myth about the origin of Holy Alphabet from heady beverage (“the honey of poetry”) are made.

The author points out differentiation of а myth about origination of runes according to development of Germanic- Scandinavianmythological system.

The fact that invention of runes is ascribed by the tradition to various sometimes antagonic dieties is а consequence of adaptation of essential myth structure но new conditions.

It has been proposed in the article that semantic tie between such notions as “heady beverage”, “poetry” and “script” is an universal one for Indo-European mythology. In support of this conjecture parallels from Indian, Greek and Iranian mythologies are cited.

Реконструкция мифа о происхождении рун (по материалам скандинавского эпоса).