Volcanic winter of 536 - Wikipedia
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To start, 536 was a devastating year for Europe due to Mount Vesuvius erupting.
The date of which has come to jump out at me regarding the legend of Aurvandil. Known also as Earendel and Orendil, among others. Not just of him, but his possible offspring or relations to do with Svipdagr.
Svipdagr - Wikipedia
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Svipdagr is set a task by his stepmother, to meet the goddess Menglöð, who is his "fated bride."[2] In order to accomplish this seemingly impossible task, he summons by necromancy the shade of his dead mother, Gróa, a völva who also appears in the Prose Edda, to cast nine spells for him. This she does and the first poem abruptly ends.
At the beginning of the second poem, Svipdagr arrives at Menglöð's castle, where he is interrogated in a game of riddles by the watchman, from whom he conceals his true name (identifying himself as Vindkald(r) "Wind-Cold" apparently hoping to pass himself off as a frost giant[3]). The watchman is named Fjölsviðr, a name of Odin in Grímnismál 47. He is accompanied by his wolf-hounds Geri and Gifr. After a series of eighteen questions and answers concerning the castle, its inhabitants, and its environment, Svipdagr ultimately learns that the gates will only open to one person: Svipdagr. On his revealing his identity, the gates of the castle open and Menglöð rises to greet her expected lover, welcoming him "back" to her.
A champion by the same name, perhaps the same character, appears in the Prologue to the Prose Edda, in Heimskringla and in Gesta Danorum. A hero named Svipdag is one of the companions of King Hrolfr kraki.
His mother, Groa, is listed elsewhere as the wife of Aurvandil. Who is tied to the legend of Idunn and the theft of her golden Apples.
Haustlöng - Wikipedia
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Likely representing the loss of the sun and day light.
Svipdagr must enter the Halls of Mengloth but must pass Odin to do so. Dagr, his name, meaning "Day".
Further, he is said to be in the time of Hrolfr Kraki, son of Halga (Helgi Hundingsbane?), whose brother Hrothgar paid the weregild for Beowulf, whose uncle Hygelac was slain by Theudebert Merovingian in 516Ad, cousin to Sigebert, the husband of Brunhilda who feuded with Fredegund.
Hygelac - Wikipedia
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Halga - Wikipedia
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In both traditions, he was a Scylding, the son of Healfdene and the brother of Hroðgar.
Helgi Hundingsbane - Wikipedia
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If the Chronicon Lethrense reports that the Swedes humiliated the Danes after Helghe's death, Saxo Grammaticus mentions nothing of this, but instead he has Helgo humiliate the Swedes in his Gesta Danorum, book 2. He also confused, or merged, Helgo with Helgi Hundingsbane, who in other sources is either a Völsung or a Geatish Wulfing (Ylfing). It is possible that it was the information that both killed a Hothbrodd and were called Helgi that inspired the merger.
Saxo possibly merges Halga and Helgi, or Halga is the inspiration for Helgi?
Eitherway, Saxo and Snorri seem to be linking the myths of Beowulf, Sigurd and Brunhilda, and Helgi/Halga, to those of Idunns theft and return, Aurvandil, and Dagr "day".
T. Beechy translation (2010):[36]
Eala earendel, brightest of angels,
sent over the earth to mankind,
and truest light of the sun,
bright above the stars, all spans of time you,
of yourself, enlighten always.
Aurvandill - Wikipedia
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Whose legend connects to Idunns golden apples as mentioned, daughter of Ivaldi whose children were smiths.
Iðunn - Wikipedia
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Glasir - Wikipedia
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In Norse mythology, Glasir (Old Norse "gleaming"[1]) is a tree or grove, described as "the most beautiful among gods and men", bearing golden red leaves located in the realm of Asgard, outside the doors of Valhalla.
Idunns Apples maywell be linked to his tree.
When first studying A[nglo]-S[axon] professionally (1913) ... I was struck by the great beauty of this word (or name), entirely coherent with the normal style of A-S, but euphonic to a peculiar degree in that pleasing but not 'delectable' language ... it at least seems certain that it belonged to astronomical-myth, and was the name of a star or star-group. Before 1914, I wrote a 'poem' upon Earendel who launched his ship like a bright spark from the havens of the Sun. I adopted him into my mythology in which he became a prime figure as a mariner, and eventually as a herald star, and a sign of hope to men. Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima (II 329) 'hail Earendil brightest of Stars' is derived at long remove from Éala Éarendel engla beorhtast.[59] -Tolkien 1981. Aurvandill - Wikipedia
Tolkien uses this mythic stucture, possibly implying that Hrungnir or Thjazi destroyed the tree when stealing the Apples, dooming the gods at Ragnorak. Thor (and Aurvandil?) Rescue Idunn and presumably the Apples.
Aurvandil possibly latching an apple to his ship to light the dark after Baldrs death, and to herald his return following Ragnarak, in which the Sun and Moon are devoured, the gods all die, but Baldr and a new day dawn.
This mythic time of Norse Heroes coincides not just with the worst year 536Ad roughly, but also the rise of Christianity via the Merovigians and their influence via trade in the years 500-600Ad. Which coincides with the Norse language evolving and the switch from Elder to the Younger Futher during the Vendel Period near the Wolfing Clan of the East Geats, with similar finds in Englands Sutton Hoo, located in East Anglia where Beowulf was thought to be composed, and home of the Wuffingas clan.
Vendel Period - Wikipedia
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540–790 AD, just 4 years after Vesuvious.
Let me know your thought, opinions and or theories.