Vanadis.

[savagepitch]

There might be an obvious answer for this but im afraid i don't know it thus why i'm hoping to find an answere here in the forums.

In referance to the beautiful song "Vanadis" on "Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty" i was curious as to what Manalihs is? It comes up a few times, "Light my ways oh Manalihs" "Guide their ways oh Manalihs".

I have one other question too but i must inform you that my knowledge on most mythology is not great thus why I am asking these questions and i appolasige for that. The question i had about this song is that I know it mainly deals with Vanadis and if my understanding is correct, when a warrior falls on the battlefield he is either taken up to Valhalla by the Valkyries or ends up in the home of the dead (Hel).

Now once again my knowledge on this subject is not great so please excuse me if what i say is incorrect or offensive but it's my understanding that it is more glorious to be taken to Valhalla but, is it also glorious to end up at the home of the dead with Freya? And if so is this song about being taken there or being taken up to Valhalla?

I was wondering this because there is referances in the song about both:

"When time draws near for the chosen ones
To fall on the blood stained fields
Then death will grant us a place amongst
Our fathers in the halls of bronzen shields"

I think im correct in saying that the halls of bronzen shields is Valhalla? Or at the begining of a couple of verses the name "Herjan" is yelled and i might be wrong again but i think that's another name for Odin?

Once again my deepest appolagies if what i have thought and written is incorrect and thankyou to you anyone who can answer my question or correct my way of thought and of course another thankyou to Vratyas for the great work.

[Vratyas]

Manalihs (or Manalys, Manalis) is some sort of synonym (Kenning) for a Germanic Goddess, and can be translated to "Moonlight". It´s used by reason of her beauteousness which is said to surround her with a light like the moon at night.

Herjan indeed is one of the synonyms for Odin meantioned in the Edda. But it´s also a common old Germanic word and in this way it is used in this lyric. You can translate it to german best with "Heran" probably, into English maybe with "close the lines!". Same goes for the other word used in this context, "Foraan" (or Foran, Forran...), which means "Voran!" in German, in English maybe "attack!".

Walhall (or Valhalla), Odin´s hall, is not the only place where the fallen ones are taken to. Half of them belong to Freya, and to her the name "Manalihs" can be most likely connected.

The Tenkterer, a Germanic tribe mentioned by Tacitus already, were dedicated followers of this Goddess, and the majority of them believed to belong to the "other half" of the Val (the fallen ones).


Hope this was an adequate answer to your question(s).

[savagepitch]

It does indeed, thankyou very much.

[heathenpride]

I was wandering the same things, thanks for clearing that up mate

[pilgrim]

Interesting information, good to know. Vanadis is one of my favorites and I'd been wondering these things also.