Norse Timekeeping

How did the Norse measure time without a clock? The simplest way was to follow the path of the Sun across the sky and measure how long it takes the Sun to move. The Scandinavians divided each sun-cycle (sólarhringr, "sun-ring") into eight sections, called an átt or eykt: north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, and northwest. A place on the horizon that lay center in any of these eight directions was called a Dagsmǫrk (Daymark). Midday was the most important daymark, since it divided the Sun's path in half. Most lived in isolated farms or villages, so they used geographical features on the horizon (as viewed from near their homes) as guides to the Dagsmarkar.

The Norse Eight Day Stundir:

Náttmál (9pm to midnight)
Miðnætti (midnight to 3am)
Ótta (3am to 6am)
Rismál (6am to 9am)
Dagmál (9am to noon)
Hádegi (noon to 3pm)
Eykt (3pm to 6pm)
Miðaftann (6pm to 9pm)

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

Anglo-Saxon Timekeeping - Part 1

In structuring the day, the Anglo-Saxons, similar to their Norse brethren, divided the 24-hour day into eight tides

The Anglo-Saxon Eight Tides

Nyht (9pm to midnight) - Night

Midnyht (midnight to 3am) - Midnight

Úhta (3am to 6am) - The last part of the night, the time just before daybreak

Morgen (6am to 9am) - Morning

Undern (9am to noon) - The third hour of the day, nine in the morning

Middæġ (noon to 3pm) - Noon

Ġelotendæġ (3pm to 6pm) - The latter part of the day

Ǽfyn (6pm to 9pm) - Evening

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

Anglo-Saxon Timekeeping - Part 2

The Anglo-Saxons measured time using Dæġmǽl (Day-Mark) devices, such as sundials, water clocks, or candles

In 893CE, Asser mentioned King Alfred inventing a candle clock consisting of six candles; each burning for four hours:
“By his plan those six candles burned for 24 hours, without fail, but sometimes they wouldn’t continue to burn a whole day & night, till the same hour that they were lighted the preceding evening, from the violence of the wind, which blew day & night through the church doors & windows …the king therefore considered by what means he might shut out the wind, & so by a useful and cunning invention, he ordered a lantern to be beautifully constructed of wood and white ox-horn, which, when skilfully planed till it is thin, is no less transparent than a vessel of glass. … By this then, six candles, lighted in succession, lasted four and 20 hours, neither more nor less, &, when these were extinguished, others were lighted”

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

Anglo-Saxon Timekeeping - Part 3

The Anglo-Saxons used Dæġmǽl, or Daymarks, to divide and measure time. 12th c. chronicler William of Malmesbury spoke about how King Alfred used these to provide structure and routine to his day:

“He [King Alfred] so divided the twenty-four hours of day & night as to employ eight of them in writing, in reading, & in prayer, eight in the refreshment of his body, and eight in the business of the realm. In his chapel a candle consisting of twenty-four divisions, & an attendant, whose province was to admonish the king of his duties by its consumption”

An interesting use of the candle dæġmǽl was how they were used as alarm clocks. nails or metal beads were embedded into the candle at one or more interval markings. As the the candle shortened, the melted wax released the nails or metal beads, which dropped onto a metal plate; thus, waking the person.

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

“The curse of every ancient civilization was that its men in the end became unable to fight. Materialism, luxury, safety, even sometimes an almost modern sentimentality, weakened the fibre of each civilized race in turn; each became in the end a nation of pacifists, and then each was trodden under foot by some ruder people that had kept that virile fighting power the lack of which makes all other virtues useless and sometimes even harmful.”

Theodore Roosevelt

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The Dweorgas, or Dwarves, are the ancient smiths who are the creators of fertility objects and natural vegetation. They came to life in the soil under the earth, finding life in *Ġyme’s flesh, and live in the earth and rocks. They were created by Mimor and Dúren-Sweart. It’s said that the Dweorgas weren’t allowed to drink the sacred mead, which resulted in many of them rebelling against the gods. The Dweorgas are similar to the Ylfe in their role within the cosmos; being nature artists.

OE-ON Comparison

Dweorg, Dweorgas - Dvergr, Dvergar
*Ġyme - Ymir
Mimor - Mímir
*Dúren - Durinn
Sweart - Surtr
Ylf, Ylfe - Alfr, Álfar

A great post (above) from the Frithstead regarding dwarves. As I once posted the term dwarf doesn’t have any non-Germanic cognates – but there is a PIE root *dhwergwhos which meant ‘something small’ – though there maybe a connection with an Old Indian word ‘dhvaras’.

Many of the dwarf names in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings came from the Dvergatal of the Völuspá -

There was Motsognir | the mightiest made
Of all the dwarfs, | and Durin next;
Many a likeness | of men they made,
The dwarfs in the earth, | as Durin said.

Nyi and Nithi, | Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, | Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, | Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, | Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, | Ai, Mjothvitnir.

Vigg and Gandalf | Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, | Thror, Vit and Lit,
Nyr and Nyrath,– | now have I told–
Regin and Rathsvith– | the list aright.

Fili, Kili, | Fundin, Nali,
Hepti, Vili, | Hannar, Sviur,
(Billing, Bruni, | Bildr and Buri,)
Frar, Hornbori, | Fræg and Loni,
Aurvang, Jari, | Eikinskjaldi.

The race of the dwarfs | in Dvalin’s throng
Down to Lofar | the list must I tell;
The rocks they left, | and through wet lands
They sought a home | in the fields of sand.

There were Draupnir | and Dolgthrasir,
Hor, Haugspori, | Hlevang, Gloin,
Dori, Ori, | Duf, Andvari,
Skirfir, Virfir, | Skafith, Ai.

Alf and Yngvi, | Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, | Finn and Ginnar;
So for all time | shall the tale be known,
The list of all | the forbears of Lofar.

The Wanderers Hávamál by Jackson Crawford

Anglo-Saxon woman in garb - the costume recreation is based on finds from Gipping Valley area. Photo Credit: Wulfheodenas, Ipswich Museum

All rites begin with the establishment of a sacred area, unless they take place in a pre-established space like a temple. This American Anglo-Saxon heathen group uses the Wéonede Song by Swain Wodening. Lyrics in Old English below with translation beneath that.




Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde,
Ond béode men frið fremman,
Líeg ic bere tó belúcan,
Béode ælwihta fléogan aweg.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.


Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde,
Ond béode men frið fremman,
Líeg ic bere tó belúcan,
Béode utlaga féran aweg.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.


Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid evil spirits to flee
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site


Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid outlaws fare away.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6mTxvgrBiw