Neorxnawang (alsoNeorxenawang andNeorxnawong) is anOld English noun used to translate theChristian concept ofparadise inAnglo-Saxon literature.[1] Scholars propose that the noun originally derives fromGermanic mythology, referring to a "heavenly meadow" or place without toil or worries.[2]
While the second half of the word, -wang, is widely acknowledged to mean 'field' (and its cognatewaggs appears for 'paradise' inGothic), scholars have yet to reach an agreement regarding the first element's meaning – though at least a dozen attempts to interpret it have been made.[1] ScholarRudolf Simek states that it is possible to consider the term as aProto-Germanic term for 'Asgard' or 'Other World' due to the noun's unclear meaning, that Christian authors who used it seemed to have a poor understanding of it as well, and that it corresponds with theNorth Germanic termsIðavöllr (possibly 'field of activity' or 'the continually renewing, rejuvenating field') andGlæsisvellir ('the shining fields').[1]
19th century scholarJacob Grimm observes that etymological connections have been proposed betweenNorn andNeorxnawang, but says that the theory raises etymological issues and other problems: "The A. gen. pl. neorxana, which only occurs in 'neorxena wong' = paradisus, has been proposed, but the abbreviation would be something unheard of, and even the nom. sing. neorxe or neorxu at variance with norn; besides, theParcae are nowhere found connected with paradise."[3]
Late 19th and early 20th century philologistJames Bright proposes thatneorxena- derives from the phrasene wyrcan, meaning 'no working'.[4]
In a 1979 article, Alan K. Brown proposes thatneorxena- is an artificial distortion of OEgrœ̄ne (alternative form ofgrēne) 'green' using then in-vogue 8th century literary tricks of reverse spelling and isolated rune use, in this case theElder Fuþark and theAnglo-Saxon Fuþorc runeᚷ (Proto-Germanic*gebu, Old Englishġifu) 'gift', to mark the end & beginning of said reversal stemming from the left-to-right-or-right-to-left freedom of runic writing, suggesting an original *Grœ̄n(e)nawang, meaning 'green field'. He then suggests an entirely Christian origin of the term rather than a pre-Christian one, stating "Cryptic names for Paradise, and its interpretation with 'green,' are found in early Insular Latin." and points to theOld SaxonHeliand using the term 'grôni uuang' as a noteworthy kenning for Paradise, and similar phrases inGenesis A andGuthlac A to suggest the term originally being created simply as a semantic loan of LatinParadisus.[5]
In a 1985 paper, Jane Roberts expounds her interpretation ofnēo-rixena as "corpse-rushes".[6]
In a 2012 paper, Joseph S. Hopkins and Haukur Þorgeirsson propose a connection between Old NorseFólkvangr, an afterlife location overseen by the goddessFreyja, and a variety of other Germanic words referring to the afterlife that contain extensions of Proto-Germanic *wangaz (including Old EnglishNeorxnawang and Gothicwaggs), potentially stemming from a concept of a '*wangaz of the dead' in Proto-Germanic mythology.[7]
Anglo-Saxon paganism and mythology | |
|---|---|
| Gods and divine figures | |
| Heroic figures | |
| Other beings | |
| Locations | |
| Sources | |
| Society and culture | |
| Modern pagan revival | |
