Deutsche Mythologie facts for kids

Deutsche Mythologie (which means Teutonic Mythology or Germanic Mythology) is a very important book about the old stories and beliefs of the ancient Germanic peoples. It was written by Jacob Grimm, who is famous for collecting fairy tales with his brother. The book was first published in Germany in 1835.

This detailed study explores the myths and traditions of Germanic people from long ago. It also looks at how these old beliefs continued to appear in modern stories, folktales, and everyday sayings.

The Deutsche Mythologie is organized a bit like an encyclopedia. Its chapters discuss different parts of the old Germanic religions before Christianity. These include language, history, folklore, and poetry. Grimm used many sources from different times and places. For example, he often compared different versions of a god or story. The entry for Thor is called 'Donar, Thunar (Thôrr)' because of this. He also compared old Germanic words, especially those about rituals, to similar words in Latin.

The English translation of the book was done by Stallybrass. It has three volumes, plus a fourth supplement volume. This translation is based on the fourth German edition of the book.

Why This Book Is Important

The Deutsche Mythologie was a very influential book. Some people have called it a "groundbreaking" study that is still largely unmatched. Before Grimm's book, most studies of Germanic mythology only focused on the gods. But Grimm looked at everything about the Germanic religious experience. This included creation stories from the Prose Edda and even the superstitions of German farmers.

Grimm didn't talk much about his methods. However, his study used some key ideas that helped shape how mythology is studied today. One idea was that studying words and stories can show us what people believed in the past. Another idea was that just as old Germanic words could be "reconstructed" (figured out) by comparing them, so could old Germanic ideas and myths. Grimm also believed that later stories and traditions could show us what earlier cultures were like. This is because there were strong connections between the old and new cultures.

However, Grimm's methods for studying mythology have also been criticized. Unlike his methods for reconstructing languages, his mythology findings were hard to prove scientifically. It has been shown that his own personal beliefs influenced his findings. Some of his claims in the Deutsche Mythologie were connected to his ideas about how a united Germany should look. This included his views on the Schleswig-Holstein Question, which was a dispute over two regions. His strong Protestant religious views also shaped some of his ideas.

The Deutsche Mythologie also showed Grimm's views on social questions. He wanted to find a mythology that would support the social structures he liked. For example, he imagined a clear group of gods, much like the Greek or Roman gods. He also wanted the mythology to have deep philosophical ideas, especially about "Fate" or destiny. He liked the idea of different groups of gods, like the Æsir and Vanir, who eventually worked together. Grimm, being a Protestant, also preferred a mythology without a strong, organized group of priests. He also thought that gods and goddesses should be respectfully paired up. He believed goddesses should be connected to good qualities for a home. Finally, he wanted a strong focus on nature worship, especially of trees and sacred groves.

Book Editions

• Göttingen: Dieterich, 1835.
• 2nd ed., 2 vols. Göttingen: Dietrich, 1844.
• 3rd ed., 2 vols. Göttingen: Dieterich, 1854.
• 4th ed., edited by Elard Hugo Meyer. Berlin: F. Dümmler, 1875–78, 3 vols.
  • 4te Ausgabe (1875), 1. Band
    • • Reprinted Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1965.

Translations

• The English translation by Stallybrass (3 vols., with vol. 4, supplement) is based on the fourth edition.
  • Reprinted Dover Publications (1966, 2004)