If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 481

 

 

 

 

 

The goat chariot of Norse mythology, 1990

 [illustration by Norma Wangsness]

This unused postcard printed in 1990 by Penfield Press of Iowa City, Iowa, has an illustration by Norma Wangsness from the book Nils Discovers America by Julie Jensen McDonald.  Nils is the Norwegian nisse or elf-like being holding the reins in the picture.  The book is suitable for children ages 6 to 11 years of age.

 

The cart has 8 goats pulling it, a little bit like Santa Claus’s sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer.  Since it is getting close to Christmas eve and nisser are generally associated with Christmas, I thought I would share this card today. 

 

Prose and poetry versions of the myth were recorded.  In the myth there are only 2 goats who pull Thor’s chariot.  Their names are Snarler or Teeth Barer (Tanngrisnir) and Teeth Grinder (Tanngnjóstr).  The story about Thor and his goats was written by Snorri Sturluson and later compiled in the 13^th century.  It can be found in the Poetic Edda.  Like a lot of Norse myths this one is a bit gory.  Every evening Thor cooks the goats for his meal and then resurrects them with Mjölnir, his hammer, the next morning.  The story continues with Thor spending a night in the home of a peasant and sharing his goat meal.  Thorn instructed the peasant and his children to cast the bones of the goats onto the goatskins that night but one of the children breaks a bone and sucks out the marrow.  This results in one of the resurrected goats becoming lame.  An enraged Thor sees that someone has mistreated the bones of his goats and threatens the peasant and his family.  The peasant begs for forgiveness and Thor keeps both children as his servants as restitution for the crime.   

 

In another poem these two goats are mentioned for their magnificent horns.  Thor is sometimes referred to as the lord of goats. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanngrisnir_and_Tanngnjóstr

https://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc/2013/12/05/davenporters-...

https://www.iloveinspired.com/probituaries/norma-wangsness/