Merseberger Zaubersprueche Charms

[Der Einzelgänger]

I discovered these charms through a song by In Extremo. Upon further research I found that they're actually old pagan/heathen charms. Does anyone know anything else about these charms? Like what they were used for or when they were used? I think they were written in Old High German.

http://141.84.81.24/merseburg/doku/zaubersprueche.jpg

[Schwarzesonne]

We do not know today why these were written in the form that they were. But they do offer us some very valuable insight, not only into Continental Heathenry, but also to understanding some of our other mythic sources (especially the Eddas) a little better.

Interestingly the account described in the 2nd charm survived the christianisation of the area. It was re-written in christianised form, as the Stephanus legend.

If you’re interested in perusing this there is an outstanding commentary available in Viktor Rydberg’s INVESTIGATIONS INTO GERMANIC MYTHOLOGY VOL II.

[Scramaseax]

These are two Galdor charms. The first is about being released from chains, and the second is about healing wounds.

The first charm is about women called Idisi (Disir?) who release warriors from their chains, and the the last line is what seems to be the actual incantation insprinc haptbandun, invar vigandun "jump out of your chains, flee the enemies".

The second is about a number of gods (Phol, Woden, Baldr, Sintgunt, Sunna, Friia and Volla) who are riding through the forest when Baldr's horse gets a dislocated leg and the rest of the gods sing over it to heal it. It doesn't say exactly what they sung though. It comes from a 10th century OHG manuscript but images of a god's face over a horse with dislocated or broken legs can be found on bracteates from as early as the 5th century AD.