Aurvandils tá
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
Aurvandils tá, Aurvandil's Toe, is a Norse constellation from Iceland, used in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, attested since the Middle Ages.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Origin of Constellation
Aurvandils tá (Aurwandill’s toe) is the toe of the hero Aurwandill, which froze when he was carried by Thor across the icy river Eliwagar. Thor broke off the toe, cast it into the sky, and thereby transformed it into an asterism.
Identifications
(Sturluson 2017[1], p. 111). Persson (2017)[2] suggests Corona Borealis as the corresponding constellation. On the one hand, its shape resembles that of a toe; on the other, as a spring constellation, it allows an interpretation of the toe as a symbol of the victory of spring over winter (Persson 2017[2]).
Sources, Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Here we give a list of all sources where the name is attested.
| Source | Identification |
|---|---|
| Pleiades | |
| The Hyades | |
| The tail of Scorpius (η, θ, ι, κ, λ, and υ Scorpii) |
Mythology
mnemonic tales and cultural significance
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
