Thanks for everyones comments on the workd for elephants!
I am working my way - slowly!- through Gylfaginning in the wonderful
editon by Anthony Faulkes
The other day - I cam across this passage about this passage quoted
from the Voluspa (lines 12-18)
Ar var alda
that er ekki var
Vara sandr ne saer
ne savalar unnir
Jorth fansk eigi
ne upphiminim
gap var ginninga
en gras ekki
Which I reckon as:
A long time ago it was and there was nothing
Neither was there sand nor sea
nor cool seas
The Earth was not yet formed
nor the sky above
there was only an abyss filled with magic powers (or potential)
and no plants.
What I am interested in what exactly the word "ginnunga" memans.
According to Faulkes -
ginnunga - gen pl (or sg?) of the mighty spaces - ginning - ilusion,
magical deception, perhaps "filled with magic power"
According to Zoega
ginnunga-gap (n) - the great void, primeaval chaos
I have always thought of this as just a great void (like Zoega) but
Faulkes' idea of the gap having a potentially for magic power (like
the Rhinegold!) is a new one. Could this mean that the gap has
inherent in it (and by whom!) some magic force that drove the
creation of the world?
Be interesting to hear views on this and also if my translation is on
the right track!!