The Merseburg Incantations
They are the only pagan incantations preserved in Germany, written down by a monk more than 1,000 years ago and kept in the Merseburg cathedral chapter library: the Merseburg Incantations – two spells handed down in Old High German. The lines of text are magical incantations from pre-Christian times in a rare original form and are thus a record of Germanic pagan customs.
While the first verse was spoken to release prisoners from their bonds, the second was intended to bring about the healing of a foot injury.
The spells, characterised by the strictness of their form, reveal the particularly sonorous nature of the Old High German language. Repetition, rhythm and the magic words at the end create an enchanting and compelling aura when the spells are read aloud. It is worth noting that the Merseburg incantations are the only known instance of the Old High German language to feature figures from the Germanic pantheon (Wodan, Balder, Frija, Volla, Sunna, Phol and Sinhtgunt).
It is now thought that the incantations were recorded in the first or second third of the 10th century. The Merseburg incantations became known as such due to the place where they were found. The lines were first discovered in 1841 by the historian Georg Waitz, who was widely known among scholars, in the library of the cathedral chapter of Merseburg. He himself refrained from publishing the spells and left it to the Brothers Grimm to edit them. Jacob Grimm chose the Merseburg incantations as the subject of his inaugural lecture to the Berlin Academy of Sciences on 3 February 1842. Grimm praised the surviving manuscript as a “... treasure” such that “no library in Germany ... has anything to compare with it.”
A copy of the famous Merseburg incantations can be seen in the incantation vault. Here, you can take an in-depth look at the incantations, their origin, and how they were handed down and translated.
In the series "Hidden", MDR Kultur presented the Merseburg Spells in a video report.
The Merseburg Magic Spells on their way to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Merseburg spells are the oldest known Old High German text document and represent a unique testimony to Germanic magic. They document the invocation of pagan deities in specific emergencies, for example in battles or when horses are injured, and are therefore the only surviving spells in which non-Christian personnel are involved. The recording in a manuscript that also contains Christian texts illustrates the transition from oral to written tradition and shows that magical practices continued to exist in Christianised societies. This specific transmission situation is unique in international research and can only be compared with orally transmitted spells from other cultures.
In May 2021, the Vereinigte Domstifter and Dr Wolfgang Beck from the Institute of German Literature at the University of Jena submitted an application to include the Merseburg Magic Spells in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The German nomination committee unanimously accepted the application in September 2021. The submission to the international secretariat in Paris took place in 2025, a decision could be made in 2026; delays are due to a reform of the regulations and a backlog of applications.
Irrespective of their inclusion in the World Heritage List, the spells are already a unique cultural feature of Merseburg Cathedral. They are to be communicated to a broad public through lectures, competitions and other events, supported by sponsoring organisations, scientists, artists and writers. A current feasibility study is examining how new exhibition spaces can be created to present the spells comprehensively.
Successful inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List would strengthen Merseburg's cultural significance, raise its profile as a cultural centre and attract more visitors. The aim is to bring the magic spells to life across generations, supported by the state, district, city and committed citizens.
Original Text
Literal Transcription
Eiris sazun idisi sazun hera duoder suma
hapt heptidun sumaherilezidun sumaclu
bodun umbicuonio uuidi insprinc hapt
badun inuar uigandun. H.
phol ende uuodan uuorun ziholza duuuart
demobalderes uolon sin uuoz birenkict
thubiguolen sinhtgunt sunna era suister
thuboguolen friia uolla era suister thu
biguolen uuodan so he uuola conda
sosebenrenki soseblutrenki soselidi
renki ben zibena bluot zibluoda
lid zigeliden sosegelimida sin
Translation of the incantations into modern German
(by Wolfgang Beck, Würzburg)
Einst saßen Idisi, saßen auf den Kriegerscharen.
Einige fesselten einen Gefangenen, einige hemmten die Heere,
Einige zertrennten scharfe Fesseln.
Entspringe den Fesseln, entfahre den Feinden!
Phol und Wodan begaben sich in den Wald.
Dort wurde dem Fohlen Balders der Fuß gerenkt.
Da besangen ihn Sinhtgunt und Sunna, ihre Schwester.
Da besangen ihn Frija und Volla, ihre Schwester.
Da besang ihn Wodan, so wie er es gut verstand:
Wenn Knochenrenkung, wenn Blutrenkung, wenn Gelenkrenkung:
Knochen zu Knochen, Blut zu Blut, Glied zu Glied!
So seien sie zusammengefügt!
Science, art and reception -
the Merseburg spells today
The fascination of the Merseburg spells is still alive today. This applies both to their scientific research and their reception in art and literature.
As the oldest Old High German text documents, the Merseburg spells have repeatedly posed a challenge to scholars, especially German studies and religious studies.
The project „Old High German dictionary“ works on the surviving vocabulary of Old High German and owes some unique evidence to the spells.
The most comprehensive study of the spells has Prof Wolfgang Beck presented. The second edition of this standard work has now been published and covers all the words that appear in the spells.
The Exploration Prof Rudolf Simek has devoted himself intensively to the closely related Nordic and Germanic mythology. The Merseburg spells are an important source for him.
As part of the „World history on the doorstep“ the Merseburg magic spells are presented in various facets.
Every year in October, the city of Merseburg organises a Magic festival with numerous magicians, a magic school and magic concerts.
Thanks to the Freundeskreis Literatur in Merseburg, there is the opportunity to become a „Merseburg Speaker of Spells“ by reciting the spells.
With the support of the Rotary Club Merseburg, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences has organised a Course under the direction of Prof. Kerstin Alexander, in which artworks and sculptures were created to accompany the spells for the public space were created.
The artist ANTOINETTE, a pupil of Bernhard Heisig, has opened her Altar of Europe completed. This shows the inspiration of the Merseburg spells on four panels.
Project coordinator for the Merseburg spells
In order to coordinate the various activities relating to the Merseburg Magic Spells and to provide suggestions, the United Cathedral Foundations have created the post of „Project Coordinator for the Merseburg Magic Spells“.
If you would like to develop your own initiatives or present your project, you can contact us.
Markus Cottin
Merseburg Cathedral Archive and Library
Domplatz 7
06217 Merseburg
Tel: 03461-823373
Exclusive tour "Die Merseburger Zaubersprüche"
To understand the incantations, guests are taken to the time around 900 A.D. – a period when people still believed in wonders and the power of their words and gods. What was their language? How did they live and work? We visit the location where the Merseburg incantations were found and are still kept. Why do magic spells still fascinate us after 1000 years? In an impressive interpretation this “spell” in Old High German language is also be brought to your ears. Please note that this tour is only available in German. You can, however, bring along and individual translator.
Contact
Besucherservice Merseburger Dom
Domplatz 7 | 06217 Merseburg
Tel. +49 (0) 3461 21 00 45
fuehrung@merseburger-dom.de
