[Main Blog Post] What to Make of Whetstones in Germanish Tales?

[jprussell]

Well, things got away from me over the weekend, and so the post is a day late. This week, I share a theory I learned about the previously perplexing role of whetstones in Germanish myth. As always, I'd love to hear any thoughts you have.

Comments

[scotlyn]

Hello Jeff,
This post did spark a thought, so here it goes...

A long while back I heard a long traditional poetic recitation said to be in the voice of a forthrightly-spoken old Gaelic woman... I do not remember much of it, but a line to the effect that "the lovely men of that village coming down to the fair, their eyes like fire and their cocks like sharpening stones..." was unforgettable... ;)

Especially when the term "sharpening stone" evokes a material object (see it here - https://www.lenehans.ie/worldwide-surfacemaster-cigar-scythe-stone-305.html) rather different to the more squarish item evoked by the word "whetstone".

Make of this what you will. :)

Enjoying a read back of some of your essays, by the way.

[jprussell]

Hah! Memorable, indeed. I had never seen a sharpening stone that shape - only rectangular or hockey puck-shaped.

Joking aside, as some of my other posts and the comments thereof have touched on, sex is very much a part of these tales, and given that the symbolism discussed in the article all has to do with cleverness, prowess, and authority, which are all things traditionally found attractive in men, the phallic symbolism likely shouldn't be discounted, so thank you for sharing!

And also, thank you for the kind words, if you have further thoughts on them, I'd love to hear them.