[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.