Nykr, o espírito da água nórdico: mitologia, folclore e arte

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the nykr, a creature of the Nordic folklore, within a historical-cultural perspective. In order to do so, written and pictorial sources are analyzed, with emphasis on the nineteenth century, so as to identify aspects of the social imaginary that pervade tales and paintings of the same period. Nykr is a metamorphic water spirit that is believed to inhabit water bodies, and thus it is frequently associated with deaths by drowning. The Nordic folklore and arts from the 1800s present variation in the representations of this creature among the Scandinavian countries, but they also indicate a continuity of traditions concerning the cultural construction of the cognitive landscape of the water—especially regarding rivers and lakes. Such traditions refer to conceptions that can be perceived both from Old Norse and medieval religions, since they share resemblances with mythical narratives, and evoke a relation with the environment which is similar to what was conceived in pre-industrial societies. The term “cognitive landscape” is applied in the text in an analytical way to denote the symbolic landscape that is created by the human action of assigning meaning to nature and the environment. The cultural construction of the cognitive landscape is hence arranged by beliefs and social values. Among the conceptions concerning water bodies present in the imaginary identified in this study, there is the characterization of these as dangerous, alluring, bordering, wisdom and abundance source zones. Nykr, on its turn, embodies some of these aspects, and strengthens the fear and the enchantment toward rivers and lakes. Besides, it attends to the social demand of communities that live its tradition. Each tale attends to the demand of the group that shares it, be it a moral or a religious need, and from tales it is possible to apprehend symbolisms, and different perceptions of the world and social order.