Nix – water spirits in germanic mythology

Nix (singular: Neck feminine: Nixie) are spirits who live in quiet rivers and ponds in England, Germany, and Scandinavia. Their passion for water is equaled only by their passion for music, as well as their beautiful songs frequently draw listeners towards the banks of the watery homes.

Characteristics

Physical Description

Each culture features its own undertake the Nix’s appearance, and also the creatures themselves can’t appear to stay on a single appearance either. They’re enthusiastic shapeshifters and could appear as humans, merpeople, snakes, fish, sunken treasures, or horses.

In human form, they often come with an elegant appearance, although their features might hint in their wilder natures. Their eyes and ears are sharper than normal, as well as their skin and hair may be tinted with eco-friendly or blue. In additional extreme cases, they are able to have gills, bulbous eyes, and webbed hands and ft. Their clothes, though stylish, are chronically wet round the hems.

Once they take the type of horses, they’re pure white-colored or apple-gray. Though they’re much more beautiful than average horses, they still bear telltale indications of their true nature, getting manes filled with river weeds or constantly dripping water.

Special Abilities

Nix are magical beings there isn’t any limit towards the hijinks they’ve committed over the many folktales that they appear. Still, a few of their abilities emerge as common styles.

These water spirits are shapeshifters. Apparently, they are able to undertake any appearance they need.

Their musical talent is beyond comparison. These sing softly, and a number of them couple instruments using their already spellbinding voices. Their music is capable of doing hypnotizing listeners and drawing them in to the water. Generally, Nix convey more control of ladies and children, as the feminine Nixie entrance grown men.

When they’re within an animal form, Nix switch the charms of the music with dazzling physical beauty. As horses, they are able to hypnotize onlookers by prancing around, flaunting their manes and tails, as quickly as they possibly can when singing inside a human form.

Weaknesses

Nix are magical, but they’re not invincible. There are many methods for you to undertake one of these simple water spirits, whether it becomes problematic.

Early legends hold that shedding a bit of silver or iron right into a Neck’s home can silence it when you securely mix water. Shouting the creature’s name, however, can silence it forever. The Neck will perish in the seem of their own name.

When Nix appear as horses, they’re frequently exposed to methods by local maqui berry farmers, who wish to harness their magical forces to some plow. A Neck may be lured in to the field with a beautiful maiden, then forced in to the plow’s harness by men with silver or iron.

The creatures can’t bear separation from water for any great period of time. When they don’t go back to water regularly, their spirits and forces will end up depressed. Eventually, they may perish from desiring their river or lake.

After Catholicism gripped The European Union, most of the traditional folktales were adapted to exhibit the strength of the church. At the moment, it had been stated you could ward the creatures served by holy water or by looking into making the manifestation of the mix.

Personality

In certain tales, Nix appear as harmful villains. In other people, they’re wise teachers, as well as in others still, they’re romantic figures.

When Nix have a villainous bent, they often have seductive characteristics. With music or beauty, they lure humans closer and nearer to the water’s edge. Finally, they grab their victims and drown them within the water.

Once they accept humans as students rather of victims, they are able to impart wonderful musical abilities. Usually, they might require payment for his or her training. A black animal, a present of alcohol or tobacco, or perhaps a beautiful maiden can purchase a Neck’s time.

In the start of the Romantic Era, Nix become potential enthusiasts for people. Both Nix and Nixie can adore humans. Once they do, the humans can rarely resist coming back their feelings. In the end, these magical water spirits are generally beautiful and spectacular at serenading their enthusiasts. Most Nix-romantic relationships arrived at a bittersweet finish, however. The Neck or Nixie can’t bear separation from the watery home and returns to existence there, despite being deeply dedicated to its human partner.

Eventually, after Catholicism required hold, the Nix personality was deepened by their desire to have Christian redemption as well as an immortal soul. Their music was stated to bemoan the truth that these were shut from the church, and lots of individuals who experienced the mournful spirits were suffering from heart-rending pity.

Famous Nix Figures

On the top from the prevalent fame their race enjoys, some representatives of Nix mythology possess a special fame all their own.

The Fossegrim (Strömkalen) is associated with Norwegian and Swedish mythology. He usually dwells near waterfalls or mills, where he plays gorgeous tunes on the violin. In return for the best gift, he’ll educate humans how you can take part in the violin so the wild birds, the trees, as well as the blind, deaf, and lame will dance.

The Brook Horse (Bäckahästen) is associated with Scandinavian mythology. He seems being an ethereal white-colored horse near rivers, usually during foggy weather. Individuals are drawn to the white-colored glow of his skin like moths will be to light, but when they climb to the Brook Horse, they’ll end up trapped on his back. The horse then gallops to the forest and drowns his rider.

Related Figures

Water spirits, outdoors from the Nix race, may have been influential in the introduction of this creature’s mythology.

Kelpies, originating from Scandinavian culture, are certainly associated with the Nix. Both of them are water creatures, and both frequently show up on land as horses, using the intent of luring humans in to the water and drowning them. As opposed to Nix, Kelpies usually appear as monstrous black horses.

Grindylows, owned by British folklore, could be associated with Nix. Like Nix, they’re harmful marine creatures who grab and drown humans once they venture within achieve. Unlike Nix, Grindylows generally inhabit bogs and marshes, and they’ve no connection to music.

Nymphs, owned by Greek and Latin mythology, may have tinged Nix mythology after Greek culture required root in Germany and Scandinavia. Like Nix, nymphs are connected with nature, sometimes with water. They’re beautiful to look at and frequently produce sweet music. Unlike Nix, nymphs are gentle and useful spirits without any status for violence. If nymphs did influence Nix mythology, the influence is most likely observed in a few of the later legends about Nix, once the creatures were more vulnerable to becoming romantically entangled with humans.

Cultural Representation

Origin

Nix originate from Germanic, Northern European cultures, where dental tradition dates back much, much beyond the written record. Because of this, it’s hard to trace just how they split removed from other water spirits and grew to become their very own, recognized creature. Certainly, the split happened before 1210, when Nix were pointed out inside a German epic poem, Nibelungenlied.

The term Nix originates from Old German and it has gone through many variations (German: Nichus, Niches, Nix Nederlander: nikker, nekker Norwegian: nøkk Swedish: näck Finnish: näkki Estonian:näkk) because it spread across cultures and because the ancient languages become their modern style. The initial concept of the name is “to wash or bathe.”

Literature and Visual Arts

Nix come in a number of Northern Europe’s earliest epic poems. Some scholars even classify the forest monster in Beowulf, the earliest epic poem designed in the British language, like a Neck.

Among other magical creatures from folklore, the Romantic Era ushered Nix to the canvases of numerous great painters and to the stages of numerous great theaters. Richard Wagner’s opera, Der Ring plusieurs Nibelungen, famously featured the Rhinemaidens, a trio of Nixies who protected a golden treasure within the Rhine river. Meanwhile, Heinrich Heine and Friedrich Silcher partnered to produce certainly one of Germany’s most beloved folk songs in regards to a Nixie name Lorelei.

Round the same period, Jakob Grimm, probably the most famous fairytale authors ever, discussed Nix in the book Deutsh Mythologie, which catalogued the most crucial creatures from German folktales. Grimm grouped all of them with other water sprites who enjoy singing and dancing and likened these to the sirens of classical mythology, who came men into treacherous waters using their hypnotic voices.

Today, Nix come in many role-doing offers and game titles. They’re usually humanoid and frequently have magical abilities associated with water.

Explanation from the Myth

Water, that is both necessary to existence and dangerously treacherous, has always captivated a persons imagination, and tales of spirits inhabiting water appear in every culture on the planet. To some extent, belief in water spirits, such as the Nix, may be an earlier means by which humans expressed their understanding of the strength of water.

Later incarnations from the Nix may have offered a far more defined purpose. They may be cautionary figures, utilized by parents to have their children from venturing too near to a dangerous section of a river or too close to the shores of the lake on the foggy night.

Resourse: http://mythology.internet/mythical-creatures/nix/