Donnerschröter/Thor-Bagge/Thordyfvel
The Donnerschröter is a mythical creature from various Germanic beliefs. The name Donnerschröter translates to “Thunder Beetle” and the alternate Thordyfvel translates to “Thor’s devil.” They are beetles thought to be the embodiment of Thor. This associates them with lightning, agriculture, and later on the devil. Dung beetles were considered sacred to Thor since they lived in cow dung and dug in the earth, fitting the agriculture connection. Because of this, the larvae of the dung beetle were called “Earth Ox.” Putting a Dung Beetle on its back is considered a sin since they can’t right themselves, and failing to help an upside-down beetle could result in stomach aches. Some also think thunderstorms are caused when a Dung Beetle is squished. Christianisation led to Norse deities being considered demons or evil spirits, leading to these dung beetles being given a demonic context. In some French and German areas, the Dung Beetle is replaced by the Stag Beetle, possibly because a horned insect further brings to mind the devil. These were sometimes seen as a Familiar that’s hatched by putting its egg under one’s armpit for three weeks. After this time, a thumb-sized man is created which does various works. They aren’t allowed in houses because they attract lightning, and are also thought to carry coals into houses to light them on fire. In the Vosges mountains, some believe having a Stag Beetle head protects one from lightning. In one instance they were driven away by a priest fumigating the area.
Citations:
Kohn, Joseph Seligmann. Mythologie der Volksfragen und Volksmärchen: eine Darstellung ihrer genetischen Entwicklung, mit vorzugsweiser Berücksichtigung jener durch Deutungs-Versuche von Naturerscheinungen, Lokaleigenthümlichkeiten, Orts- und Personennamen, Wahrzeichen von Städten, Wappenbildern etc. erzeugten Sagenbildungen…. Germany, Verlag des Herausgebers, 1848.
Lindow, John. Scandinavian mythology: an annotated bibliography. United Kingdom, Garland Pub., 1988.
Meyer, Elard Hugo. Deutsche Mythologie. Germany, Dümmler, 1876.
