>Is "Alraun" another word for Mandrake / Mandragora?
>tom izbicki
>
>
>
Yes, in fact it is, thank you for making this connection, because I myself
didn't realize it. According to the article _Alraun_ (der Alraun m., die
Alraune f.) in Kluge's _Etymologisches Wo"rterbuch_ (which in turn refers to
H. Marzell's article in _Handwo"rterbuch des deutschen Aberglaubens_), OHG
alruna, originally a woman's name (Albruna in Tacitus, Germ. 8), was
transferred as a name to to the plant (or to a plant similar to the
mandragora) and was used in OHG glosses as an equivalent for the mandragora
in Gn 16,14ss.; Kluge explains that since the biblical alruna/mandragora did
not grow on Germanic soil, the Germanic name has to be understood as
referring to similar roots, and namely to the equally toxic Zaunru"be (Bryonia).
Otfried
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