Dwarf Names Derive From Mistranslation Of A Druid Akkadian Text

For translation methodology see: How to Translate Alphabetic Akkadian Texts

The Dvergatal ("Catalogue of Dwarves") section of the Voluspa are verses 10-16 in the larger creation story (verses 3-16) found in the Poetic Eddas. The Dvergatal is the listing of Dwarves used by J.R. Tolkien in his book "Lord of the Rings." This creation story breaks up the Voluspa's narrative so it was likely an earlier independent story. Additionally, the actual list of dwarves turns out to be an even earlier Druid text written in Akkadian in which each dwarf name is an Akkadian sentence or phrase. The Druid text would have been written around 1100 CE in Scandinavia (for comparison the Codex Runicus was written in 1190 CE)
The creation story is:
3. Of old was the age | when Ymir lived;Sea nor cool waves | nor sand there were;Earth had not been, | nor heaven (sky-shell) above,But a yawning gap, | and grass nowhere.
4. Then Bur's sons lifted | the level land,Mithgarth the mighty | there they made;The sun from the south | warmed the stones of earth,And green was the ground | with growing leeks.
5. The sun, the sister | of the moon, from the southHer right hand cast | over heaven's rim;No knowledge she had | where her home should be,The moon knew not | what might was his,The stars knew not | where their stations were.
6. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,The holy ones, | and council held;Names then gave they | to noon and twilight,Morning they named, | and the waning moon,Night and evening, | the years to number.
7. At Ithavoll met | the mighty gods,Shrines and temples | they timbered high;Forges they set, and | they smithied ore,Tongs they wrought, | and tools they fashioned.
8. In their dwellings at peace | they played at tables,Of gold no lack | did the gods then know,--Till thither came | up giant-maids (should be "diviners") three,Huge of might, | out of Jotunheim.
9. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,The holy ones, | and council held,To find who should raise | the race of dwarfsOut of Brimir's blood | and the legs of Blain.
10. There was Motsognir | the mightiest madeOf all the dwarfs, | and Durin next;Many a likeness | of men they made,The dwarfs in the earth, | as Durin said.
11. Nyi and Nithi, | Northri and Suthri,Austri and Vestri, | Althjofr, Dvalin,Nar and Nainn, | Nipingr, Dain,Bifur, Bofur, | Bombur, Nori,An and Onar, | Óin, Mjothvitnir.
12. Vigg and Gandalf | Vindalf, Thorin,Thror and Thrain | Thekk, Lit and Vit,Nyr and Nyrath,-- | now have I told--Regin and Rathsvith-- | the list aright.
13. Fili, Kili, | Fundin, Nali,Hepti, Vili, | Hannar, Sviur,Billing, Bruni, | Bildr and Buri,Frar, Hornbori, | Fræg and Loni,Aurvang, Jari, | Eikinskjaldi.
14. The race of the dwarfs | in Dvalin's throngDown to Lofar | the list must I tell;The rocks they left, | and through wet landsThey sought a home | in the fields of sand.
15. There were Draupnir | and Dolgthrasir,Hor, Haugspori, | Hlevang, Gloin,Dori, Ori, | Duf, Andvari,Skirfir, Virfir, | Skafith, Ai.
16. Alf and Yngvi, | Eikinskjaldi (Oakenshield)Fjalar and Frosti, | Finn and Ginnar;So for all time | shall the tale be known,The list of all | the forbears of Lofar.
17. Then from the throng | did three come forth,From the home of the gods, | the mighty and gracious;Two without fate | on the land they found,Ask and Embla, | empty of might.
18. Soul they had not, | sense they had not,Heat nor motion, | nor goodly hue;Soul gave Othin, | sense gave Hönir,Heat gave Lothur | and goodly hue.
19. An ash I know, | Yggdrasil its name,With water white | is the great tree wet;Thence come the dews | that fall in the dales,Green by Urth's well | does it ever grow.
20. Thence come the maidens | mighty in wisdom,Three from the dwelling | down 'neath the tree;Urth is one named, | Verthandi the next,--On the wood they scored,-- | and Skuld the third.Laws they made there, and life allottedTo the sons of men, and set their fates.........

Original


10. Þar var Móðsognir mæztr of orðinndverga allra, en Durinn annarr;þeir mannlíkun mörg of gerðudvergar í jörðu, sem Durinn sagði.
11. Nýi, Niði, Norðri, Suðri,Austri, Vestri, Alþjófr, Dvalinn,Nár ok Náinn Nípingr, DáinnBívurr, Bávurr, Bömburr, Nóri,Ánn ok Ánarr, Óinn, Mjöðvitnir.
12. Veggr ok Gandalfr, Vindalfr, Þorinn,Þrár ok Þráinn, Þekkr, Litr ok Vitr,Nýr ok Nýráðr, nú hefi ek dverga,Reginn ok Ráðsviðr, rétt of talða.
13. Fíli, Kíli, Fundinn, Náli,Hefti, Víli, Hannar, Svíurr,Billingr, Brúni, Bíldr ok Buri,Frár, Hornbori, Frægr ok Lóni,Aurvangr, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.
14. Mál er dverga í Dvalins liðiljóna kindum til Lofars telja,þeir er sóttu frá salar steiniAurvanga sjöt til Jöruvalla.
15. Þar var Draupnir ok Dolgþrasir,Hár, Haugspori, Hlévangr, Glóinn,Dóri, Óri Dúfr, AndvariSkirfir, Virfir, Skáfiðr, Ái.
16. Alfr ok Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,Fjalarr ok Frosti, Finnr ok Ginnarr;þat mun æ uppi meðan öld lifir,langniðja tal Lofars hafat. 

References


  1. Full translation of the Voluspa by Bellows online at Sacred Texts: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe03.htm
  2. Original online at: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/V%C3%B6lusp%C3%A1
Example pages from the Codex Regious in which the Poetic Edda are preserved. Scholar's estimate it was written in the 1270's. Notice the words have been separated indicating older Druid runic texts such as the Dvergatal has already been re-interpreted.
Image from Wikimedia Commons at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Codex_Regius_of_Eddaic_Poems.jpg

J.R. Tolkien's Dwarf Names Came from A Druid Text Preserved In The Voluspa (1200-1350 CE) Creation Story

(July 4, 2023, updated April 13, 2025) The Voluspa is a creation story created from the mixing Druid and Christian cultural traditions.  Its Christian influence is evidenced by its apocalyptic theme and by some of the proper names. For example "Jotunheim" is its name for heaven using the Druid Akkadian phrase of "Yahu's/Yahweh's pasture revealed" where "pasture" is an epithet for the starry night sky. 

Names are not a translation! This is because names can be any arbitrary cluster of letters. The more names a translation has the more likely it is incorrect. Name translations are the last refuge of the incompetent translator.

In this case, dwarf names are found in the Nordic creation story called the Vǫluspá (also Völuspá, Vǫlospá or Vǫluspǫ́). This word is the Akkadian phrase U'.LW.S.P.A meaning "Fate curses loved by Su can be opened with this." The word "Dvergatal" is the Druid Akkadian phrase DW.ER.G.AT.AL meaning "The convulsions of the harbor energizing the monitoring of Alu." The variants dverga and dvergar are found in paragraph 10 respectively meaning "The convulsions in the harbor (sky shell full of rain making stars) are energizing those" and "The convulsions of the harbor are energizing the Controllers (eagle-vultures)."

The letter /o/ is the Akkadian glottal stop sign called ayin ('). It is replaced in Indo-European languages with either /a/ or /o/.  

In another surprise, this whole text turns out to have originally been a Druid Akkadian text as evidenced by its coherent translation in Druid Akkadian. This is a good example of how bards created new written local language words out of Akkadian phrases by roughly matching them to words heard from the local spoken dialect which may or may not have had any relation to the Akkadian words.

What is significant here is that all the Dvergatal's word divisions correspond to the sentence divisions of the underlying runic text. This means some runic text was directly copied. Additionally, the copiest had knowledge of current pronunciation of the Akkadian word in the developing native language. For example, the copiest wrote the Akkadian letter "P"  either as þ or p. The copiest also combined Druid Akkadian words where they would have been slurred together. Pu and Aru became "Par." The nominal ending /u/ of the Akkadian words would have been dropped early in European history because endings no longer conveyed grammatical states in Druid Akkadian.

Paragraph 10 - Blaming fate controlled life powers for the current problems, especially the eagle-vultures

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with "OF" attached to the prior word: Þar var Móðsognir mæztr of orðinn): Pu  ARu  Wa  ARu.  Ma'u  Di'u  Gi  Nu  IRu.  Mu  EZu  Tu  Re'u.  Pu.  ARu  Du  INu  Nu.

  • Opening the Controllers (eagle-vultures) has cursed the Controllers. Pushing-away the divine energy has revealed the astrology-fate-powers. The fertility-fluids can frustrate astrology-magic's openings. The Controllers are manifesting the Moon-Eye's (Su) fate-revelations.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: dverga allra en Durinn annarr): DaWu  ERu  Gu  A.  A  Lu  LaRu  A. ENu  Du  IRu  INu  Nu.  ANu  Nu  ARu  Ru.

  • The convulsions in the harbor (life network and sky-shell) are energizing those (manifestations of fate). That lack is diverting them. The reassignments are manifesting the astrological-fate-powers of Moon-eye's revelations.  Considerations are reveling the control of the eagle-vultures.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with "OF" attached to the prior word: þeir mannlíkun mörg of gerðu):  Pu  E  IRu.  Mu  A  NuNu  Lu  IKu  UNu.  Ma'u  Ru  Ga'u  Pu.  Gi  E  Ru  Du  Wu

  • Openings (through the life network) can make ineffective the astrological-fate-powers. Fertility-fluids resulting from chaos will be lacking the irrigation-network's resistances.  Pushing the eagle-vulture will break the openings. Energy can make ineffective eagle-vulture's manifestations of fate.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: dvergar í jörðu, sem Durinn sagði): DaWu  ERu  Gu  ARu.  Ya  Ya'u  Ru  DaWu.  Su  EMu  Du  URu  INu  Nu.  Su  AGu  Du  Ya.

  • The convulsions of the harbor are energizing the Controllers (eagle-vultures).  Are not Yahu's eagle-vultures being convulsed? Su is supervising the life-manifestations of the dawn's Moon-eye revelations. Su's anger is not being manifested.

Paragraph 11 - Fate can be controlled by the shepherd-priests with their astrology magic

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: Nýi, Niði, Norðri, Suðri) Nu  YaYa.  Nu  IDu  Ya.  Ne'u  ReDu  ReYu. Su  UDu  ReYu

  • Fate-revelations are causing pain. The fate-revelations can be be channeled. Emotional-effects can be driven by the shepherd-priests. Su can be crafted by the shepherd-priests.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: Austri, Vestri, Alþjófr, Dvalinn) AWu  SaTu  RuYu.  Wa  ESu  Tu  ReYu.  ALu  Du  Ya'u  PaRu.  DaWu  A  Lu  INu Nu.

  • Emotion-powers can be allocated by the shepherd-priests. The curses can be filtered by astrology-magic's shepherd-priests. Alu will be manifested from Yahu's emotional-coercions. The convulsions result from lacking the Moon-eye's revelations.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Nárok Náinn Nípingr, Dáinn): Nu  A  Re'u  Ku.  Nu  AYu  NuNu.  Nu  IPu  INu  GeRu. Du  AYu  NuNu.

  • The revelations (of fate) are resulting from the shepherd-priests involvement.  The revelations of Ayu's eagle-vultures are becoming chaotic. The revelations are freeing-up the Moon-eye's (Su) guidance. The manifestations of Ayu is becoming chaotic.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: Bívurr, Bávurr, Bömburr, Nóri) Bu  IPu  URu  Ru.  Bu  AWu  URu  Ru.  Ba'u  MaBu  URu  Ru,  Ne'u  ReYu

  • Nourishments can free-up the dawn's eagle-vultures. Nourishments can emotionally-empower the dawn's eagle-vultures.  The network-birds can mobilize the dawn's eagle-vultures, emotionally-affecting the shepherd-priests.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Ánnok, Ánarr, Óinn, Mjöðvitnir). ANu  Ne'u  Ku.  ANu  ARu  Ru.  AYu  NuNu.  Mu  Ya'u  DaWu  ITu  Nu  IRu

  • Considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic) can emotionally-affect the involvement (between life and e/motion powers).  Considerations can control the eagle-vultures. Ayu is being chaotic. The fertility-fluids of Yahu are being convulsed by omens revealing the astrological-fate-powers.

Paragraph 12 - Use emotion-based astrology magic to overcome fate

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Veggrok Gandalfr, Vindalfr, Þorinn):  Wa  E  GaGu  Re'u  Ku.  Gi  ANu  Du  ALu  PaRu.  Wa  INu  Du  ALu  PaRu.  Pa'u  ReYu  NuNu

  • Curses are making ineffective the isolation of  the shepherd-priests involvements.  Energy from considerations can manifest Alu's emotional-coercions. Curses from the Moon-eye can manifest Alu's emotional-coercions.  The network-birds are shepherding the chaos.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Þrár ok Þráinn, Þekkr, Litr ok Vitr) PaRu  A  Re'u Ku.  PaRu  AYu  NuNu.  Pu  EKu  Ku  Ru.  Lu  ITu  Re'u  K.  Wa  ITu  Ru.

  • Emotional-coercion will result from the shepherd-priest's involvement.  Emotional-coercion of Ayu causes chaos. Opening starvation will involve eagle-vultures. The lack of omens is from the shepherd-priests involvements. Curse the omens of the eagle-vultures.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Nýr ok Nýráðr, nú hefi ek dverga) Nu  Yu  Re'u  Ku.  Nu  IRu  ADu  Ru.  Nu  Wu  Ḫu.  EPu  Ya  EKu.  DaWu  ERu  Gu  A

  • Don't reveal the shepherd-priest's involvement. Reveal the astrological-fate-powers instigations of the eagle-vultures.  Reveal the curses of Hu. Don't bake-in the starvation. Convulsing the harbor is energizing that.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Reginn ok Ráðsviðr, rétt of talða) Ru  EGu  INu  Ne'u  K.  Ru  ADu  Su  Wa  IDu  Ru.  Ru  ETu  Ta'u  Pu.  Tu  A  LuDu  A.

  • Eagle-vultures are neglecting the Moon-eye's shepherd-priest involvement. Eagle-vultures can instigate Su's curse on the life-channel's eagle-vultures. The eagle-vultures boundary can pasture openings (of the life network).  Astrology magic will result in cultivating that (like turning pasture into a plowed field)

Paragraph 13 - Don't open fate but control it

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: Fíli, Kíli, Fundinn, Náli): Pu  Ya  LeYu. Ku  Ya  LeYu.  Pu  UNu  Du  INu  Nu.  Nu  A  LaYu.

  • Don't open fate.  Don't involve fate.  Open resistance to manifesting the Moon-eye's revelations.  (Those) revelations will involve fate.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text: Hefti, Víli, Hannar, Svíurr): Ḫu  EPu  Tu  Yu. Wa Ya  LeYu.  Ḫu  ANu  Nu  ARu.  Su  Wa  Ya  URu  Ru

  • Hu's baking is not from doing astrology-magic. Don't curse fate. Hu's considerations are revealing the Controllers (eagle-vultures). Su's is not cursing the dawn's eagle-vultures.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Billingr, Brúni, Bíldr ok, Buri): Bu  ILu  Lu  INu  GRu. BaRu  Wa  Nu  Ya.  Bu  ILu  Du  Re'u  Ku.  Bu  Wa  ReYu

  • Nourishing the high-powers is lacking the Moon-eye's guidance. The seers curses are not being revealed. Nourishing the high-powers will manifest the shepherd-priest's involvements. Nourishments are being cursed by the dawn.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Frár, Hornbori, Frægr ok Lóni): PaRu  ARu.  Ḫu'u  Ru  Nu  Ba'u  ReYu.  PaRu  EGu  Ru.  Le'u  Nu Ya

  • Emotionally-coerce the Controllers (eagle-vultures).  The astrological-fate-owls for the eagle-vultures can reveal the divine-birds of shepherd-priests.  Emotional-coercion can neglect the eagle-vultures. Fate is not being revealed.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text:  Aurvangr, Jari, Eikinskjaldi): AWu  ReWu  ANu  GaRu.  Yu  A  ReYu. E  IKu  INu  Su  Ku  Ya,  ALu  Du  Ya

  • Emotion-powers (Awen) from the shepherd-priest's considerations can guide. Shouldn't that result in shepherding?  (Any) Ineffectiveness of the irrigation-network's Moon-eye Su will not be involved, with Alu not being manifested.

Paragraph 14 - Need the emotion-powers (Awen) of shepherd-priest's astrology-magic to energize life powers

(Using the word divisions in the text: Mál er dverga í Dvalins liði): Mu  A  Lu  ERu.  DaWu  ERu  Gu  A.  Ya  DaWu  A  Lu  INu  Su.  Lu  IDu  Ya

  • The fertility-fluids are resulting in deficiencies in the harbor. The convulsions of the harbor are energizing those. Are not the convulsions resulting in deficiencies in the Moon-eye Su? Deficiencies cannot be channeled.

(Using the word divisions in the text: ljóna kindum til Lofars telja): Lu  Ya'u  Nu  A.  Ku  INu  Du  UMu,  Tu  ILu.  Le'u  Pu  ARu  Su.  Tu  E  LeYu  A

  • The deficiency of Yahu (Y') has been revealed by this. Involve the Moon-Eye (Su) for manifesting the storm-powers, astrology-magic for the high-powers. Fate can be opened-up by control from Su.  Astrology-magic can make ineffective the fate from those (the high powers).

(Using the word divisions in the text: þeir er sóttu frá salar steini): Pu  E  IRu.  ERu  Se'u  Tu  TaWu.  PaRu  A.  Su  A  Lu  ARu.  SaTu  E  Nu  Ya

  • Openings can make ineffective the astrological-fate-powers.  The harbor can inhibit astrology-magic's pasture (starry night sky). Emotional-coercion is the result.  Su can result in a deficiency of control.  (But) Allocation  ineffectiveness is not being revealed.

(Using the word divisions in the text: Aurvanga sjöt til Jöruvalla): AWu  ReWu  ANu  Gu  A.  Su  Ya'u  Tu.  Tu  ILu.  Ya'u  ReWu  U  ALu  Lu  A

  • Emotion-powers (Awen) of the shepherd-priests considerations can energize these: Su, Yahu (Y'), astrology-magic, astrology magic of the high-powers. Yahu's (Y') shepherding and Alu are lacking these.

Paragraph 15 - Controlling fate and various divine powers with emotion magic.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Þar var Draupnir ok Dolgþrasir): Pu  ARu.  Wa  ARu.  DaRu  AWu  PaNu  Ya  Re'u  Ku. Di'u  LaGu  PaRu  ASu  IRu

  • Openings can be controlled. Fate-curses can be controlled. Shaping the emotion-powers (Awen) will not winnow the shepherd-priest's involvements. The divine-powers can attune to the emotional-coercion of the Celestial-healer's (Selu/Selene) astrological-fate-powers.

(Using the word divisions in the text: Hár, Haugspori, Hlévangr, Glóin) Ḫu  Aru.  Ḫu AWu  GaSu  Pa'u  ReYu.  Gi  Le'u  INu

  • Hu can be controlled. Hu's emotion-powers can bless the network birds of the shepherd-priests. Energy can fate the Moon-eye (Su).

(Using the word divisions in the text: Dóri, Óri Dúfr, Andvari)  Di'u  ReYu.  A  ReYu.  DaWu  PaRu.  ANu  DaWu  A  ReYu

  • The divine-powers can be shepherded. Their results can be shepherded. The convulsions can be emotionally-coerced. Considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic) for the convulsions is the result of shepherding.

(Using the word divisions in the text: Skirfir, Virfir, Skáfiðr, Ái) Su  Ku  IRu  Pu  IRu.  Wa  IRu  Pu  IRu.  Su  Ku  APu  IDu  Ru  AYu

  • Su can be involved with astrological-fate-powers opening (other) astrological-fate-powers. Cursing the astrological-fate-powers can open astrological-fate-powers. Su can be involved with the veil channeling the eagle-vultures of Ayu.

Paragraph 16 - Defining how astrology-magic is different from emotion magic.

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Alfr ok Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi) ALu  Pu  Re'u  Ku.  INu  Gu  UYa.  E  IKu  INu  Su  KaYa  A  LaDu  Ya

  • Alu can open the shepherd-priests involvements. The Moon-eye can energize the fate-curses. The ineffectiveness of the irrigation-network from the Moon-eye Su's prodding that is not being cultivated.  

(Using the dwarf word divisions in the text with the "OK" attached to the prior dwarf: Fjalarr ok Frosti, Finnr ok Ginnarr)  PaYu  A  Lu  ARu  Re'u  Ku.  Pu  Re'u  Su  Tu  Ya.  Pu  INu  Nu  Re'u  Ku. Gi  INu  Nu  ARu  Ru.

  • The network-birds (eagle-vultures) are resulting from a deficiency in the control of the shepherd-priest's involvement. Opening the shepherding of Su is not doing astrology-magic. Opening the Moon-eye's revelations for the shepherd-priests involvement is. Energy from the Moon-eye will reveal the control of the eagle-vultures.

(Using the word divisions in the text: þat mun æ uppi meðan öld lifir) Pu  A  Tu.  Mu  UNu,  E  UPu  PaYu.  Mu  EDu  ANu.  A  Lu  Du.  Lu  IPu  IRu

  • Openings can result in astrology-magic.  Fertility-fluids will resist, the ineffectiveness,  of the wind's network birds (owls).  (Therefore) Fertility-fluids can motivate considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic). That will make deficient the life-manifestations. Deficiencies will free-up the astrological-fate-powers.

(Using the word divisions in the text: langniðja tal Lofars hafat) Lu  ANu  GiNu  IDu  Ya  A.  Tu  A  Lu.  Le'u  Pu  ARu  Su.   Ḫu  APu  ATu

  • Deficiencies in considerations which are consistent will not channel that. Astrology-magic will result in deficiency. Fate can open the control of Su. Hu can veil the monitoring.