Norsery Rhymes from A to Z Happy Thorsday - Matrons Borvoboendoa
Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic, Celtic) mythological characters. This weeks it’s the Matron Borvoboendoa. Matron Goddess of the Healing Spring from Utrecht Germany.
She is likely sometimes depicted as having or being a white cow, given the Norse connection of magical waters flowing being symbolized with the connection to the primeval Cow Audumbla / Authumbla whose milk became rivers.
Some have translated her name to mean ‘The boiling waters’, ‘the boiling cows milk’ and my favourite, ‘the Seething White Cow. She is often cited as being similar and possibly related in theme to the River Goddesses and Celtic sisters Boand and Befind who both had white cows, as well as Bóinn “Of the White Cows” whose river brought the milk of wisdom.
Borvoboendoa would have likely been both a protector of this white frothing spring, and provider of it’s healing waters.
I’ll likely depict her as a cow next just to cover my bases.
