On the East side of Cape Arkona, lies Jasmund, the site of Jasmund National Park.
For those wanting to identify the Polabian Svantevit (worshipped at Arkona) with the Polish Jas, this presents a golden (or rather silver) opportunity. What is the origin of the word Jasmund?
Vasmer thought that the name Jasmund was of a Scandinavian origin with a Suavic overlay. Specifically, he thought the root was Norse comparing it to a name – Asmundr – that he was aware of. The “J”, however, he took for a Suavic addition. This may or may not be the case. There is no specific reason and Vasmer did not suggest such a reason why the cape should have anything to do with some guy by the name Asmundr. However, there is a connection to Svantevit, who rode out by night, if we explain the as- with a jas- that is as a reflection, so to speak, of light – jasny – just means light or bright in Suavic.
Moreover, although the word mund may mean “mind” or “mouth”, the Mond is also the German word for the “moon”. (Incidentally, why the same word may be used for both “mouth” and “moon” should be obvious to anyone who looks up at the moon anytime other than when there is a full moon…) In Polish, the word księżyc means the moon. That word, however, translates as the “little prince.” The original Suavic word seems to have been something like miesiąc (misyats compare this with the Ukrainian місяць) which today means “month” for obvious reasons. Whether these terms reflect the concept of a “man in the moon” (Mensch – compare this with the Suavic mąż which later in Polish at least turned into through a Russianism became mężczyzna.
The first mention of Jasmund is in 1232 – where see in Yasmunt curiam – as can be seen from the Pommersches Urkundenbuch:
Then in 1249 we have the same name under the term terre Yasmndie.
Whether Sagard, a nearby place has anything to do with Asgard is another question although given the history of Sagard, this is unlikely.
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