NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Germanic polytheism

Germanic paganism refers to the religion of the Germanic nations preceding Christianization. The best documented of the Germanic Pagan religions is 10th and 11th century Norse paganism. Scattered references are also found in the earliest writings of other Germanic peoples and Roman descriptions. The information can be supplemented with archaeological finds and remnants of pre-Christian beliefs in later folklore. Heathen redirects here. ... St Francis Xavier converting the Paravas: a 19th-century image of the docile heathen Ansgar, the 9th century apostle of the North in an 1830 drawing. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Norse paganism or Nordic religion is a termed used to abbreviate the religion preferably amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries under pre-Christian period that are supported by archaeology findings and early written materials. ... Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, material culture, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or group. ...

The Germanic religion was a polytheistic religion with some underlying similarities to other Indo-European traditions. The principal gods are best known in English as Odin (from the ON: Óðinn, OHG: Wodan, OE: Wōden), Thor (ON: Þórr, OHG: Donar, OE: Þunor) and Týr (ON: Týr, OHG: Ziu, OE: Tiw). Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Thors battle against the giants, by MÃ¥rten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor (Old Norse: ÃžÃ³rr) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Norse Mythology and more generally Germanic mythology (Old English: Ãžunor, Old Dutch and Old High German: Donar, from Proto-Germanic *Ãžunraz). ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... TÃ½r, depicted here with both hands intact, is identified with Mars in this illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ...

1 Sources
2 Pre-Migration Period
3 Migration Age
4 Viking Age
5 Middle Ages
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links

Sources

Most sources documenting Germanic paganism have been lost, and it is only from Iceland that there is a substantial literature, namely the Sagas and the Eddas. Some information is found in the Nibelungenlied and in Beowulf. Limited information also exists in Tacitus' ethnographic work Germania, although some preface is necessary due to context. The Norse sagas or Viking sagas (Icelandic: Íslendingasögur), are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, about migration to Iceland, and of feuds between Icelandic families. ... For Edda great-grandmother as the ancestress of serfs see Ríg. ... The Nibelungenlied is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... The first page of Beowulf This article is about the epic poem. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Map of the Roman Empire and Germania Magna in the early 2nd century, with the location of some Germanic tribes as described by Tacitus. ...

Further material has been deduced from folk customs found in surviving rural folk traditions that have either been mildly superficially Christianized or lightly modified, including surviving laws and legislature (Althing, Anglo-Saxon law, the Grágás), calendar dates, customary folktales and traditional symbolism found in folk art. The Althing (Modern Icelandic AlÃ¾ingi; Old Norse AlÃ¾ing) is the national parliament: literally, the all-thing (or General Assembly) of Iceland. ... Anglo-Saxon law is a body of legal rules and customs which obtained in England before the Norman conquest, and which constitute, with the Scandinavian laws, the most genuine expression of Teutonic legal thought. ... The Gray Goose Laws (Icelandic: GrÃ¡gÃ¡s) were a collection of laws from the Icelandic Commonwealth period consisting of Icelandic civil laws and the laws governing the Christian church in Iceland. ... Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, material culture, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or group. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

The majority of the evidence for Germanic paganism, both written and monumental, was likely intentionally destroyed when Christianity slowly gained dominant political power in Germania and later Scandinavia throughout the mediæval period. Map of the Roman Empire and the free Germania, Magna Germania, in the early 2nd century. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

Although perhaps singularly most responsible for the destruction of pagan sites, including purported massacres such as the Bloody Verdict of Verden and the subsequent dismantling of ancient tribal ruling systems, the Frankish emperor Charlemagne is said to have acquired a substantial collection of Germanic pre-Christian writings, which was deliberately destroyed after his death. Massacres are individual events of deliberate mass killing, especially of noncombatant civilians or other innocents. ... The Bloody Verdict of Verden (from German Blutgericht) was an alleged massacre of Saxons in 782, ordered by Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. ... Look up Frank, frank in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A portrait of Charlemagne by Albrecht DÃ¼rer that was painted several centuries after Charlemagnes death. ...

Pre-Migration Period

Caesar

The earliest forms of the Germanic religion can only be speculated on based on archaeological evidence and comparative religion. The first written description is in Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico. He contrasts the elaborate religious custom of the Gauls with the primitive German traditions. Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC â€“ March 15, 44 BC), often simply referred to as Julius Caesar, was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in world history. ... An 18th century edition of Commentarii de Bello Gallico Commentarii de Bello Gallico (literally Commentaries on the Gallic War in Latin) is an account written by Julius Caesar about his nine years of war in Gaul. ...

The Germans differ much from these usages, for they have neither Druids to preside over sacred offices, nor do they pay great regard to sacrifices. They rank in the number of the gods those alone whom they behold, and by whose instrumentality they are obviously benefited, namely, the sun, fire, and the moon; they have not heard of the other deities even by report. — The Gallic War - 6.21 (or in Latin)

Caesar's description contrasts with other information on the early Germanic tribes and is not given much weight by modern scholars. More interesting is his note that Mercury is the principal god of the Gauls. A sculpture of the Roman god Mercury by 17th-century Flemish artist Artus Quellinus. ...

They worship as their divinity, Mercury in particular, and have many images of him, and regard him as the inventor of all arts, they consider him the guide of their journeys and marches, and believe him to have great influence over the acquisition of gain and mercantile transactions. — The Gallic War - 6.17 (or in Latin)

The worship of deities identified by the Romans with Mercury seems to have been prominent among the northerly tribes.

Tacitus

A much more detailed description of Germanic religion is Tacitus' Germania, dating to the 1st century. Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Map of the Roman Empire and Germania Magna in the early 2nd century, with the location of some Germanic tribes as described by Tacitus. ... The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 to 100 according the Gregorian calendar. ...

Tacitus describes both animal and human sacrifice. He identifies the chief Germanic god with the Roman Mercury, who on certain days receives human sacrifices, while gods identified by Tacitus with Hercules and Mars receive animal sacrifice. The Suebians also make immolations to a goddess, who is identified by Tacitus with Isis. A sheep is led to the altar, 6th century BC Corinthian fresco. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A sculpture of the Roman god Mercury by 17th-century Flemish artist Artus Quellinus. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Heracles. ... Note: This article contains special characters. ... The Suebi or Suevi were a Germanic people whose origin was near the Baltic Sea . ... Statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture A goddess is a female deity, in contrast with a male deity known as a god. Many cultures have goddesses. ... This article discusses the ancient goddess. ...

Another goddess, Nerthus, is revered as the Earth Mother by Reudignians, Aviones, Angles, Varinians, Eudoses, Suardones and Nuithones. Nerthus is believed to directly interpose in human affairs. Her sanctuary is on an island, specifically in a wood called Castum. A chariot covered with a curtain is dedicated to the goddess, and only the high priest may touch it. The priest is capable of seeing the goddess enter the chariot. Drawn by cows, the chariot travels around the countryside and wherever the goddess visits, a great feast is held. During the travel of the goddess, these tribes do not go to war and touch no arms. When the priest declares that the goddess is tired of conversation with mortals, the chariot returns and is washed, together with the curtains, in a secret lake. The goddess is also washed. The slaves who administer this purification are afterwards thrown into the lake.[1] Nerthus (also sometimes Hertha) is a Germanic fertility goddess who was mentioned by Tacitus in his work entitled Germania. ... The Earth Mother is a motif that appears in many mythologies. ... The Reudigni were one of the Nerthus-worshipping tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. ... The Auiones (*Awioniz meaning island people) were one of the Nerthus-worshipping tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania, and this tribe probably lived on Ã–land (Kendrick 1930:71). ... White cliffs of Dover in England White cliffs of Rugen down the Baltic coast from Schleswig The Angles is a modern English word for a Germanic-speaking people who took their name from the cultural ancestor of Angeln, a modern district located in Schleswig, Germany. ... Italic textThe Varni (Procopius), Varini (Tacitus), Varinnae (Pliny the Elder), WÃ¦rns/Werns (Widsith) and Warnii (the Thuringian Law) probably refer to a little known Germanic tribe. ... The Jutes were a Germanic people who are believed to have originated in Jylland (Jutland) in modern Denmark and part of the Frisian coast. ... The Suarines were one of the Nerthus-worshipping tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. ... The Nuithones were one of the Nerthus-worshipping tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. ... Hittite chariot (drawing of an Egyptian relief) Approximate historical map of the spread of the chariot, 2000 â€“500 BC. A chariot is a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle. ...

According to Tacitus, the Germanic tribes think of temples as being unsuitable habitations for gods, and they do not represent them as idols in human shape. Instead of temples, they consecrate woods or groves to individual gods.

Divination and augury was very popular: This article is about the religious practice of divination. ... Omens or portents are signs encountered fortuitously that are believed to foretell the future. ...

To the use of lots and auguries, they are addicted beyond all other nations. Their method of divining by lots is exceedingly simple. From a tree which bears fruit they cut a twig, and divide it into two small pieces. These they distinguish by so many several marks, and throw them at random and without order upon a white garment. Then the Priest of the community, if for the public the lots are consulted, or the father of a family about a private concern, after he has solemnly invoked the Gods, with eyes lifted up to heaven, takes up every piece thrice, and having done thus forms a judgment according to the marks before made. If the chances have proved forbidding, they are no more consulted upon the same affair during the same day: even when they are inviting, yet, for confirmation, the faith of auguries too is tried. Yea, here also is the known practice of divining events from the voices and flight of birds. But to this nation it is peculiar, to learn presages and admonitions divine from horses also. These are nourished by the State in the same sacred woods and groves, all milk-white and employed in no earthly labour. These yoked in the holy chariot, are accompanied by the Priest and the King, or the Chief of the Community, who both carefully observed his actions and neighing. Nor in any sort of augury is more faith and assurance reposed, not by the populace only, but even by the nobles, even by the Priests. These account themselves the ministers of the Gods, and the horses privy to his will. They have likewise another method of divination, whence to learn the issue of great and mighty wars. From the nation with whom they are at war they contrive, it avails not how, to gain a captive: him they engage in combat with one selected from amongst themselves, each armed after the manner of his country, and according as the victory falls to this or to the other, gather a presage of the whole.

The reputation of Tacitus' Germania is somewhat marred as a historical source by the writer's rhetorical tendencies. The main purpose of his writing seems to be to hold up examples of virtue and vice for his fellow Romans rather than give a truthful ethnographic or historical account. But while Tacitus' interpretations are sometimes dubious, the names and basic facts he reports are credible; Tacitus touches on several elements of Germanic culture known from later sources. Human and animal sacrifice is attested by archaeological evidence and medieval sources. Rituals tied to natural features are found both in medieval sources and in Nordic folklore. A ritual chariot or wagon as described by Tacitus was excavated in the Oseberg find. Sources from medieval times until the 19th century point to divination by making predictions or finding the will of the gods from randomized phenomena as an obsession of Germanic cultures. Or as Tacitus puts it "To the use of lots and auguries, they are addicted beyond all other nations." The Oseberg longship (Viking Ship Museum, Norway) vantage exactly from the front - one of the most stunning expressions of Norse art and craftsmenship The Oseberg ship was found in a large burial mound at the Oseberg farm near TÃ¸nsberg in Vestfold county, Norway, in 1904. ...

While there is rich archaeological and linguistic evidence of earlier Germanic religious ideas, these sources are all mute, and cannot be interpreted with much confidence. Seen in light of what we know about the medieval survival of the Germanic religions as practiced by the Nordic nations, some educated guesses may be made. However, the presence of marked regional differences make generalization of any such reconstructed belief or practice a risky venture.

Reconstruction

Elements of Common Germanic mythology and religion may be reconstructed from elements common to North and West Germanic, see Common Germanic deities. The article lists gods and goddesses (*Ansewez, *Wanizaz) that may be reconstructed for Proto-Germanic or Common Germanic Migration period paganism, or which figure in both West and North Germanic mythology; See Norse deities, Anglo-Saxon deities and German deities for deities particular to one of these traditions. ...

Migration Age

See also Anglo-Saxon polytheism

During the Migration period, Germanic religion was subject to syncretic influence from Christianity and Mediterranean culture (see also Runes, Erilaz). Anglo-Saxon polytheism refers to the Migration Period Germanic Heathen religion practiced by the Anglo-Saxons in 5th to 7th century England. ... Human migration denotes any movement of groups of people from one locality to another, rather than of individual wanderers. ... Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Technical note: Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... Erilaz is a Migration period Proto-Norse word attested on various Elder Futhark inscriptions, which has often been interpreted to mean magician or rune master, viz. ...

Jordanes' Getica is a 6th century account of the Goths. According to the Getica, the chief god of the Goths was Mars, who they believed was born among them. The Origin and Deeds of the Goths (Latin: De origine actibusque Getarum), commonly referred to as Getica, was written by Jordanes, probably in Constantinople, and was published in AD 551. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... The Origin and Deeds of the Goths (Latin: De origine actibusque Getarum), commonly referred to as Getica, was written by Jordanes, probably in Constantinople, and was published in AD 551. ... Mars was the Roman god of war, the son of Juno and a magical flower (or Jupiter). ...

Now Mars has always been worshipped by the Goths with cruel rites, and captives were slain as his victims. They thought that he who is the lord of war ought to be appeased by the shedding of human blood. To him they devoted the first share of the spoil, and in his honor arms stripped from the foe were suspended from trees. And they had more than all other races a deep spirit of religion, since the worship of this god seemed to be really bestowed upon their ancestor. — Getica

Saint Columbanus in the 6th century encountered a beer sacrifice to Woden in Bregenz. In the 8th century, the Saxons venerated an Irminsul (see also Donar's Oak). Charlemagne is reported to have destroyed the Saxon Irminsul in 772. Saint Columbanus (543 - 21 November 615; also Saint Columban), was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Symbel (from Proto-Germanic *sumlan banquet, continuing *sm-lo-, i. ... This is the article about the West Germanic deity, for other uses see Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Bregenz is the capital of Vorarlberg, the westernmost federal state of Austria. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation). ... Detail of the bent Irminsul on the Externsteine relief. ... Thors Oak was an ancient tree sacred to the Germanic tribe of the Catti, ancestors of todays Hessians, and one of the most important sacred sites of the Germans. ... A portrait of Charlemagne by Albrecht DÃ¼rer that was painted several centuries after Charlemagnes death. ... Events Pope Adrian I succeeds Pope Stephen IV. Adrian I turns to Charlemagne for support against king Desiderius of the Lombards. ...

The Anglo-Saxon springtime goddess Eostre is considered by some to be an invention of Bede, in spite of Jacob Grimm's 1835 claim of a continental goddess "Ostara" from whose name he derived Easter (German Ostern). The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to King Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... Eostre (Easter) is the name of a putative goddess of the Anglo-Saxons. ... Bede (IPA: ) (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin) Beda (IPA: )), (ca. ... The Brothers Grimm on a 1000DM banknote. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Ostara, according to Jakob Grimm in his Deutsche Mythologie, is the Old High German name for the Easter festival. ... Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). ...

In the Old High German "Merseburg Incantations" (Merseburger Zaubersprüche), the only pre-Christian testimony in the German language, appears a Sinhtgunt who is the sister of the sun maiden Sunna (Sol). She is not known by name in Norse mythology, and if she refers to the moon, she is then different from the Scandinavian (Mani), who is male. She is moon maiden Nanna, sister of Sunna and wife of Balder. The Goths were converted to Arianism in the 4th century, contemporaneous to the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Empire itself (see Constantinian shift). Unfortunately, due to their early conversion to Christianity, almost nothing is known about the particulars of the religion of the East Germanic peoples, separated from the remaining Germanic tribes during the Migration period. Such knowledge would be suited to distinguish Proto-Germanic elements from later developments present in both North and West Germanic. The term Old High German (OHG, German: Althochdeutsch) refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. ... The Merseburg Incantations The Merseburg Incantations (German: die Merseburger ZaubersprÃ¼che) are two medieval magic formulae or incantations, written in Old High German. ... The Trundholm sun chariot pulled by a horse is believed to be a sculpture illustrating an important part of Nordic Bronze Age mythology. ... In Norse mythology, MÃ¡ni was the god of the moon and a son of Mundilfari and Glaur. ... This article is about theological views like those of Arius. ... Motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, c. ... Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Raphael, Vatican Rooms. ... The Germanic tribes referred to as East Germanic constitute a wave of migrants who may have moved from Scandinavia into the area between the Oder and Vistula rivers between 600 - 300 BC. Later they went to the south. ...

The Franks, Alamanni, Anglo-Saxons, Saxons and Frisians were christianized between the 6th and the 8th century. By the end of the Migration period, only the Scandinavians remained pagan. For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... area settled by the Alamanni, and sites of Roman-Alamannic battles, 3rd to 6th century The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Main, land that is today part of Germany. ... The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to King Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation). ... The Frisians are an ethnic group of northwestern Europe, inhabiting an area known as Frisia. ... By Germanic Christianity is that phase in the history of Northern Europe understood, when the Germanic peoples of the Migration period and Viking Age adopted Christianity. ...

Viking Age

Main article: Norse paganism

Early medieval Scandinavian (Viking Age) paganism is much better documented than its predecessors, notably via the records of Norse mythology in the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda, as well as the sagas, written in Iceland during 1150 - 1400. Norse paganism or Nordic religion is a termed used to abbreviate the religion preferably amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries under pre-Christian period that are supported by archaeology findings and early written materials. ... The Viking Age is the name of the period between 793 and 1066 AD in Scandinavia and Britain, following the Germanic Iron Age (and the Vendel Age in Sweden). ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... The Younger Edda, known also as the Prose Edda or Snorris Edda is an Icelandic manual of poetics which also contains many mythological stories. ... The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems from the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. ... Excerpt NjÃ¥ls saga in the MÃ¶Ã°ruvallabÃ³k (AM 132 folio 13r) circia 1350. ... Events Åhus, Sweden gains city privileges City of Airdrie, Scotland founded King Sverker I of Sweden is deposed and succeeded by Eric IX of Sweden. ... Events Henry IV quells baron rebellion and executes The Earls of Kent, Huntingdon and Salisbury for their attempt to have Richard II of England restored as King Jean Froissart writes the Chronicles Medici family becomes powerful in Florence, Italy Births December 25 - John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of...

Sacrifices were known as blót, seasonal celebrations where gifts were offered to appropriate gods, and attempts were made to predict the coming season. Similar events were sometimes arranged in times of crisis, for much the same reasons.^[1]^[2] The BlÃ³t was the pagan Germanic sacrifice to Norse gods and Elves. ...

The goddess Frijja seems to have split into the two different, clearly related goddesses Frigg and Freyja. In Norse mythology there are certain vestiges of an early stage where they were one and the same, e.g. husbands Óðr/Óðinn, their shamanistic skills and Freyja/Frigg's infidelity.^[3] Frige (Anglo-Saxon, Friia (Germany) or Frea (Langobard)) was the love goddess of Germanic mythology, and the wife of Wotan (Odin). ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Ã†sir, and goddess of the sky. ... Freyja, in an illustration to Wagners operas by Arthur Rackham. ... Ã“dr (ON: Ã“Ã°r) is the husband of Freyja in Norse mythology. ... Odin is considered the highest god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism. ...

See also: Norse gods Norse gods Divided between the Æsir and the Vanir, and sometimes including Jotun, the dividing line between these groups is less than clear. ...

Middle Ages

In 1000 AD, Iceland became nominally Christian, although continuation of pagan worship in private was tolerated. Most of Scandinavia was Christianized during the 11th century. Adam von Bremen gives the last report of vigorous Norse paganism.^[2] Sometimes, the subjects of a lord who converted to Christianity refused to follow his lead (this happened to the Swedish kings Olof of Sweden, Anund Gårdske and Ingold I) and would sometimes force the lord to rescind his conversion (e.g. Haakon the Good).^[4] The attempt of the deposed Christian monarch Olaf II of Norway to retake the throne resulted in a bloody civil war in Norway, which ended in the battle of Stiklestad (1030). In Sweden, in the early 1080s, Inge I was deposed by popular vote for not wanting to sacrifice to the gods, and replaced by his brother-in-law Blot-Sweyn (literally "Sweyn the Sacrificer".^[5] After three years of exile, Inge returned in secret to Old Uppsala and during the night the Christians surrounded the royal hall with Blot-Sweyn inside and set it on fire.^[6] ^[7] However, Inge did not immediately regain his throne and the pagan Eric of Good Harvests briefly came into power ^[5]before being usurped by Inge. Europe in 1000 The year 1000 of the Gregorian Calendar was the last year of the 10th century as well as the last year of the first millennium. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Adam of Bremen (also: Adam Bremensis) was one of the most important German medieval chroniclers. ... Coin minted for Olof SkÃ¶tkonung in Sigtuna Olof of Sweden or Olof SkÃ¶tkonung/Skottkonung (Old Icelandic: Ã“lÃ¡fr sÃ¦nski, Old Swedish: OlawÃ¦r skotkonongÃ¦r) was the son of Eric the Victorious and Sigrid the Haughty. ... Anund GÃ¥rdske came from Kievan Rus, but is only mentioned by Adam of Bremen. ... Inge Stenkilsson (king 1079–1084 (?) and 1087–1105) ruled with his half-brother Haakon the Red, until Haakon died, in 1080. ... Haakon I (c. ... Olaf II Haraldsson (995 â€“ July 29, 1030), king from 1015â€“1028, (known during his lifetime as the Stout and after his canonization as Saint Olaf), was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvason came to Norway. ... The Battle of Stiklestad (Old Norse StiklarstaÃ°ir) in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway. ... Events July 29 - Battle of Stiklestad in Norway. ... Events William I of England, in a letter, reminds the Bishop of Rome that the King of England owes him no allegiance. ... ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... Eric of Good Harvests or Eirik Arsale (Swedish: Erik Ã…rsÃ¤ll, Old Norse: EirÃkr hinn Ã¡rsÃ¦li) was a semi-historical king of Sweden during the last decades of the 11th century and the son of the pagan Swedish king Blot-Sweyn[1]. Like his father before him, Eric...

During the High Middle Ages, Scandinavian paganism became marginalized and blended into rural folklore. In folklore and legend, elements of Germanic mythology survived, and appears in the guise of fairy tales such as those collected by the Brothers Grimm and other folk tales and customs (see Walpurgis Night, Holda, Berchta, Weyland, Krampus, Lorelei, Nix), as well as in medieval courtly literature (Nibelungs). The cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, a significant architectural contribution of the High Middle Ages. ... Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, material culture, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or group. ... Wilhelm (left) and Jacob Grimm (right) from an 1855 painting by Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann The Brothers Grimm were Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, German professors who were best known for publishing collections of folk tales and fairy tales,[1] and for their work in linguistics, relating to how the sounds in... Walpurgis Night in Sweden Walpurgis Night (or Walpurgisnacht in Germany) is a holiday celebrated on April 30 or May 1, in large parts of central and Northern Europe. ... In Germanic folklore Holda is the supernatural patron of the mystery of spinning with its links to the other world (See weaving (mythology)). She is well known throughout northern Europe (see Huld in Scandinavian mythology). ... Berchta (English Bertha), a fairy in South German mythology. ... Weyland (also spelled Wayland, Weland and Watlende) is the mythical smith-god of the Saxon immigrants into Britain. ... The Dutch version, called Zwarte Piet Knecht Ruprecht, companion of Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas, is also known as Servant Ruprecht, Farmhand Ruprecht, Pelzebock, Pelznickel (Nicholas in furs), Zwarte Piet or Zwarte Peter in the Netherlands and Flanders, Black Peter, and Schmutzli Samichlaus in Switzerland, sometimes associated with Saint Rupert. ... The Rock of Lorelei by the Rhine Lorelei Lorelei Loreley sign on the bank of the Rhine View of the Rhine as seen by Lorelei The Lorelei (originally written as Loreley) is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. ... StrÃ¶mkarlen from 1884 by Ernst Josephson has formed many modern Swedes view of NÃ¤cken. ... German Nibelung and the corresponding Old Norse form Niflung (Niflungr) refers in most of the German texts and in all the Old Norse texts to the royal family or lineage of the Burgundians who settled at Worms. ...

Notes

^ See Viga-Glum’s Saga (Ch.26), Hakon the Good’s Saga (Ch.16), Egil’s Saga (Ch. 65), etc.
^ ^a ^b Adam of Bremen. Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae pontificium Book IV, Ch.26-28.
^ Davidson, H.R. Ellis (1965). Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Penguin, p. 110-124. 978-0140136272.
^ Þorgilsson, Ari. Íslendingabók, Ch.7, etc..
^ ^a ^b Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf Ch.28, etc.
^ Orkneyinga saga
^ For a slightly different account of the same incident see The Saga of Hervör and Heithrek (c. 1325), in translation by Nora Kershaw.

The Orkneyinga saga (also called the History of the Earls of Orkney) is an unique historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands from their capture by the Norwegian king in the 9th century onwards until about 1200 AD. The saga was written around 1200 AD by an unknown...

References

Alkarp, Magnus & Neil Price, "Tempel av guld eller kyrka av trä? Markradarundersökningar vid Gamla Uppsala kyrka.", Fornvännen - Journal of Swedish Antiquarian Research 100

External links

Viktor Rydberg's "Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland" e-book
W. Wagner's "Asgard and the Home of the Gods" e-book
"Myths of Northern Lands" e-book by H.A. Guerber
Peter Andreas Munch's "Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes" e-book

Categories: Germanic paganism | Indo-European mythology H.A. Guerber, more commonly known as (HÃ©lÃ¨ne Adeline Guerber), born 1859 to 1929 [1], is a British historian most well known for her written histories of Germanic mythology. ...

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