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Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

by John Lindow
Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
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ISBN-10:
0195153820
ISBN-13:
9780195153828
Pub. Date:
10/17/2002
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195153820
ISBN-13:
9780195153828
Pub. Date:
10/17/2002
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

by John Lindow

Overview

Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland and outlines the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world.

The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jötnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead.

Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780195153828
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 10/17/2002
Pages: 384
Sales rank: 363,907
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

John Lindow is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley specializing in Scandinavian medieval studies and folklore.

Table of Contents

From the B&N Reads Blog
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Related Subjects

Social Sciences
Literature
Folklore & Mythology
Scandinavian Folklore & Mythology
Social Sciences
Literature
Folklore & Mythology
Scandinavian Folklore & Mythology

Customer Reviews

A Note on Orthographyxv
1Introduction1
The Historical Background2
The Indo-European Background30
Cult, Worship, and Sacrifice33
The Importance of Scandinavian Mythology36
2Time39
The Nature of Mythic Time39
Mythic Past, Present, and Future40
Cyclical Time42
Time and Space43
Myth, Narrative, and Language44
Myth and History45
3Deities, Themes, and Concepts47
AEgir47
AEgir's Daughters49
AEsir49
AEsir-Vanir War51
Alfablot53
Alfheim (Elf-land)54
Alfodr (All-father)55
Almattki ass55
Alvissmal56
Andhrimnir (Sooty-in-front)58
Andlang58
Andvari (Careful)58
Angrboda (She-who-offers-sorrow)59
Arvak and Alsvin (Early-awake and Very-swift)59
Asa-Thor (Thor-of-the-aesir)61
As-Bru (AEsir-bridge)61
Asgard (Enclosure-of-the-aesir)61
Ask (Ash-tree) and Embla62
Atla63
Audhumla63
Aurboda (Gravel-offerer)64
Aurgelmir (Mud-yeller)64
Aurvandil65
Baldr65
Baldrs Draumar (Baldr's Dreams)70
Baleyg (Flame-eye)71
Barri71
Baugi (Ring-shaped)72
Beli73
Bergbua thattr (The Tale of the Mountain-dweller)73
Bergelmir (Bear-yeller, Mountain-yeller, or Bare-yeller)74
Berserks75
Bestla77
Beyla78
Bil and Hjuki78
Bileyg (Wavering-eye)79
Billing's Girl79
Bilrost80
Bilskirnir81
Blain82
Bolthor(n)82
Bound Monster82
Bous84
Bracteates84
Bragi86
Breidablik88
Brimir88
Brisinga men88
Brokk89
Bur, Bor (Son)90
Buri90
Byggvir90
Byleist (Byleipt, Byleift)91
Dag (Day)91
Dain (Dead)92
Delling92
Disablot93
Disir95
Draupnir (Dripper)97
Duneyr98
Durathror98
Dvalin (Delayed)98
Dwarfs99
Eggther102
Egil102
Eikinskjaldi (With-an-oaken-shield)103
Eikthyrnir (Oak-encircler)103
Ein(d)ridi (Lone-rider)103
Einherjar (Lone-fighters)104
Eir105
Eiriksmal105
Eistla106
Eitri106
Eldhrimnir (Fire-sooty)107
Eldir107
Elivagar (Hailstorm-waves)108
Elli (Old-age)109
Elves109
Eyrgjafa111
Falhofnir (Pale-hoofed)111
Farbauti (Anger-striker)111
Fenrir111
Fensalir (Bog-halls)114
Fimafeng115
Fimbul-115
Fjalar (Deceiver)115
Fjolnir116
Fjolvar117
Fjorgyn117
Folkvang (People-field or Army-field)118
Fornjot118
Forseti (Chairman)119
Freki (Ravenous-one)120
Frey121
Freyja (Lady)126
Frigg128
Frodi130
Fulla132
Galdrar132
Game of the Gods133
Garm134
Gefjon135
Gefn137
Geirrod137
Gerd138
Geri (Ravenous-one)139
Gestumblindi (One-blind-to-guests?)139
Gimle140
Ginnunga Gap141
Gisl142
Gjallarbru142
Gjallarhorn (Screaming-horn)143
Gjalp144
Glad (Glad)144
Gladsheim144
Glaer (Glassy)145
Gleipnir145
Glen146
Glitnir146
Gna146
Gnipahellir (Gnipa-cave)147
Gods, Words for147
Greip (Grip)149
Grid149
Grimnismal150
Grottasong151
Gullinborsti (Gold-bristle)153
Gullintanni (Gilded-tooth)154
Gulltopp (Gold-top)154
Gullveig154
Gungnir155
Gunnlod156
Gyllir156
Gymir156
Habrok (High-pants)157
Haddingjar157
Hadingus157
Hakonarmal158
Haleygjatal160
Hallinskidi161
Harbardsljod161
Harthgrepa (Hard-grip)163
Hati Hrodvitnisson163
Havamal164
Heid165
Heidrun166
Heimdall167
Hel172
Hermod173
Hildisvini (Battle-pig)173
Himinbjorg (Heaven-mountain)174
Hjadningavig (Battle-of-the-followers-of-Hedin)174
Hlidskjalf176
Hlin176
Hlora177
Hlorridi177
Hnoss (Treasure)177
Hod177
Hoddmimir's Forest179
Hoenir179
Horn181
Hraesvelg181
Hraudung182
Hrimfaxi182
Hrimgrimnir (Frost-masked)183
Hringhorni (Ring-horn)183
Hrodvitnir184
Hropt185
Hrungnir185
Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Mind)186
Hvedrung188
Hvergelmir (Hot-spring-boiler)188
Hymir189
Hymiskvida191
Hyndluljod194
Hyrrokkin (Fire-smoked)196
Idavoll197
Idun198
Ifing200
Ing200
Ingunar-Frey201
Interpretatio Germanica202
Interpretatio Romana203
Jarnsaxa (Armed-with-an-iron-sword)204
Jarnvid (Iron-woods)204
Jord (Earth)205
Jotunheimar (Giant-worlds)206
Kvasir206
Laerad207
Laufey207
Lettfeti (Light-foot)208
Lif and Lifthrasir209
Lit (Color, Countenance)209
Ljodatal210
Loddfafnismal211
Lodur212
Lofn213
Logi (Fire)213
Lokasenna214
Loki216
Lopt220
Magni (The Strong)220
Managarm (Moon-dog)221
Mani (Moon)222
Mannus (Man)223
Mardoll224
Matres and Matrones224
Mead of Poetry224
Meili227
Merseburg Charms227
Midgard (Central-enclosure)228
Midgard Serpent229
Mimir (Mim, Mimi)230
Modgud (Battle-weary)232
Modi (Angry-one)233
Mundilfoeri233
Muspell234
Naglfar235
Naglfari235
Nal (Needle)235
Nanna236
Nari and/or Narfi236
Nerthus237
Nidafjoll238
Nidavellir238
Nidhogg (Evil-blow)239
Niflheim (Fog-world) and Niflhel (Fog-Hel)240
Njord241
Norns243
Nott (Night)246
Od246
Odin (Old Norse O[characters not reproducible]inn)247
Odrerir252
Ogmundar thattr dytts ok Gunnars Helmings (The Tale of Ogmund Dint and Gunnar Half)253
Ragnarok (Judgment-of-the-powers)254
Ran258
Ratatosk (Bore-tooth)259
Regnator Omnium Deus259
Rigsthula260
Rind262
Roskva (Ripe?)263
Saehrimnir263
Saeming264
Saga264
Seid265
Sif (In-law-relationship)266
Sigyn267
Sindri (Slag)267
Sjofn268
Skadi268
Skidbladnir270
Skinfaxi (Shining-mane)272
Skoll273
Skrymir (Big-looking)273
Sleipnir274
Slidrugtanni (Dangerous-tooth)277
Snotra278
Sol (Sun)278
Sorla thattr280
Starkad281
Surt282
Suttung284
Syn284
Syr (Sow)284
Thjalfi285
Thjazi287
Thor287
Thrud (Strength)291
Thrudgelmir (Strength-yeller)292
Thrudheim (Strength-world)292
Thrudvangar (Strength-fields)293
Thrymheim (Din-world)293
Thrymskvida (The Poem of Thrym)293
Tuisto296
Tyr297
Ull299
Urdarbrunn (Well-of-Urd)301
Utgard (Outer-enclosure)302
Utgarda-Loki (Loki-of-the-Utgards)302
Vafthrudnismal304
Valaskjalf307
Valholl (Carrion-hall)308
Vali, Son of Loki309
Vali, Son of Odin310
Vanir311
Var312
Vedrfolnir (Storm-pale)312
Vidar312
Vidblain (Wide-blued)315
Vidblindi (Wide-blind)315
Vidfinn (Wood-Finn)315
Vili and Ve316
Vingolf (Friend-hall)316