Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow, ISBN-13: 978-0195153828

Description

Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow, ISBN-13: 978-0195153828

[PDF eBook eTextbook]

• Publisher: ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (October 17, 2002)
• Language: ‎ English
• 384 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 0195153820
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0195153828

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.

Table of Contents:

Cover Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

A Note on Orthography

1 Introduction

The Historical Background

The Indo-European Background

Cult, Worship, and Sacrifice

The Importance of Scandinavian Mythology

2 Time

The Nature of Mythic Time

Mythic Past, Present, and Future

Cyclical Time

Time and Space

Myth, Narrative, and Language

Myth and History

3 Deities, Themes, and Concepts

Ægir

Ægir’s Daughters

Æsir

Æsir-Vanir War

Álfablót

Álfheim (Elf-land)

Alfödr (All-father)

Almáttki áss

Alvíssmál

Andhrímnir (Sooty-in-front)

Andlang

Andvari (Careful)

Angrboda (She-who-offers-sorrow)

Árvak and Alsvin (Early-awake and Very-swift)

Ása-Thor (Thor-of-the-æsir)

Ás-Brú (Æsir-bridge)

Ásgard (Enclosure-of-the-æsir)

Ask (Ash-tree) and Embla

Atla

Audhumla

Aurboda (Gravel-offerer)

Aurgelmir (Mud-yeller)

Aurvandil

Baldr

Baldrs Draumar (Baldr’s Dreams)

Báleyg (Flame-eye)

Barri

Baugi (Ring-shaped)

Beli

Bergbúa tháttr (The Tale of the Mountain-dweller)

Bergelmir (Bear-yeller, Mountain-yeller, or Bare-yeller)

Berserks

Bestla

Beyla

Bil and Hjúki

Bileyg (Wavering-eye)

Billing’s Girl

Bilröst

Bilskírnir

Bláin

Bölthor(n)

Bound Monster

Bous

Bracteates

Bragi

Breidablik

Brimir

Brísinga men

Brokk

Bur, Bor (Son)

Búri

Byggvir

Byleist (Byleipt, Byleift)

Dag (Day)

Dáin (Dead)

Delling

Dísablót

Dísir

Draupnir (Dripper)

Duneyr

Durathrór

Dvalin (Delayed)

Dwarfs

Eggthér

Egil

Eikinskjaldi (With-an-oaken-shield)

Eikthyrnir (Oak-encircler)

Ein(d)ridi (Lone-rider)

Einherjar (Lone-fighters)

Eir

Eiríksmál

Eistla

Eitri

Eldhrímnir (Fire-sooty)

Eldir

Élivágar (Hailstorm-waves)

Elli (Old-age)

Elves

Eyrgjafa

Falhófnir (Pale-hoofed)

Fárbauti (Anger-striker)

Fenrir

Fensalir (Bog-halls)

Fimafeng

Fimbul-

Fjalar (Deceiver)

Fjölnir

Fjölvar

Fjörgyn

Fólkvang (People-field or Army-field)

Fornjót

Forseti (Chairman)

Freki (Ravenous-one)

Frey

Freyja (Lady)

Frigg

Fródi

Fulla

Galdrar

Game of the Gods

Garm

Gefjon

Gefn

Geirröd

Gerd

Geri (Ravenous-one)

Gestumblindi (One-blind-to-guests?)

Gimlé

Ginnunga Gap

Gísl

Gjallarbrú

Gjallarhorn (Screaming-horn)

Gjálp

Glad (Glad)

Gladsheim

Glær (Glassy)

Gleipnir

Glen

Glitnir

Gná

Gnipahellir (Gnipa-cave)

Gods, Words for

Greip (Grip)

Gríd

Grímnismál

Grottasöng

Gullinborsti (Gold-bristle)

Gullintanni (Gilded-tooth)

Gulltopp (Gold-top)

Gullveig

Gungnir

Gunnlöd

Gyllir

Gymir

Hábrók (High-pants)

Haddingjar

Hadingus

Hákonarmál

Háleygjatal

Hallinskídi

Hárbardsljód

Harthgrepa (Hard-grip)

Hati Hródvitnisson

Hávamál

Heid

Heidrún

Heimdall

Hel

Hermód

Hildisvíni (Battle-pig)

Himinbjörg (Heaven-mountain)

Hjadningavíg (Battle-of-the-followers-of-Hedin)

Hlidskjálf

Hlín

Hlóra

Hlórridi

Hnoss (Treasure)

Höd

Hoddmímir’s Forest

Hœnir

Hörn

Hræsvelg

Hraudung

Hrímfaxi

Hrímgrímnir (Frost-masked)

Hringhorni (Ring-horn)

Hródvitnir

Hropt

Hrungnir

Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Mind)

Hvedrung

Hvergelmir (Hot-spring-boiler)

Hymir

Hymiskvida

Hyndluljód

Hyrrokkin (Fire-smoked)

Idavöll

Idun

Ifing

Ing

Ingunar-Frey

Interpretatio Germanica

Interpretatio Romana

Járnsaxa (Armed-with-an-iron-sword)

Járnvid (Iron-woods)

Jörd (Earth)

Jötunheimar (Giant-worlds)

Kvasir

Lærad

Laufey

Léttfeti (Light-foot)

Líf and Lífthrasir

Lit (Color, Countenance)

Ljódatal

Loddfáfnismál

Lódur

Lofn

Logi (Fire)

Lokasenna

Loki

Lopt

Magni (The Strong)

Mánagarm (Moon-dog)

Máni (Moon)

Mannus (Man)

Mardöll

Matres and Matrones

Mead of Poetry

Meili

Merseburg Charms

Midgard (Central-enclosure)

Midgard Serpent

Mímir (Mím, Mími)

Módgud (Battle-weary)

Módi (Angry-one)

Mundilfœri

Muspell

Naglfar

Naglfari

Nál (Needle)

Nanna

Nari and/or Narfi

Nerthus

Nidafjöll

Nidavellir

Nídhögg (Evil-blow)

Niflheim (Fog-world) and Niflhel (Fog-Hel)

Njörd

Norns

Nótt (Night)

Ód

Odin (Old Norse Óðinn)

Ódrerir

Ögmundar tháttr dytts ok Gunnars Helmings (The Tale of Ögmund Dint and Gunnar Half)

Ragnarök (Judgment-of-the-powers)

Rán

Ratatosk (Bore-tooth)

Regnator Omnium Deus

Rígsthula

Rind

Röskva (Ripe?)

Sæhrímnir

Sæming

Sága

Seid

Sif (In-law-relationship)

Sigyn

Sindri (Slag)

Sjöfn

Skadi

Skídbladnir

Skínfaxi (Shining-mane)

Sköll

Skrýmir (Big-looking)

Sleipnir

Slídrugtanni (Dangerous-tooth)

Snotra

Sól (Sun)

Sörla tháttr

Starkad

Surt

Suttung

Syn

Sýr (Sow)

Thjálfi

Thjazi

Thor

Thrúd (Strength)

Thrúdgelmir (Strength-yeller)

Thrúdheim (Strength-world)

Thrúdvangar (Strength-fields)

Thrymheim (Din-world)

Thrymskvida (The Poem of Thrym)

Tuisto

Týr

Ull

Urdarbrunn (Well-of-Urd)

Útgard (Outer-enclosure)

Útgarda-Loki (Loki-of-the-Útgards)

Vafthrúdnismál

Válaskjálf

Valhöll (Carrion-hall)

Váli, Son of Loki

Váli, Son of Odin

Vanir

Vár

Vedrfölnir (Storm-pale)

Vídar

Vídbláin (Wide-blued)

Vídblindi (Wide-blind)

Vidfinn (Wood-Finn)

Vili and Vé

Vingólf (Friend-hall)

Völund

Völuspá

Vör

Yggdrasil (Ygg’s-steed)

Ymir

Yngvi

4 Print and Nonprint Resources

Background—Viking and Medieval Scandinavia

Archaeology

Etymology

The Conversion of Iceland

Medieval Iceland

Women and Gender

Encyclopedias

Primary Sources—Translations

Primary Sources—Commentary and Analysis

Eddic and Skaldic Poetry

Snorri Sturluson

Literary Histories

Mythology: General Treatments

Mythology: Important Studies

Nonprint Resources

Index

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

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