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Ginnungagap, with the icy realm of Niflhelm and the fiery realm of Muspell

Ginnungagap, with the icy realm of Niflhelm and the fiery realm of Muspell. Maurisoft. “Ginnungagap.” Abc Dioses. 29 Jan. 2002. 1 Oct. 2003 < http://abcdioses.noneto.com/escan/dioses1/ginungagap.htm >. Ymir nourishing himself on Audhumia’s milk.

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Ginnungagap, with the icy realm of Niflhelm and the fiery realm of Muspell

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  1. Ginnungagap, with the icy realm of Niflhelm and the fiery realm of Muspell Maurisoft. “Ginnungagap.” Abc Dioses. 29 Jan. 2002. 1 Oct. 2003 <http://abcdioses.noneto.com/escan/dioses1/ginungagap.htm>.

  2. Ymir nourishing himself on Audhumia’s milk Giacobazzi, Frederic. “Classical Norse: Ymir.” ImageGallery for the Study of Myth 26 Feb. 2001. 29 Sep. 2003 < http://www.kirtland.cc.mi.us/honors/goddess/images/ymir.jpg>.

  3. Creation Mythology Project Ryan Abbott Christy Hansen Jens Magelssen Heather Smith Period 6 Classics & Shakespeare Scandinavia Edwards, Marc B. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.marcedwards.com/ company_ history_info.htm>. Bowern, Steven. 29 Sep. 2003 <http://www.stevenbowerman.com>.

  4. Introduction • Scandinavia refers to three Northern European countries: Sweden and Norway (together form Scandinavian Peninsula), Denmark • Classified as such due to linguistic, cultural & historical similarities • Sometimes term includes Iceland; less frequently inclusion of Finland because not linguistically related • Scandinavians speak closely connected groupings of Germanic languages: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Faeroese

  5. Physical Geography Scandinavian Peninsula CadêJur. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.cadejur.com.br/html/busca/ mapa_scandinavia.asp>. • Comprised of two of three Scandinavian countries: Sweden & Norway • Denmark physiographical is part of North European Plain rather than peninsula itself • Almost ¼ of peninsula exists north of Arctic Circle • Bordered by Atlantic & Arctic Oceans, the North & Baltic Seas, the Gulf of Bothnia, & the Skagerrak & Kattegat straits • Mountainous in western region • Western coast of peninsula intensely grooved by fjords

  6. Vikings • 9th – 11th century Scandinavian warriors invaded British Isles & European coasts • 800 A.D. -1050 A.D.: known as the Viking Age • Systematic raids of neighbors progressively changed to ruthless forays • Initially Vikings most superior sailors & shipbuilders in world • Reasons driven from own lands: overpopulation, internal disagreement, pursuit of trade, desire for adventure • Several Scandinavian kingdoms arose: Sweden, Norway, Denmark Landry, Michel. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.cvm.qc.ca/mlandry/folklore/ vikings.JPG>.

  7. Vikings Social Norms • Extended family • Head of Household responsible for family well-being • Women had significant role in society: wife of ‘head of household’ saw to food & farm animals, making medicine from herbs, cared for sick & wounded, ran farm in husband’s absence Hinds, Margaret. 3 Sep. 2003. 29 Sep. 2003 <osfodin.ksc.nasa.gov/>.

  8. Economy • Fundamental economy of Scandinavia was agriculture (grain, cattle, stock grazing); also fishing & sea trade • Lived by fishing, farming, trading mainly by sea • Vikings international tradesmen, trading spices & silk for slaves, trading furs, skins & walrus tusk ivory • Slavery performed important role in economy • Vikings encouraged urban growth

  9. Art “Viking Art.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. • Scandinavian artisans masters of wood carving & metalwork • Samples of artwork survived from 10th & 11th century • Know little about sounds of Viking music • Vikings knew nothing about musical notation so culture progressively became part of Christian European culture “Celts.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002.

  10. Literature • Greatest degree conserved in Old Norse literature of Icelandic writings within the Eddas, sagas, skaldic poetry, & ballads • Writings not present until after Christianity founded (c. 1000 A.D.) • c. 1100-c. 1350 A.D.: oral poetry & new compositions laid down • Iceland’s loss of independence to Norway in 13th century led to disappearance of literary activity

  11. Scandinavian Religion Before christianity • Freedom of Divine Will in its clash with nature’s conflicting forces • Soul’s free struggle against material barriers • Polytheistic (belief in more than one god) • Gods perpetually at war • Systems of dualism: summer, sunshine, growth in constant combat with winter, snow, ocean, terrestrial fire The Key Concept of Belief

  12. Scandinavian Religion Before christianity • Worship initially performed outdoors near sacred wells or stones or beneath guardian trees • Wooden temples adorned with altars & carvings of gods used later on • Most prominent temple at Old Uppsala, Sweden where sacrificial animals & humans met demise Religious Ritual Malcolm, R. Brown, Jr. “Gamla Uppsala, Sweden.” 30 Apr. 2002. 27 Sep. 2003<www.botany.utexas.edu/.../sweden/ OldUppsala/default.htm>.

  13. Scandinavian Religion Introduction of christianity • Vikings encountered Christianity when Olav Tryggvason journeyed from England with ships in 995 A.D. to claim Norway’s throne & bring Christianity to land • Danes long before were already familiar with Christianity • Reason why conversion to Christianity so swift? • Viking Age ceased with intro of Christianity into Scandinavia, the creation of the three kingdoms, & with European states’ ability to defend against intrusions

  14. Scandinavian Mythology Basic Information • Substantiation is profuse, but incomplete & scattered • Origins rooted in Germanic peoples’ mythology • Extracted from Germanic mythology own myths & legends concerning gods, archaic heroes, & universe’s creation & ruin • Pre-Christian beliefs of Scandinavians • Uncertainty regarding original pagan religious beliefs, habits, sentiments

  15. Scandinavian Mythology Gods • Principle gods of Scandinavian mythology: • Odin: chief of gods • Thor: god of thunder & protector • Frey: god of fertility & prosperity Odin Mythological Heroes • Believed to be descendents of gods • Possibly derived from factual persons Bulfinch, Thomas. “Northern Mythology.” Bulfinch’s Mythology. 1996-1999. 27 Sep. 2003 <http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/bull38.html>

  16. Their legacy lives on... • Vikings left legacy of archaeological remains: ship burials of men & women, in burial site treasures, & memorial stones depicting mythical scenes • Bestowed place names, fieldnames, family names • Local dialect, customs, folk tales, oral traditions, genetic makeup of local peoples • Several English words, as well as German, Dutch, Irish, & French, are descended directly from Viking words

  17. How is Scandinavia’s culture reflected in its mythology? THESIS:Given that the Scandinavians identified closely with the gods, their tendencies to overpower neighbors, which exhibited the importance of strength within the society, are mirrored in the Creation Myth by the brutal slaying of Ymir by his three grandsons and the transfer of power to Odin and his two brothers. In order for Odin and the brothers to overthrow Ymir, they required physical strength and courage of mind. “As the gods, so the people (Clarke, James Freeman, D.D )”. These qualities are a reflection in Viking society demonstrated through their determination to uphold power through the aggressive accumulation of land and in their display of passing on the authority from the Head of the Household to the eldest son to sustain the family legacy. And so, one can see how mythological beliefs, as with religious beliefs, can have a profound influence on the ways of a civilization because there is always a strong link between how a society exists and the beliefs of its peoples. Clarke, James Freeman, D.D. “2. Idea of Scandinavian Religion from ‘The Ten Great Religions’” The Teutonic and Scandinavian Religion 1899. 22 Sep. 2003 < http://www.vikingage.com/vac/religion2.html>.

  18. Works Cited: Textual Celts.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. Cherry, Nicole. “Creation Myth.” Norse Mythology 4 Feb. 2001. 24 Sep. 2003 <http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~cherryne/myth.cgi/Creation.html>. Clarke, James Freeman, D.D. “2. Idea of Scandinavian Religion from ‘The Ten Great Religions’” The Teutonic and Scandinavian Religion 1899. 22 Sep. 2003 < http://www.vikingage.com/vac/religion2.html>. Friis, Erik J. “Swedish Literature.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD- ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Kjølen Mountains.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. Morley, David and Wigo Skråmm. “The Vikings.” The Viking Network 3 Aug. 2001. 27 Sep. 2003< http://www.viking.no/e/index.html>. “Norwegian Literature.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD- ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. Nyholm, Jens. “Danish Language.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD- ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. Nyholm, Jens. “Danish Literature.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “ Nyholm, Jens. “Norwegian Language.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Old Norse Literature.” Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2003. 27 Sep. 2003 <http://encyclopedia.com/html/O/OldN1orse.asp>. Rosenthal, Joel T. “The Vikings.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Scandinavia.” Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2003. 27 Sep. 2003 <http://encyclopedia.com/html/s/scandinv.asp>. “Scandinavian Mythology.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Vikings.” Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2003. 27 Sep. 2003 <http://encyclopedia.com/html/v/vikings.asp>. “Vikings.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Viking Art.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Wood Carving.” Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2003. 27 Sep. 2003 < http://encyclopedia.com/html/w1/woodcarv.asp>.

  19. Works Cited: Images Bowern, Steven. 29 Sep. 2003 <http://www.stevenbowerman.com>. Bulfinch, Thomas. “Northern Mythology.” Bulfinch’s Mythology. 1996-1999. 27 Sep. 2003 <http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/bull38.html> CadêJur. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.cadejur.com.br/html/busca/mapa_scandinavia.asp>. “Celts.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. Edwards, Marc B. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.marcedwards.com/company_history_info.htm>. Giacobazzi, Frederic. “Classical Norse: Ymir.” ImageGallery for the Study of Myth 26 Feb. 2001. 29 Sep. 2003 < http://www.kirtland.cc.mi.us/honors/goddess/images/ymir.jpg>. Hinds, Margaret. 3 Sep. 2003. 29 Sep. 2003 <osfodin.ksc.nasa.gov/>. Landry, Michel. 29 Sep. 2003 <www.cvm.qc.ca/mlandry/folklore/vikings.JPG>. Malcolm, R. Brown, Jr. “Gamla Uppsala, Sweden.” 30 Apr. 2002. 27 Sep. 2003 <www.botany.utexas.edu/.../sweden/OldUppsala/default.htm>. Maurisoft. “Ginnungagap.” Abc Dioses. 29 Jan. 2002. 1 Oct. 2003 <http://abcdioses.noneto.com/escan/dioses1/ginungagap.htm>. “Scandinavian Mythology.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002. “Viking Art.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2002.

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