---------------------- ANCESTORS --------------------------- Ancestor veneration is a practice that nearly all animistic peoples, past and present, have shared, and the pre-Christian Norse and other Germanic peoples are certainly no exception. The dead remained in their community’s collective memory long after their passing, and were perceived to confer blessings upon the land and the people they left behind. This may have been especially so if they were properly reverenced by their descendents.[1] In Old Norse literature, the most frequent gift of the ancestors is the fertility of the land, which, it hardly needs to be pointed out, corresponds very well to the ecological role of a decaying body – providing nourishment for other, living members …show more content…
While it would be straining the evidence to suggest that the three categories are ultimately synonymous, it would be in blatant contradiction of the evidence to suggest that they’re cleanly separate groups. The ancient Germanic conception must lie somewhere in the middle, although precisely where is impossible to say – due, as with so many other areas of our knowledge of this worldview, to the sparseness of the primary sources. Land spirits and elves occupied much the same role as the ancestors in what we today would call the religious customs of the pre-Christian northern Europeans. They were propitiated in much the same way and held influence over many of the same aspects of the lives of humans. Even the dwelling-places of these types of beings overlapped; elves were traditionally associated with the burial mounds and chambers of the human dead, and would commonly receive sacrifices at these places. Perhaps the most striking example of this connection comes from The Saga of Olaf the Holy, one of the first Christian kings of Norway. In this saga, Olaf and a servant ride past the burial mound of the king’s ancestor and namesake, who is now called by the name of Ólaf Geirstaðaálfr – literally “Olaf, the Elf of Geirstad,” a title that clearly implies the currently elfin state of the king’s forefather. The same passage also insinuates that King Olaf is the reincarnation of the deceased Olaf,[5] presumably through the hamingja. Part of the elder Olaf seems to have become an elf, while another part has been passed on to Olaf the
Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate picks random victims; man is never reconciled with the world. Beowulf ends a failure. There is some truth in this conclusion, but for the most part, someone who didn’t have a well-lived life has most likely portrayed it.
Since the beginning of time, mankind began to expand on traditions of life out of which family and societal life surfaced. These traditions of life have been passed down over generations and centuries. Some of these kin and their interdependent ways of life have been upheld among particular people, and are known to contain key pieces of some civilizations.
When we hears the term Viking an immediate image of bloodthirsty men with long beards and horned helmets is conjured up in our minds. This is the image the historical sources have given us, and it is partly true. Vikings were merciless when raiding, but they were peaceful when they traded. Their navigational technology was exceptional, and the ones who settled in foreign lands contributed greatly to the lands’ culture.
Leif Erikson’s grandfather, Thorvald Asvaldsson slaughtered a man in Jæren, Norway in 960 CE. This was the age of the Vikings, but Thorvald was still banished from the land (Mandia, n.d.). So he brought his ten year old son Erik, later to be named as Erik the Red because of his scarlet hair, to Drangar in northwestern Iceland on a farm with rather appalling soil (Where is Vinland?, n.d.).
“Beowulf” is a 10th century epic that portrays trust, bondage, and appreciation by the giving of gifts. These gifts include many things, such as a torque or horse. Due to the success of Beowulf on the battlefield, his fame and fortune rise to immeasurable levels. Although Beowulf receives these gifts, the model he portrays is honest and responsible. The people of Scandinavian culture show appreciation, respect, and bondage through gift
2.) The Types of stories found in this book are based on Norse Mythology. They contain information on the creation of the Earth, (Midgard), and some of the trials that the gods and goddesses had gone through.
Beowulf, an epic poem written in the late tenth-century, in the kingdom of the West Saxons, steeping with pagan tradition, this epic depicts nature as hostile and forces of death uncontrollable. Blind fate chooses random victims and people never feel at peace with the world. Also Beowulf ends as a failure to help heal the wounds of his society. Although there are parts of this statement which can be construed as true, for the most part, it doesn't give Beowulf the credit he deserves. For someone whose life was cut short, Beowulf did many great deeds for his time in the world.
For many centuries, Literature critics have constantly debated on whether it was more inspired by Pagan or Christian beliefs. These said critics have constantly been trying to differentiate between the symbolism used to describe the Pagan symbols and Christian symbols within the halls of Horathgar and the Castle lived in by the King of the Geats. These symbols can be argued to symbolize Pagan or Christian symbolism due to the fact that they can either describe the beliefs of Pagan or Christians. These include but don’t exclude; the heroic might of an epic hero, being portrayed as a Christian or Pagan hero. Examples of Pagan beliefs will include the following of Wyrd the Pagan belief in fate. Examples of Christianity will be Beowulf’s dislike
As all humans are well aware death is inevitable. Human cultures and death have always been closely knit together. Varying between location, time, and struggles you may notice societies adopt and update their cultures and as these cultures change it sometimes if reflected by how a civilization honors their dead. In fact, the way a civilization’s way of honoring their dead is very important to historians and archeologists as they help put together pieces regarding religion, the civilizations stance on mortality, art style and tell stories that can further clarify history. The topic of death is an extremely broad subject having many confusing and sometimes hard to notice difference that are hard to distinguish. An example of this might be Greek
It is obvious that there are many differences between men and women. Throughout history women have been taught to dress, act, and speak differently than men. These differences are so common that they can sometimes be overlooked in everyday life and in reading. By taking a closer look at poems and stories one can begin to see how frequently gender differences occur. Thomas Gray’s “The Decent of Odin,” read from a Feminist point of view can reveal many examples of these differences through the use of dialogue.
Two human relationships were deeply significant to the Germanic society. The most important, the relationship between the warrior and his lord was based on a common trust and respect. The warrior vows loyalty to his lord and serves and defends him and in turn the lord takes care of the warrior and rewards him lavishly for his valour. The second human relationship was between kinsmen. As Baker and Ogilvy suggest, a special form of loyalty was involved in the blood feud. (P.107) If one of his kinsmen had been slain, a man had an ethical obligation either to kill the slayer or to exact the payment of wergild in compensation. The price was determined upon the rank or social status of the victim...
The Anglo-Saxons consisted of four Germanic tribes that migrated to Great Britain: the Angles, the Jutes, the Frisians and the Saxons. These four Germanic tribes were inhabitants of Great Britain during the 5th century. Before the Anglo-Saxons were introduced to Christianity, they practiced the belief in multiple God’s, fate (they actually coined the term fate) and monsters. With evidence found in the literary works of the Anglo-Saxons, historians can conclude that they were indeed pagans. Their beliefs included myths of monsters and the gods they worshipped. Their beliefs in superstitions were apparent through the writings of that time and evidence of their rituals. These myths and superstitions affected their daily life, but it also affected how modern people view this time in history. The Anglo-Saxon myths not only contain tales of heroines, they also contain important information on events that occurred in this period in history. Today, these tales help historians have a better understanding of the Anglo-Saxon time period. Superstitions and myths play an important role in what the world knows
Analyzing the Norse Collapse from Diamond’s view, the first factor that he examines is the environmental damage aspect. He states that “The Greenland Norse damaged their environment in at least three ways: by destroying the natural vegetation, by causing soil erosion, and by cutting turf” (Diamond, p.248). Diamond believes that when the Vikings arrived, they began burning woodlands to clear areas for their livestock, and cut many trees down for shelter and firewood. When the Greenlanders began raising animals such as cows, sheep and goats, the amount of fodder for the animals increased, which in turn increased the amount of farming they had to do to maint...
It can be said that there is nothing more permanent than change throughout human history. This notion has prevailed throughout thousands of years as old beliefs and ways of life are replaced by the next logical step in humanity’s attempt to achieve some sensation of sureness or stability in life. Change is at the forefront of much of Old English literature, as the pagan, naturalistic religion of the Anglo-Saxons slowly shifted to Christian ideology. This clash of spiritualistic superiority is clearly illustrated in the episode of Grendel’s Mother from Beowulf, the Wanderer, and Caedmon’s Hymn, all of which display a shift of Anglo-Saxon society to Christianity through a demonization of nature, the passing of old tradition, and the power of God’s will over man.
Hundreds of years ago people did not have the technology to explain different forces of nature. They created gods, each with separate powers, to rule their domains. Some of the gods were merciful, some were wicked, and others were merely servants of more powerful gods. Looking at the gods, it is easy to tell what the civilization most valued. I am going to look at the Greek and the Norse gods to compare what was most important to their societies.