Norse/Germanic/Saxon dieties and mythology

[Thorn]

A place to discuss Norse religion and myth.

Primary(ish) sources:

The Prose (Younger) Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The Poetic (Elder) Edda
The Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson
Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus

Like the Celts, the Germanic people didn't write down their myths. These are all medieval renditions, and will show the bias of their age. Snorri tended to get "creative," but at least he did not consider the old gods demons as was common at the time. He though of them as human, the ancestors of his people.

The Elder Edda is probably the closest thing to a primary source, as it is assumed to be a transcription of the oral tradition.

[Creator]

Here is a link to the Islandic edda:
www.cybersamurai.net/Mythology/nordic_gods/LegendsSagas/Edda/ProseEdda/ContentsEnglish.htm

[Thorn]

Sweet! Thanks Creator!

I see you've added a library. I'll try to find where I downloaded the Irish texts and post links there.

[casilda]

I love the Norse legends, I have had a book for years that is now a bit tatty, I think it's called Myths of the Norsemen....

it has all the details of the origins of The Earth and the Gods, right up to the Day of Ragnarok.

In fact, when we got our first Deerhound, I wanted to call him Fenris-Wolf, but the name was disallowed by the Kennel Club, so he got called Skoll instead, which still pertains to Norse mythology.

Skoll's litter-sister is called Frikka, tho her owner calls her Gypsy, and 2 of his litter brothers were called Modi and Odin, as we gave the breeder a list of Norse names when they were registering the litter.

;D