Old Norse Mythology

Old Norse Mythology is an accessible and multidisciplinary introduction to the field. It surveys the 13 most consequential Eddic poems and Snorri Sturluson’s Edda, with a text-by-text approach explaining the content of each, how they represent Old Norse mythology, and the relations between texts.

Old Norse mythology was written in medieval Iceland and Scandinavia a couple centuries after the conversion to Christianity. As such, Old Norse mythology is a literary phenomenon that was created based on cultural memories and attitudes, particularly among Icelandic scholars. Mathias Nordvig offers invaluable insight into the distinction between the historical religion that existed in pre-Christian Scandinavia and the literary treatment of its cultural material in medieval sources. The guide features helpful illustrations and a timeline of the development of Nordic-Germanic culture, as well as an end-of-book overview of skaldic poets, skaldic and Eddic poems, medieval texts, runic inscriptions, and picture stones mentioned throughout the book.

This book is an important companion to studies in Old Norse mythology, and an essential read for students of Norse literature, mythology, medieval history, history of religion, and medievalism.