Tracing Old Norse Cosmology

The study of Old Norse religion is a truly multidisciplinary and international field of research. The rituals, myths, and narratives of pre-Christian Scandinavia have been studied and interpreted in detail relying mainly on Christian Icelandic literature from the Middle Ages. Here, Anders Andrén offers a long-term perspective on Old Norse cosmology and argues that the fundamental ideas of an ordered universe, time, and space in Old Norse religion can be studied in a dialogue between archaeology and the Icelandic narrative tradition. Ideas about the world tree, middle earth, and the sun can be traced in images and material culture from Scandinavian prehistory. By combining the prehistoric representations with the later written record the author presents a fresh and nuanced study of the fascinating Old Norse world.

Due to the rich and varied Icelandic literature from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, Old Norse religion is considered one of the best-known pre-Christian religions in Europe. This collection of essays, however, explains via archaeology that Old Norse religion, in fact, transformed into a hybrid culture. Arguing that representations of cosmological elements—such as the sun, the worldtree, and the concept of Midgard or “Middle Earth”—can be traced to images and material culture throughout Scandinavian prehistory, this thorough study uncovers the pagan origins of Old Norse religion.