(9) JOHN LINDOW –

NORSE MYTHOLOGY: A GUIDE TO THE GODS, HEROES, RITUALS & BELIEFS (2001)

“We come from the land of the ice and snow

From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow

The hammer of the gods

Will drive our ships to new lands

To fight the horde, sing and cry

Valhalla, I am coming”

I won’t tire of quoting the lyrics of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song for Norse mythology, whether for its third place entry in my Top 10 Mythologies, or here for this special mention for the leading reference work on Norse mythology.

Of course, Norse is something of a misnomer, as it was a Germanic or Scandinavian mythology that extended throughout much of northern Europe, although it is most identified with Norway and Iceland (and Vikings!), also the source of its surviving texts.

“Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland and outlines the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world.”

The book is essentially divided into three parts, with a postscript for print and non-print resources about Norse mythology. The first part is an introduction for the historical background of Scandinavian mythology (including “cult, worship and sacrifice”). The second part is a chapter on mythic time. The third and predominant part is effectively a reference dictionary of entries in alphabetical order “that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term… particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another”.

RATING:

A-TIER (TOP TIER)