Teutonic Mythology, Vol. 1 of 3: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland

Teutonic Mythology #1

by Viktor Rydberg

Excerpt from Teutonic Mythology, Vol. 1 of 3: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland
Already at the beginning of the Christian era the name Germans was applied by the Romans and Gauls to the many clans of people whose main habitation was the extensive territory east of the Rhine, and north of. The forest-clad Hercynian Mountains. That these clans constituted one race was evident to the Romans, for they all had a striking similarity in type of body; moreover, a closer acquaintance revealed that their numerous dialects were all variations of the same parent language, and finally, they resembled each other in customs, traditions, and religion. The characteristic features of the physical type of the Germans were light hair, blue eyes, light complexion, and tallness of stature as compared With' the Romans.
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Genres: Mythology, Religion, History, Paganism

383 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1886

About the author

Abraham Viktor Rydberg (Jönköping, December 18, 1828 – Djursholm, September 21, 1895) was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895. "Primarily a classical idealist",[1] Viktor Rydberg has been described as "Sweden's last Romantic" and by 1859 was "generally regarded in the first rank of Swedish novelists."

Reviews

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the subject matter itself does interest me and some of the overview stuff of Saxo and other Sagas was good I disagree with most of Rydbergs conclusions. Which in a simplified way to put it is that northern European mythology is just fancied up tales of real events of vaguely recorded history and the Gods were all real people that through tall tales were deified as years passed then blanks were filled in by using stuff from Homer and the Bible. The dry writing style didn't help either.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly impressed with this work. This first volume covers a rather large area of the myths. After some minor bits about language and possible theories concerning the homeland of the Aryans it then goes in to a large section about the migrations of the Germanic tribes and how the Christian influenced medieval documents envisioned their ancestry. Rydberg is very thorough, and takes his time dismissing and proving that Asian origins are incorrect. He then goes on to show how the tribes did have their descent from the gods and shows who they were by taking all the histories and carefully detailing the information back the very roots. From there you get a fascinating look at some of the mythological cycle (as confusing as it is at times), Heimdal's identity to man, who Mannus really was (Thor), details of the first war (unconfused for once), how fimbul winters have come and gone and their influence in the physical world, and how the first wars of the Gods were also played out here in the world. There is so much information here to give one a great deal to think about and to think there are two more volumes to read! I know I can't wait.

[Angrboda Lyndasdottir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely in-depth analysis of all the major migration and heroic sagas from the ancient Teutonic world (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and to some extent Gothic, Frankish and Burgundian territories). Rydberg comprehensively compares the sagas to one another and to the historical records preserved by Tacitus, Saxo Grammaticus and later historians, and makes compelling arguments for the ultimate identity of the various sagas with one ur-myth of the Teutonic peoples. Abundant philological evidence is given for relating gods/heroes across the sagas and histories. Perhaps the most trenchant analysis of the literature ever done - and I've still got two volumes to read!

Highly recommended to the reader seeking both a broad and deep understanding of Teutonic mythology. Essential for anyone who wants to explore "Norse" mythology's real cultural significance in its time and place.

[Velvetink]

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