A Dictionary of Northern Mythology - Softcover

Simek, Rudolph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0859915131 ISBN 13: 9780859915137

Publisher: BOYE6, 1996

Synopsis

For two and a half thousand years, from 1500 BC to AD 1000, a culture as significant as the classical civilisation of the Mediterranean world settled an immense area in northern Europe that stretched from Iceland to the Black Sea. But the sources of our knowledge about these societies are relatively few, leaving the gods of the North shrouded in mystery. In compiling this dictionary Rudolf Simek has made the fullest possible use of the information available -Christian accounts, Eddic lays, the Elder Edda, runic inscriptions, Roman authors (especially Tacitus), votive stones, place names and archaeological discoveries. He has adhered throughout to a broad definition of mythology which presents the beliefs of the heathen Germanic tribes in their entirety: not only tales of the gods, but beings from lower levels of belief: elves, dwarfs and giants; the beginning and end of the world; the creation of man, death and the afterlife; cult, burial customs and magic - an entire history of Germanic religion.RUDOLF SIMEK is Professor of Medieval German and Scandinavian literature at the University of Bonn in Germany.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

In compiling this dictionary Rudolf Simek has made the fullest use of the information available--Christian accounts, Eddic lays, the Prose Edda, runic inscriptions, Roman authors (especially Tacitus), votive stones, place names and archaeological discoveries.

About the Author:

RUDOLF SIMEK is Professor of Medieval German and Scandinavian literature at the University of Bonn in Germany.

About this edition

• Publisher: BOYE6
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0859915131
• ISBN 13: 9780859915137
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 438