The Religion of the Northmen: Translated by Barclay Pennock

The Religion Of The Northmen: Translated By Barclay Pennock by Rudolph Keyser. The work offers a thorough, scholarly treatment of the old Norse religion and its accompanying Icelandic literature, tracing the Asa-Faith from its creation myths through its doctrinal interpretations and its impact on daily life among the Northmen of Norway and Iceland. Beginning with an overview of the restoration of Icelandic literature and the Eddas and Sagas, Keyser surveys the mythic cosmos (the nine worlds, Yggdrasil, and the gods such as Odin, Thor, Frey, Freyja, Njord, Baldur, and Loki) and presents a careful interpretation of their meanings in natural, ethical, and historical contexts. The book then examines the organization of religious life: priests, temples, sacrifices, oaths, and laws; the worship of the dead; and a wide array of superstitions, divination, and sorcery. An Appendix furnishes translations from the Older Edda. Comprehensive and authoritative, it remains a foundational resource for understanding Norse religion and its cultural legacy.