Davidson, H. - Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

Ragnarsdrdápa , 89, 152

Ragnvald Rettilbeiní, 121

Ran, 129

Raud, 85

Ravens, 29, 65, 146–7

Ravenswood, Battle of, 51

Rebirth, 110, 155, 157–8, 162

Redwald, King, 219

Regin, 43–4

Rerir, King, 112

Rigspula , 174, 176

Rind, 185, 186

Ring of Thor, 76–7, 78

Ring, Sigurd, of Sweden, 49–50, 136, 150

Rivers, 36, 119, 193, 200

Rock-carvings, 60, 80

Romove, 87

Roskva, 32

Ruad, 130

Runes, 13, 14, 18, 57, 106; Odin and, 141, 144

Runic poem, 104

Saxnot, 60

Saxo Grammaticus, 46, 69; mentions: Balder, 183–9; fighting gods, 170; Freyr, 96, 122; Fridleif, 112; Frodi, 103, 135; Geirrod, 153, 182; Hadding, 143, 152; Hagbard, 151; Harald Wartooth, 49; Thor’s hammer, 81–2, 86

Saxons, 11, 60, 129, 196, 206

Scani, 105

Sceaf, 105, 107

Scyld, 104, 107, 110, 113, 135–6

Scyldings, 105

Sea, Anglo-Saxon words for, 114, 129

Seafarer, The , 218

Seaxneat, 60

Seeresses, 61, 117–21, 146, 185, 219

Seiðr , 117–21

Sermo Lupi , 61

Semnones, 59

Serpent, 27, 184, 207; poison dropping from, 37, 179, 184, 207; and the eagle, 193–4. See also World Serpent

Shamanism, 141–2, 144–5, 191–2, 195; in sagas, 118–19; in Siberia, 19; Lappish, 82; Odin as shaman, 147, 148–9

Shape-changing, 67–8, 140, 145, 178; bird shape, 117, 119, 141

Ship: as symbol, 132–7; burning of, 52, 80, 136, 187; in grave, 17, 95, 133–7, 148; of Balder, 36; of Freyr, 29, 42, 100, 132; of Ull, 105–6

Shorter Vóluspá , 146, 175, 205

Sif, 30, 41, 42, 84

Sigmund the Volsung, 49, 143

Sigrdrifumál , 57n.

Sigrid the Proud, 151

Sigrun, 157

Sigurd the Volsung, 43–4, 49, 150, 162, 218

Sigvat the poet, 156

Sigyn, 30, 207

Skadi, 30, 39, 106–7, 153

Skaldic poetry, 23, 46; Bragi in, 164; Eysteinn Valdason, 89; Gamil Gnœvaðarskáld , 89; Kormak, 205; Sigvat, 156; Thorbjǫrn Brúnarson, 165; Thorbjǫrn Dísarskáld , 91; Ulfr Uggarson, 89; end of world in, 205; Odin’s brothers in, 201; Thor in, 76, 78, 84; Ull in, 106; válkyries in, 106

Skáldskaparmál , 39, 130

Skarpaler, stone from, 205, 208

Skeggi, 76

Skiálf, 116

Skiðblaðnir , 29, 100, 132

Skiold, 45

Skirnir, 30, 92, 165

Skírnismál , 92, 185

Skjǫldunga Saga , 136n.

Skrymir, 33, 34

Sky God, 20–1, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 106, 196, 221

Slavs, 86

Sleipnir, 26, 41, 49, 141, 142, 145; birth of, 31, 178; ridden by Hermod, 36, 193

Snorri Sturluson, 24, 39, 45, 46, 203, 216–17, and passim ; account of Balder’s death by, 183–9

Solomon and Saturn , 141

Sonatorrek , 129

Spear of Odin, 42, 49, 51–3, 67

Spring: of Mimir, 26, 38, 166; of Urd, 26; sacred, 87, 171, 184, 191

Squirrel, 27, 194

Staff of Thor, 42

Stapenhill, cemetery at, 160

Starkad, 52, 69

Stars, 37, 38, 40, 41

Stenqvista, 82

Strabo, 54, 204

Strategicon , 215

Styrbiorn the Strong, 53

Sun, 28, 37, 38, 183, 203

Sun-wheel, 83, 132

Surt, 37, 38, 202, 206, 208

Suttee, 150–2, 157

Sutton Hoo, 17, 133, 136, 159

Suttung, 40

Svaðilfari , 31

Svein of Denmark, 69, 151

Sviagríss, 99

Svipdágsmál , 181, 185, 195

Swastika, 83, 158

Sweden: boar helmets in, 99; cremation in, 158; elves in, 156; folklore in, 18; Gefion and, 45, 113; lucky tree in, 88; place-names in, 87, 115, 116; ship-burial in, 133; suttee in, 151; Thor’s hammers in, 81; worship of Freyr in, 92–4, 96, 100, 107, 154; worship of Odin in, 25, 56, 70, 148, 154

Swedes, 12, 51; early kings of, 97, 109, 126, 169; gods fighting for, 170

Sword: boars on, 98; forbidden in temple, 101; given by Odin, 49; heirloom, 102; Mimming, 168, 184; Mistletoe, 187; sacrificed, 56, 71; Saxnot and, 60; taken from mound, 157; with swastika, 83

Tacitus, 15; mentions: Aestii, 99; Alcis, 169–70; battle god, 55, 56, 58; Chatti, 55, 56, 66; Harri, 67; Hercules, 82; Hermundari, 55, 56, 200; Mannus, 199; Nerthus, 94–5, 96, 102, 110–11, 113; Semnones, 59; Suebi, 100; Tuisto, 199; Veleda, 121

Temple, 75–9, 80, 84, 88

Thangbrand, 85

Thialfi, 32, 34, 41, 79

Thiazi, 39, 40, 165, 199

Thiðriks Saga , 131

Thing, 58

Thokk, 188

Thor, 25, 26, 29, 73–91, 213; dead and, 158–9; death of, 38; fishing of, 35, 130, 138–9, 207; Hrungnir’s duel with, 41; hammer of, 43; killing of giant builder, 31; mother of, 111; oak and, 191; prayer to, 53; visit to Geirrod, 42, 44–5; to Utgard, 32–5, 139, 182; worshipper of, 101

Thorbjǫrn Brunarson, 165

Thorbjǫrn Dísarskáld , 91

Thord Freysgoði , 101

Thorgerda Hǫlgabrúðr , 122, 170

Thorgrim Freysgoði , 101, 135

Thorhall, 85

Thorolf Mostrarskegg , 77–8, 85, 101, 158

Thorsbjerg, 55

Thrandheim, 75, 97, 100, 103

þrymskviða , 44, 115, 117, 175

Thryn, 44–5, 73

Thunder, 41, 44, 74, 76, 79, 81–3, 84, 86–7

Thunor, 60, 83, 161

Tiw (Tig), 60

Tîwaz, 59–60, 69, 75, 77, 111, 196, 199

Trees: sacred, 20, 86–8, 191; by house, 49, 88, 90–1

Trelleborg, 69

Trickster, 181

Troy, 25

Tuisto, 199

Twin Gods, 169–71

Tyr, 29, 57–60, 130; death of, 38; wolf and, 31

Tysoe, red horse of, 60

Ulfr Uggarson, 89

Ull, 29, 76, 105–6, 170

Uppsala, 17; sacrifices at, 51, 96, 145; tree by temple at, 191; worship of gods at, 12, 75, 77, 96, 154, 219

Urd, 26, 194

Utgard, 33–5, 180, 182

Utgard-Loki, 33, 34, 182

Vafþruðnismál , 152, 199

Väinämöien, 201

Válaskjálf , 28

Valhalla, 28, 38, 48, 70, 143, 149–53, 186, 195; Bragi in, 164–5; cremation for entry to, 52

Vali, 30

Valknut, 147

Valkyries, 23, 28, 61–6, 71, 184

Valsgärde, 134

Vandals, 11, 104, 169, 170

Vanir, 29, 92, 97, 197, 213, 219; apples of, 165–6; Balder and, 109; burial mound and, 154–7; Heimdall and, 175–6; links with Aesir, 153–4; seiðr and, 117; ships and, 132, 135–8; Ull and, 105–6; war with Aesir, 40, 45, 167

Vatnsdœla Saga , 98, 101, 120, 135

Ve, 27, 201

Veleda, 121

Vendel graves, 134, 147; helmets from, 99, 147; ship-graves, 134

Vidar, 30, 38, 207

Víga-Glúms Saga , 101, 156

Vigrid, 38

Vikar, King, 52, 53, 172

Vikings, 12, 14, 70, 71, 85, 213, 217; of Dublin, 73, 75, 88–9; of Jomsburg, 68

Vili, 27, 201

Vimir, 42

Vimose, 55

Vineland, 85

Vitazgjafi , 101

Volga, 13, 52, 62, 150, 151

Vǫlsunga Saga , 68, 88, 111, 143, 165

Vǫluspá , 119, 146, 192, 197; mentions: Balder, 108, 185; creation, 201; Heimdall, 173, 176; Hoenir, 168, Niðhǫggr , 161; Odin, 53, 167; Ragnarok, 202–10; Thor, 90. See also Shorter Vóluspá

Vǫlva , 117–20, 142, 146, 156, 188

Vries, Jan de, 19, 173, 179, 188, 195, 197

Wachilt , 131

Wade, 131

Wœlcyrge , 62

Wagon, 93–6, 103, 135

Weapon oath, 58

Weeping for Balder, 36–7, 109, 187

Weland the Smith, 131

Whetstone of Hrungnir, 41, 79

Widia (Wittich), 131

Widukind, 196

Wild hunt, 148

William of Malmesbury, 105

Willebrord, St, 87, 171

Winniles, 111

Winter, great, 202, 207

Wittich, see Widia

Wodan (Wotan), 60, 69, 70, 140–1, 147, 148; giving of name by,111; in Merseburg Charm, 183; sacrifices to, 54, 56, 189