[gothic-l] Heyerdahl searching for Odin

[Tore Gannholm]

There might be something in it.

Snorri Sturluson tells in Heimskringla about the Æsir (the men from Asia)
and the origin of the Ynglinga dynasty. In Heimskringla one can read:

"But Odin having foreknowledge, and magic sight, knew that his posterity
would come to settle and dwell in the northern half of the world. He
therefore set his brothers Ve and Vilje over Asgaard; and he himself, with
all the gods and a great many other people, wandered out, first westward to
Gardarike, and then south to Saxland. He had many sons; and after having
subdued an extensive kingdom in Saxland, he set his sons to rule the
country."
"Now when Odin heard that things were in a prosperous condition in the land
to the east beside Gylve, he went thither, and Gylve made a peace with him,
for Gylve thought he had no strength to oppose the people of Asaland. Odin
and Gylve played many tricks and enchantments on each other; but the
Asaland people was always in superiority. Odin took up his residence at the
Mælare lake, at the place now called Old-Sigtun. There he erected a large
temple, where there were sacrifices according to the customs of the Asaland
people. He appropriated to himself the whole of that district, and called
it Sigtun. To the temple priests he gave also domains. Njord dwelt in
Noatun, Frey in Upsal, Heimdal in the Himinbergs, Thor in Thrudvang, Balder
in Breidablik; to all of them he gave good estates.
When Odin of Asaland came to the north, and the Diar with him, they
introduced and taught to others the arts which the people long afterwards
have practised. Odin was the cleverest of all, and from him all the others
learned their arts and accomplishments; and he knew them first, and knew
many more than other people. But now, to tell why he is held in such high
respect, we must mention various causes that contributed to it. When
sitting among his friends his countenance was so beautiful and dignified,
that the spirits of all were exhilarated by it; but when he was in war he
appeared dreadful to his foes. This arose from his being able to change his
skin and form in any way he liked. Another cause was, that he conversed so
cleverly and smoothly, that all who heard believed him. He spoke everything
in rhyme, such as now composed, which we call scald-craft. He and his
temple priests were called song-smiths, for from them came that art of song
into the northern countries. Odin could make his enemies in battle blind,
or deaf, or terror-struck, and their weapons so blunt that they could no
more cut than a willow wand; on the other hand, his men rushed forwards
without armour, were as mad as dogs or wolves, bit their shields, and were
strong as bears or wild bulls, and killed people, at a blow, but neither
fire nor iron told upon themselves, These were called Berserker."
Tore

>The following URL of the BBC reports that the famous Norwegian
>archaeologist and explorer Thor Heyerdahl is now searching for traces
>of Odin in South Russia. I know this is slighly off-topic, but it is
>funny nonetheless. Heyerdahl apparently believes that the Norse
>god Odin was a real South Russian king, who lived in the first century
>BC. The text doesn't say it, but I guess Heyerdahl believes that the
>Goths brought the Odin believe to Europe. Russian scientists have
>expressed scepticism, but since Heyerdahl seems to pour in the money,
>why not.
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1353000/1353343.s
>tm
>
>cheers
>Dirk
>
>
>You are a member of the Gothic-L list.  To unsubscribe, send a blank email
>to <gothic-l-unsubscribe at egroups.com>.
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



You are a member of the Gothic-L list.  To unsubscribe, send a blank email to <gothic-l-unsubscribe at egroups.com>. 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/