Read and discuss the gods and mythical stories of the peoples the Romans called “Germanic.” From the Bronze Age to the end of the Viking Age, the plots and protagonists of Northern mythology colorfully illuminate the values behind the social and political structures of these European tribes and their visions about life’s stations and death. Take a look at the rise of Christianity during this time and see how the old mythology overlapped and eventually merged with Christian beliefs in interesting ways. We will follow the legacy of the myths all the way to today, and learn that contrary to the often white supremacist fans of Norse mythology in the US, genuine revivals of Germanic paganism such as the one by the Ásatrúarfélagið in Reykjavik, Iceland, focus on environmental sustainability and the strong belief in teaching history as a necessary element of a civic education.
Suggested Reading: The Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson (180 pages, Penguin Classics paperback.)