NORDIC MYTHOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION

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1 NORDIC MYTHOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION Nordic Mythology is a course in English for international students. It is a course within the science of religion, and it deals with the religion in Denmark before the introduction of Christianity. In the course we will read some poems concerning pre-christian deities from Iceland as well as the medieval Icelandic writer Snorri, which makes it possible to get a glimpse of the mythology of the Scandinavians before Christianity. The gods Odin, Thor, Vanir, Loki and Balder will be accentuated. We will also go beyond mythology and try to get an idea about the religious rituals and the religious experts of the Norsemen. The course includes an excursion to Ladby, Trelleborg and Roskilde and an excursion to Scania in Sweden, where we will visit a couple of burial places in the shape of a ship and also some well-preserved runic stones.

2 Location: Time: University of Copenhagen, Amager, Karen Blixens Plads 8, room 15A-2-11 Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. First lecture is February 12 th and last lecture is April 23 th. Furthermore, there will be two excursions on Saturday April 13 th and on Saturday May 4 th. A total of 10 lectures and 2 excursions. Coordinator: The course is organized by The Saxo Institute. The Coordinator is Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. Lecturer: Assistants: Website: Facebook: Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies There will be a teaching assistant from Danish Culture Courses, who will assist with practical matters. dcc@hum.ku.dk Registration: Find the registration form on our website, fill it in electronically and send it to dcc@hum.ku.dk from your KU-mail. The deadline is March 7 th The course is only offered to international students enrolled at the University of Copenhagen through IUS (International Education & Grants) or through Open University: We can only admit 60 students at this course. Students will be admitted according to the date, they hand in the registration form. Exchange students can sign up for a maximum of 35 ECTS points at the UCPH per semester. If you wish to join this course but your enrollment in it will make your total amount of ECTS exceed the 35 ECTS limit, please contact the department(s) of the course(s) you re registered for, and ask to be withdrawn in order to make room for it. Once you have room for the 15 ECTS, please fill in the registration form and send it to dcc@hum.ku.dk from your KU-mail, and we will. The registration deadline is March 7 th 2019.

3 Examination: When you register for the course you are automatically registered for the exam. Early Danish History and Religion - HDCB01061E: Form of exam: Written take-home assignment, optional subject, following active participation (see special provisions). The subject of the assignment is agreed between the student and the teacher. Assessment: Internal exam with one examiner, the 7-point grading scale. Exam language: English. Extent: Max. 20 standard pages. Group exam: The exam can only be taken individually. Special provisions: Active student participation consists of a synopsis of 2-3 standard pages. Make-up exam/re-exam/if not fulfilling requirement for active student participation: Written take-home assignment, optional subject. The subject of the assignment is agreed between the student and the teacher. Assessment: Internal exam with one examiner, the 7-point grading scale. Exam language: English. Extent: standard pages. Group exam: The exam can only be taken individually The assignment must be uploaded in Digital Exam no later than June 6 th at 12 p.m. (noon). After evaluation of the exam the grade or result is automatically added to your transcript and reported to your home university by IUS (International Education and Grants). The grade will be published on KU-net Self Service four weeks after the deadline for submission of exam paper. Literature: Your personal syllabus consists of a binder and a book unless otherwise arranged. The binder will be sold at Publi@kom in room 11A-0-02 at KUA2. The book is Gods and Myths of Northern Europe by Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson and can be purchased at Academic Books. A collection of pertinent books are available in the reference library. These books are only to be studied in the library, cf. list of books, which you can find in the Absalon room. The location is Saxo Knowledge Center 13B 2 nd floor at KUA2. IMPORTANT DATES: Mar. 7 th : Deadline for registration and change of exams May 6 th : May 16 th : Jun. 6 th : Deadline for uploading approved synopsis on Absalon. End-of-Term Celebration Deadline for submission of exam papers at 12 p.m. (noon) in Digital Exam

4 SCHEDULE Feb. 12 th Lecture 1: Introduction. Timeline. Sources Feb. 19 th Lecture 2: World of the Gods Feb. 26 th Lecture 3: Odin Mar. 12 th Lecture 4: Thor Mar. 19 th Lecture 5: Worship and Ritual Mar. 26 th Lecture 6: Magic, Seeresses and Everyday Religion Apr. 2 nd Lecture 7: Death Apr. 9 th Lecture 8: Vanir Apr. 13 th Excursion: Ladby, Trelleborg and Roskilde Apr. 17 th Lecture 9: Loki and Balder Apr. 23 th Lecture 10: Nordic Myth in Modern Times: Neopaganism and Popular Culture May. 4 th Excursion: Ales Stenar in Southern Sweden The programme is subject to alteration.

5 PROGRAMME Lecture 1: (Feb. 12 th ) Introduction. Timeline. Sources. The historical background for the Viking Age will be delineated and the various merits of our main sources for Nordic Mythology will be discussed as well as the societies where they originated. Together we will read a poem from the late Viking early Medieval times. In this way we can also introduce the best ways to read the poetic sources. Expected reading: The Beginning of Snorri s Ynglingasaga. The List of Rig (Absalon). Lecture 2: (Feb. 19 th ) World of the Gods Based on two main sources we will look at the cosmology as it is shown in the poems and in the writings of Snorri Sturluson (killed 1224) and discuss the different world-views of the pre-christian Norsemen. Expected reading: The Seeress s Prophecy and Gylfaginning (Binder+Absalon) Davidson: Gods and Myths, The World of the Northern Gods, pp Lecture 3: (Feb. 26 th ) Odin Odin is the main god in the sources, an enigmatic sinister deity uniting such apparently disparate spheres as trade, death and poetry spheres that to the Vikings were intimately connected. Expected reading: In Sayings of the High One. Gylfaginning. Skáldskaparmál (Absalon). Davidson: Gods and Myths, pp and Lecture 4: (Mar. 12 th ) Thor Probably the most worshipped god of the Vikings and certainly the deity of the ordinary free men, Thor s main realm seem to be that of physical strength, but it soon becomes obvious that his sphere is actually the upholding of the order of the universe and the world of men. Most of the stories about Thor deal with his battles with the chaotic giants. Expected reading: Thrym s Poem (Absalon). Hymir s Poem. Gylfaginning.

6 Lecture 5: (Mar. 19 th ) I Worship and Ritual We shall examine recent archaeological evidence which has radically I I changed our knowledge of Nordic cult, temples and religious practise. We will also read an account of a temple in Sweden, one of our only descriptions of organised worship in the pre-christian era. Based on hearsay it nevertheless contains information that can be corroborated from other sources and probably provides a glimpse of actual ritual behaviour. Expected reading: Adam of Bremen on the Temple in Uppsala. Eirik the Red s Saga. The Saga of Hákon the Good. Temples, Priests and Festivals. Lecture 6: (Mar. 26 th ) Magic, Seeresses and Everyday Religion An important religious practice seems to have been the magic known as Seidr, practised by female seeresses known as a Völva. As well as the worship of the gods, each household probably also practiced other forms of private house cult. We will examine the few vague hints of such a cult, mentioning elves and an interesting object know as a Völsi. Expected reading: Völsa tháttr. Lecture 7: (Apr. 2 nd ) Death The only direct eyewitness to Nordic rituals was an Arabic scholar named Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who saw a Viking funeral in 922 or 923. The description is rightly famous as it is breath-taking. It is possible to corroborate a few of the details with Nordic sources and provide a reasonably solid introduction to the Viking view of death. Expected reading: The Funeral of the Rus-Chief. Lecture 8: (Apr. 9 th ) Vanir The class of deities responsible for fertility and agriculture, as well as human sexuality. The most important are two deities known simply as The Lord and The Lady, Freyr and Freyja. They are supposedly both brother and sister as well as lovers. Expected reading: Germania. Skirnir s Journey. Gylfaginning. Davidson: Gods and Myths, pp

7 Excursion: (Apr. 13 th ) An Excursion to Ladby, Trelleborg and Roskilde On this excursion we will visit some of the most impressive Viking sites in Eastern Denmark. From ancient fortifications and settlements to Viking ships and ship burials. We meet at Njalsgade in front of KUA2. Time will be announced. Please bring your own lunch. Lecture 9: (Apr. 17 th ) Loki and Balder The slaying of the innocent god Balder sets off the beginning of the destruction of the gods and their world. In some versions the enigmatic Loki is given the blame for this. Loki is bound in the underworld as punishment. Expected reading: Baldr s Dreams. Loki s Quarrel (Absalon). Also Saxo and Gylfaginning. Davidson: Gods and Myths, pp Lecture 10: (Apr. 24 th ) Nordic Myth in Modern Times: Neopaganism and Popular Culture Expected reading: Asa worship in Denmark Excursion: (May 5 th ) An Excursion to Ales Stenar in Southern Sweden On this excursion we will visit ship settings and runic stones in Sweden. Amongst other attractions, we will visit Ales Stenar a great ship setting overlooking the sea. We meet at Njalsgade in front of KUA2. Time will be announced. Please bring your own lunch.

8 ADDRESSES Danish Culture Courses Contact Information; Lecturer: Coordinator: Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies Contact for General Questions: Assistants: Elisabeth LB Andersen Tómas Terney Arason Mathilde Duedahl Jørgensen Annette Klaaborg Amalie Witt Skovhus Bjørn Søndergaard Anna Olivia Høite Andrea Aallmann Thomas Møll Bramming Karen Blixens Plads 8, room Director: Per Methner Rasmussen, The Saxo Institute. Karen Blixens Plads 8, room DK-2300 København S pmr@hum.ku.dk Web-site: Facebook: Exam Secretary: Maria Christina Frantzoulis The Saxo Institute. Karen Blixens Plads 8, room DK-2300 København S frantzoulis@hum.ku.dk IUS (International Education & Grants) International Uddannelse og SU Fiolstræde 1 Postboks 1143 DK-1010 København K Phone:

NORDIC MYTHOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION

NORDIC MYTHOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION Nordic Mythology is a course in English for international students. It is a course within the science of religion, and it deals with the religion in Denmark before the