A fascinating and comprehensive A-Z guide to the myths and legends of northern Europe. Recounts the major sagas and legends, from Baldrs draumar to Volsunga saga. Describes the gods, goddesses, giants, dwarfs and other supernatural creatures of Northern myth. Details the cosmology of the Norse world, from Asgard, home of the gods, to Niflheim, the place of freezing mists, to Hel, the land of the dead. Explores a wide range of related topics, such as amulets, magic, runes, and the rite of the blood-eagle. It considers a wide range of historical and literary sources, from the Latin of Tacitus to the Icelandic of Snorri Sturluson.

This is an A-Z guide to the mythology of the Vikings, with over 400 articles covering myths, gods and goddesses, giants, dwarves, elves and other supernatural creatures. It aims to provide an insight into a folklore tradition which has inspired talents as diverse as Wagner and Tolkien. A general historical introduction provides an overall perspective, and background material on the archaeology and social framework of the Norse world is provided.

From Loki to Thor, Ragnarok to Beowulf A gripping and truly mesmerising delve into the Norse legends From bestselling books to blockbusting Hollywood movies, the myths of the Scandinavian gods and heroes are part of the modern day landscape. For over a millennium before the arrival of Christianity, the legends permeated everyday life in Iceland and the northern reaches of Europe. Since that time, they have been perpetuated in literature and the arts in forms as diverse as Tolkien and Wagner, graphic novels to the world of Marvel. This book covers the entire cast of supernatural beings, from gods to trolls, heroes to monsters, and deals with the social and historical background to the myths, topics such as burial rites, sacrificial practices and runes.

A comprehensive survey of Norse myth features Scandinavian gods and trolls, heroes and monsters, lands and beliefs, in more than 1,000 entries, photos, charts, and quotations.

Provides information on the gods, heroes, rituals, beliefs, symbols, and stories of Norse mythology.

Comprehensive and cross-referenced, this informative volume is a rich introduction to the world of nature as experienced by ancient peoples around the globe. 51 halftones.

Authoritative, comprehensive reference incorporating the latest research on tales, literary and oral sources, and the broad-reaching cultural legacy of Norse mythology. The book describes the pagan origins of Scandinavia, the interaction between the Vikings and other Europeans, and the concept of time in Norse mythology, and gives a dictionary of deities, themes, and concepts. With 200 entries of up to four pages each, the dictionary includes both well-known characters like Thor and minor figures such as Gleipnir, the "fetter with which the wolf Fenrir was finally bound." It also includes further references about Viking and medieval Scandinavia, archaeology, etymology, the conversion of Iceland, other encyclopedias, and more.