Vikings
Magie und Zauberei bei den Wikingern
Runes, seiðr, seeresses and pagan rituals in the ancient North
About the book
Content and approach
Magic and Sorcery among the Vikings explores a mysterious side of the Nordic world. Runes, seiðr, seeresses, amulets, dreams, omens and the power of the gods belonged to a worldview in which visible and invisible realities were closely connected. Drawing on historical traditions, this book discusses magical practices, rituals and religious concepts in the Viking Age. It connects mythology and beliefs to the everyday lives, fears and hopes of the people who lived in the North. Rather than treating these traditions as modern fantasy, it places the evidence in its cultural and historical setting. Readers discover an intriguing world of sorcery, protection, prophecy and supernatural powers.