Scandinavian gods

German-Scandinavian mythology is mentioned by the great Roman writers. Caesar (1st century BC) and Tacitus (1st century AD) told of beliefs and sacred rituals.

So, according to their testimonies, first the Germans came to the sacred groves, in which they addressed their gods with requests. At the same time they went into these groves in chains.

The Germans did not stint on gifts to the gods. As scientists later found out, the animals that were sacrificed were taken out of the lungs, liver, and heart. The organs were burned at the stake. Collected blood sprinkled people.

Later, the Germans began to build temples (pagan sanctuaries, temples). In them were installed the figures of Freyr, Thor, Odin (Scandinavian gods). Such a church stood for five centuries in Sweden (Uppsala). At that time sacrificial cattle began to kill at the temples. Collected blood sprinkled people, the temple (outside and inside). On the floor of the temple, fire was raised, boilers were built, in which sacrificial meat was cooked. Food was blessed.

After the adoption of Christianity, the Scandinavian gods were still glorified by the people for a long time. So, for example, the prisoners were hanged as a gift to Odin, the leaders brought money to the temple to pray for the peace. In the 10th century, the Danish kings on one side of the coins minted the hammer of Thor, and on the other - the sword of St. Peter. For many centuries the Scandinavian gods were mentioned in proverbs and sayings. In the process of collecting herbs, people pronounced spells, thus giving forces to plants. For a long time the people turned to the gods with requests to divert the disease, to prevent a storm or thunder, to send rain.

In some cases, the Christian church used rather radical measures. Idols and temples were burned, people were forbidden to perform old rituals, to swear oaths. The royal laws helped to save the population from the paganism of the church. However, some Scandinavian gods still penetrated Christianity. Thus, for example, Thor became Saint James. Other gods of the Vikings became demons. Some holidays have survived. Continued to praise the goddess of the Earth, the celebration of the winter solstice merged with Christmas.

Scandinavian gods their "immortality" and glory acquired in pagan literature, music, painting, oral creativity.

One is the supreme deity. In Scandinavian mythology, he was a symbol of supreme power and wisdom, thus ousting Thor, the god of thunder. The second was dominant among the Indo-European tribes. Taking the first place, Odin took part of Tor's duties on himself, mainly becoming the patron of the warriors. According to the Scandinavian myths, the supreme deity possessed knowledge about the destiny of the whole world.

Loki possessed an unusual character. This god was the most popular hero in the Scandinavian epic. His name is mentioned in various folklore genres, including sayings and proverbs. It should be noted that Loki's image is quite contradictory. He was distinguished by cunning, resourcefulness, sense of humor (more often evil). Of all the gods Loki was the only one who had a connection with almost all the heroes of mythology.

Thor personified the thunder, thunder. Unlike other gods-Thunderers, he was not the unanimous head of the pantheon. The attribute of Thor was his hammer. This weapon was feared by all evil spirits. The second attribute of the Torah was his wagon, which was harnessed by goats.

Freyr was the god of sunlight, a fertile summer rain. In addition, he patronized the riders and horses, was the savior of the prisoners. Freyr's attribute was a sword. Drawn from its scabbards, the weapon brought only victory. However, in the temples erected in honor of Freyr, weapons were forbidden to make. Victims and bulls were sacrificed in these temples. Frey's statues were carved from solid logs. But just like the idols of other creatures, his statues were burned after the arrival of Christianity.