The Religion of the Northmen
The Northmen, before their conversion to Christianity, and as far back in time as History is able to follow them, were the adherents of a Religion usually called the Asa-Faith, from the Æsir, the Gods concerning whom it taught. This Asa-Religion in its peculiar form may be considered as having sprung into being with the Germanic race, and as being, in its fundamental principles, inherited and propagated by the two branches of that race---the Norræna and the German---so that its essential doctrines were common to both, although in its farther development, by each of them, it followed a peculiar direction.
For the elucidation of the Asa-Faith in its Germanic form, the resources, even though not wholly insignificant, are yet difficult to be employed, as they are widely scattered, and have to be looked for among much-corrupted popular legends, and in manuscripts of the middle ages, where they are occasionally found interpolated, and where we should least expect to meet with them. (1) But in its Norræna form the Asa-Faith is far better known. Here we have for our guide not only a number of religious lays, composed while the Asa-Faith still flourished, but even a complete religious system, written down, it is true, in Christian times, yet, according to all evidence, without the Christian ideas having had any especial influence in the delineation, or having materially corrupted it.
The lays are found in the collection usually called The Older Edda or Sæmund's Edda, which latter name is given to it because it was collected by the Icelander Sæmund the Learned (b. 1056, d. 1133). The Religious System is found in the Later Edda, also called Snorri's Edda, from the supposed author or compiler, the renowned Saga-man Snorri Sturlason (b. 1178, d. 1241).
Upon these manuscripts is based the following brief sketch of the Religious Doctrines of the Asa-Faith. But a delineation of the Religious System of the Northmen in Heathondom requires not merely a representation of the predominant dogmas of the Faith; it must likewise embrace an interpretation of them, so far as it can be given with any certainty, and finally a picture of the religion such as it actually appeared in life,---in the worship of the gods, in the religious institutions, in the popular notions concerning the gods, and in the heathen superstition generally.
In the interpretation of the Asa-myths, very important services have been rendered by many learned men of modern times, and their works have been constantly referred to in that part of our undertaking, although by no means slavishly followed.
The most important modern works, which present the Asa-myths with their interpretations, are the following:---
Finn Magnusen:---"Oversættelse af den ældre Edda," 1821-23, 4 vols. 8vo. ; "Edda-Lære," 1824-26, 4 vols. 8vo.; "Lexicon Mythologicum," appended to the third part of the great Arna Magnæan edition of the Older Edda.
N.F.S.Grundtvig:---"Nordens Mythologie eller Sindbilled-Sprog, historisk poetisk udviklet." 2nd ed. Copenh. 1836.
M. Hammerich:---"Om Ragnaroks Mythen og dens Betydning i den oldnordiske Religion." Copenh. 1836.
N. M. Petersen:---"Danmarks Historie i Hedenold." Copenh. 1834-37. 3 parts. The Asa-Doctrine is treated of in the third part.
E. G. Geijer:---"Svea-Rikes Häfder," Stockh. 1825, and his "Svenska Folkets Historia," Örebro, 1832-36, where the Asa-Doctrine is treated of in the first part.
F. J. Mone:---"Geschichte des Heidenthums im nördlichen Europa," 1822-23. 2 vols. 8vo. The Asa-Doctrine is presented in the first part.
Jac. Grimm:---"Deutsche Mythologie." Göttingen, 1835. 2nd enlarged edition. Göttingen, 1844.
P. A. Munch:---"Nordens Gamle Gude-og Helte-Sagn." Christiania, 1840.
For a representation of the religious life of the Northmen, our old Norse-Icelandic manuscripts present a rich source, which has not yet been fully exhausted.
It is the Asa-Faith, such as it was understood and cherished by the Northmen of Norway and Iceland, which the Old-Norse manuscripts properly present to us, and from this point of view it shall be considered here. We have, indeed, no reason to doubt that the other two branches of the Norræna family---the Swedes and Danes---professed in the main points of the same faith, followed the same religious customs, and had the same religious institutions; but we do not know, with certainty, what these were in detail, for the reliable inland sources of information are wanting; and although the ancient Norse-Icelandic manuscripts not unfrequently treat of heathen-religious affairs in Sweden and Denmark, yet it is only occasional, and is, besides, almost always such that the conception is evidently Norwegian, and the delineation quite too much adapted to the existing institutions of Norway for us to draw from them any decisive conclusions.
The following Exposition will, therefore, more especially embrace the Religious Institutions of Norway and Iceland during heathen times; and, as before hinted, it will be divided into three Parts: the first containing the Dogmas of the Asa-Faith; the second, the Interpretation of the Asa-Doctrines; the third, the Manifestation of the Asa-Faith in the Popular Life of the Northmen.
ENDNOTES:
- Jacob Grimm's
diligence and penetration have thrown new light on this subject in his
excellent work, "Deutsche Mythologie." [Back]
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