#john lindow

Hello :)

So, as I promised to the lovely @briikwall, here's an updated version of my Norse mythology ressources :)

Enjoy and happy reading!

First of all, I must recommend Rudolf Simek’s Dictionnary of Norse mythology. He’s an expert in the domain. A lot of his works are in German, but at least, we’ve got his dictionnary. It’s a must have if you’re interested in Norse myths :)

(He has also written very interesting things about the world of LotR, if you’re into it :p )

@poeticnorth recommended me Andy Orchard’s Dictionnary of North myth and Legend, and it was fantastic and full of interesting information.

John Lindow is another great expert, and his book on Old Norse mythology is a fantastic reference too! :)

Then of course, there are the books by Neil Price.

I'll recommend two of them:

Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings

It will give you a good idea of who the Vikings truly were, as a society, and deconstructs the false ideas you might have.

The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia

If you want to learn more about the different sorts of magic that existed in the Viking world: THAT IS THE BOOK for you! There's Seidr, yes, but so much more too. I learnt A LOT :D

Viking friendship, by Jon Vidar Siggurdsson

Then, there is this book on the concept of friendship in Viking society, and along with Neil Price's books, it really allows you to understand more what kind of people they were, what was important for them, and how things changed and evolved with time.

Myths and symbols in Pagan Europe, Early Scandinavian and Celtic religions, by H.R. Ellis Davidson

My lastest read, and truly interesting too, about holy places, feasting and sacrifices, the rites of battles, etc.

There are also A LOT of interesting academic papers on the subject of Norse mythology on the https://www.academia.edu/ website.

One of my favourites is the one about Loki as a Vatte and in Scandinavian fairytales. Some will tell you Loki is evvvviiilll and is a villain. Such people have not made their research and it shows. With this paper, you can see clearly that's not the case :3

The one about the Ardre images was really interesting too!!!

(THEY SHOW LOKI IN A DRESS!!!)

https://www.academia.edu/39542289/Re_Interpretations_of_Gotlandic_Picture_Stones_Based_on_the_Reflectance_Transformation_Imaging_Method_RTI_Some_Examples

And of course, you’ve got Professor Jackson Crawford’s work. He’s amazing and so very knowledgeable on the subject and is an expert in Old Norse. His translations of the Eddas, along with the Volsung saga are on amazon and on Audible, if you prefer.

He also did a lot of videos on youtube on Norse myths and the Old Norse language, etc.

There is also Professor of archeology Howard Williams on Tik Tok who is SUPER interesting and made a series on early Medieval Loki depictions in art and archeology.

If you want to know more about the Norse goddesses/Asynjur, may I recommend you @loptrcoptr 's brilliant master thesis on the subject. A must-read to get to know better all the goddesses from the Norse pantheon!

And of course, if you're into paganism and want to worship Loki & Sigyn, there's Lea Svendsen's book "Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods". Really interesting!!

If I find other interesting books/sources, I'll post about them on my blog :)

Oh she LOVES his antics. Pretty sure she might be the only one that laughs at them (well, the kids love them too... And maybe Hoenir :p)

As for his sleeping around, there are 2 things you must keep in mind:

Unlike Sif, who is called “Jarnsaxa’s rival”, Sigyn does not have such kenning, quite the opposite. And the fact is, we do not have the official timeline for Loki & Sigyn’s relationship. Sure, most people think that Angrboda was Loki’s mistress, but we know that is a commonly spread mistake, as John Lindow states that Angrboda was Loki’s wife FIRST, before he joined the gods in Asgard (and therefore, met Sigyn). I don’t know for you, but I’d rather believe John Lindow, who is a Professor Emeritus of Old Norse and Folklore at University of California, than mainstream media XD Sure, we know Loki had affairs: the farmer from Midgard, Sif, Tyr’s wife, (I won’t count Svaldilfari, because that was clearly NOT part of Loki’s plan ^^’). But when did these happen? Was it before his wedding to Sigyn or after? Retellings writers will include all of these during their marriage, but only to show how poorly Loki treats his wife. But in the Eddas? IT IS NOT SAID. So, clearly, it’s up to us to CHOOSE how we see their relationship, and as far as I’m concerned, I much prefer to imagine Loki being quite a rake in his youth and first years in Asgard, and then, falling madly in love with Sigyn, marrying her, and being happy together… until tragedy strikes ^^’ THEY DESERVE SOME HAPPINESS, DAMN IT.

On the other hand, let’s imagine he was indeed unfaithful to Sigyn… Well, let’s face it, we do not think of this the right way. Even as pagans, most of us, we have been raised Christians, and even if we were not, we were raised in society that has accepted/integrated Christian social norms. So when we think of Loki’s infidelities, we think of them with our very Christianized point of view. And to us, infidelity is bad and a proof that your marriage is a failure. We do not think of it as the Vikings would have. Or better, as the Aesirs would have. Because let’s look at the facts, shall we? Odin had affair with half of Jotumheim and so many kids with these ladies (willingly or not ^^’). Thor had Jarnsaxa. Sif had a baby daddy somewhere, since we know Ullr is not Thor’s son (+ a one-night stand with Loki). Frigg had affairs with Odin’s brothers. Freyja & Feyr were lovers. And so on… I find it funny that these numerous affairs do not seem to count, and are accepted, but not Loki’s? I think that if indeed Loki had lovers while married to Sigyn, she would have not cared as IN THE AESIR SOCIETY, it was something everybody did ^^’ Think of Asgard as the French royal court (pre-revolutionary France) where every husband and wife had lovers of their own, and their couple were mostly fine. Strangely enough, while it’s possible Loki had lovers, I don’t think Sigyn did – I think Loki was quite enough for her, and she loved him and him only. Whenever I think of her, she’s giving me very strong demi-asexual vibes. Sigyn: Of course, the others want my husband. He’s wonderful, he’s clever, he’s funny, he’s handsome, he’s the best. Why would I want their scraps? Seriously. I don’t want them or need them. Once again, HAVE YOU SEEN MY HUSBAND?

Of course!! :D

There are so many books on Norse myths, but alas, not all have been written by experts/scholars/academics and you find again and again the same mistakes and generalisations. It’s so frustating! (but explains the mistakes we find in popular/mainstream media depiction of the Norse gods ^^' If their writers read THESE books, of course, they're going to write their characters like that ^^')

Now, for the GOOD, reliable sources/books :)

First of all, I must recommend Rudolf Simek’s Dictionnary of Norse mythology. He’s an expert in the domain. A lot of his works are in German, but at least, we’ve got his dictionnary. It’s a must have if you’re interest in Norse myths :)

(He has also written very interesting things about the world of LotR, if you’re into it :p )

@poeticnorth recommended me Andy Orchard’s Dictionnary of North myth and Legend, and it was fantastic and full of interesting information.

John Lindow is another great expert, and his book on Old Norse mythology is a fantastic reference too! :)

There are also A LOT of interesting academic papers on the subject of Norse mythology on the https://www.academia.edu/ website.

One of my favourites is the one about Loki as a Vatte and in Scandinavian fairytales, by Eldar Heide.

The one about the Ardre images was really interesting too!!!

And of course, you’ve got Professor Jackson Crawford’s work. He’s amazing and so very knowledgeable on the subject and is an expert in Old Norse. His translations of the Prose and Poectic Eddas, along with the Volsung saga are on amazon and on Audible, if you prefer.

He also did a lot of videos on youtube on Norse myths and the Old Norse language, etc.

There is also Professor of archeology Howard Williams on Tik Tok who is SUPER interesting and made a series on early Medieval Loki depictions in art and archeology.

If you want to know more about the Norse goddesses/Asynjur, may I recommend you @loptrcoptr 's brilliant master thesis on the subject. A must-read to get to know better all the goddesses from the Norse pantheon!

And of course, if you're into paganism and want to worship Loki & Sigyn, there's Lea Svendsen's book "Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods". Really interesting!!

I really really like Norse myths and folklore but besides the Eddas I haven't seen many sources of such, and since you're the expert, do you know any other books/poems/authors/etc who have written down Norse myths? Besides Snorri, that is. Or at least an article talking about it? Even if they're post Christianity, I'd appreciate it a lot

Hi! :)

I wouldn't say I'm the expert. I'm sure there are much more knowledgeable people than I on this app. I have two master degrees, but alas, none on Norse mythology/Old Norse I'm afraid ^^'

However, I'm very interested in the subject and have been trying to educate myself by some intense reading for the past three years now, so if I can share with you the few things I've read/found out, it will be my pleasure.

There are so many books on Norse myths, but alas, not all have been written by experts/scholars/academics and you find again and again the same mistakes and generalisations. It’s so frustating! (but explains the mistakes we find in popular/mainstream media depiction of the Norse gods ^^' If their writers read THESE books, of course, they're going to write their characters like that ^^')

Now, for the GOOD, reliable sources/books :)

First of all, I must recommend Rudolf Simek’s Dictionnary of Norse mythology. He’s an expert in the domain. A lot of his works are in German, but at least, we’ve got his dictionnary. It’s a must have if you’re interest in Norse myths :)

(He has also written very interesting things about the world of LotR, if you’re into it :p )

@poeticnorth recommended me Andy Orchard’s Dictionnary of North myth and Legend, and it was fantastic and full of interesting information.

John Lindow is another great expert, and his book on Old Norse mythology is a fantastic reference too! :)

There are also A LOT of interesting academic papers on the subject of Norse mythology on the https://www.academia.edu/ website.

One of my favourites is the one about Loki as a Vatte and in Scandinavian fairytales.

”Loki, the Vätte, and the Ash Lad: A Study Combining Old Scandinavian and Late Material

ACADEMIA.EDU

The one about the Ardre images was really interesting too!!!

Re-Interpretations of Gotlandic Picture Stones Based on the Reflectance Transformation Imaging Method (RTI): Some Examples

ACADEMIA.EDU

And of course, you’ve got Professor Jackson Crawford’s work. He’s amazing and so very knowledgeable on the subject and is an expert in Old Norse. His translations of the Prose and Poectic Eddas, along with the Volsung saga are on amazon and on Audible, if you prefer.

He also did a lot of videos on youtube on Norse myths and the Old Norse language, etc.

There is also Professor of archeology Howard Williams on Tik Tok who is SUPER interesting and made a series on early Medieval Loki depictions in art and archeology.

If you want to know more about the Norse goddesses/Asynjur, may I recommend you @loptrcoptr 's brilliant master thesis on the subject. A must-read to get to know better all the goddesses from the Norse pantheon!

And of course, if you're into paganism and want to worship Loki & Sigyn, there's Lea Svendsen's book "Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods". Really interesting!!

If I find other interesting books/sources, I'll post about them on my blog :)

What is Haustlöng, you ask? Well, it's one of the oldest literary sources for Norse mythology. It's from the Ninth century, and was possibily written by Þjóðólfr óf Hvíni, who was a PRE-CHRISTIAN Norwegian skald.

In it you can find the story with Idunn's apples, and some of Thor's adventures.

Snorri added then to the Eddas later.

But do you know what else you can find?

Do you remember Loki's kenning "The Cargo of Sigyn's arms"? Well, it's from that poem.

So we have PROOF of Sigyn's existence in one of the oldest literary source of the Norse myths, from the ninth century, so WAY before Snorri, and even ONE CENTURY before the Gosforth Cross.

So, whatever the haters say: NO. Sigyn was NOT an invention of Snorri. And since this poem was written by a PRE CHRISTIAN skald, then NO, she's not a Christian invention either.

Here are John Lindow's article on Sigyn in his book about Norse gods:

Right in front of Ennesbo, between the railroad tracks and the lake Verveln, is the hill Planterberget. There a glow used to be seen at night, particularly at Christmas and other holidays. The glow could be seen for a long distance, all the way across to the earthwork Skansen on the other side of the lake. A farmhand who was up one night had the good fortune to see the treasure close by. There were mugs, bowls, spoons and other silver and gold objects, all lying together in a chest. When he caught sight of the chest and its contents he hurried back to the village and wakened a few farmers, and off they went to Planterberget again. To move a treasure like that from its place one must have a pair of twin oxen to drive with, and the farmers had taken such a pair with them. They loaded the chest on the cart and drove home. It went well right up to the moment they drove up to the lowest storehouse, in which the treasure was to be placed. When they were about to lift it from the cart, one of the farmers could not keep silent. "It's all done!" he said. But he should never have said it, for simultaneously a black sow came up and disappeared with the treasure. [Östergötland. Collected by Elis Åström from Axel Svensson in March, 1940. Printed in Åström 1962:34]

This type may be refined by letting the seventh brother break the silence, or by elaborating further the extent to which the treasure is almost obtained (for an example see Bergstrand 1951:no. 380). A didactic slant seems apparent when the treasure hunters break the silence with oaths and swearing. Slightly more complex versions occur when treasure hunters are induced into breaking their silence. Here a whole series of apparitions is attested, of which the most popular in Scandinavia is the sight of a hen pulling a load of hay. The treasure hunters laugh, and the treasure is lost. Similar humorous or outlandish sights include people creeping backwards or upside down (example in Friedlander 1934: 170), riding a sow, riding backwards, even dipping bread in the rear ends of their mounts and then eating it eagerly (example in Klintberg 1972: 268). To increase the odds against the treasure hunters, the beings in the vision may address them. The following offers an example:

In the brook Konsta a great treasure in an iron chest is said to have been sunk long ago. A man in Konsta village-his name has been forgotten, for it is now long ago-had convinced one of his neighbors to accompany him one Thursday night to dig up the treasure. Indeed they succeeded in getting up the chest, so that it was half on dry land. But then one of the men was going to change his hold to get a better grip, and he said to his companion, "Just hold on." He meant to add "while I change my grip," but he never had a chance, for the chest immediately fell back in the brook and sank so deep that all future attempts were impossible. For the person or persons who once fail at such an undertaking there is no point in trying a second time; but after a few years the desire to win the treasure was kindled in another farmer, and to avoid the fate of his predecessors he went quite alone to the place. However he excavated, dug, and quarried, he too managed to get the chest out of the water and was looking around for his axe to bind the treasure to him with its steel, when a hen dragging a big load of hay caught his eye. On the hay there sat a swarthy dwarf, endlessly encouraging the hen with a whip, for things were not going fast. "Onward, onward, forward; you must be to the gates of Rome tonight." "Oh yes, it should be no problem at that pace," said the man, laughing, whereupon the treasure slid back into the brook and vanished from his sight. Whether anyone tried subsequently to dig up the treasure is unknown, and probably it will be able to stay where it is until the end of the world. [Nårke. Collected by Nils Gabriel Djurklou from a Herr Wahlfisk between 1856 and 1865, and printed in Sahlgren 1943: 23].

Sometimes a series of similar visions escalates, until the treasure hunters break silence (example in Bergstrand 1961: 160). In one printed variant from Småland the treasure hunter thinks he sees the parson and offers a respectful greeting. At once the treasure vanishes (Hofberg 1882: 56-57). Finally, the treasure hunters can be frightened into breaking their silence. When one sinister looking being sometimes raising a gallows- asks another "Who shall we take first?" a treasure hunter might be likely to feel uneasy. When the question is answered "The one in the red jacket," it is not surprising that the man in the red jacket breaks silence by crying out "No! Don't take me!" (for an example see Klintberg 1972: 267)."