Norse Gods and Heroes (Myths of the World)

Located to the northwest of Scotland, the small island known as Iceland produced one of the ablest races of seafarers in the history of humankind. In fact, the ancient Norse were capable of making transatlantic journeys in tiny little boats centuries before Christoforo Columbus set out with a small armada to find the overseas route to the Far East. The forbidding, wintry climate that forged the indomitable spirit of the seafaring Norse also informed their mythological canon, resulting in a pantheon of ferocious — and decidedly mortal — gods and goddesses. "Norse Gods and Heroes" captures the violence and beauty of these myths by taking a comprehensive look at this unique and influential literary tradition. Learn how the centuries-old oral tradition of the scalds, the ancient bards of Iceland, was finally committed to paper by the likes of Tacitus and Snorri Sturluson (one of Iceland's earliest archivists) in the Middle Ages. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of such a long-lived oral tradition is the fact that there are as many versions of each myth as there are myths themselves. "Norse Gods and Heroes" helps the reader sort through it all. Of course, the bulk of this remarkable volume is devoted to the myths themselves, which show the gods and goddesses of the canon to be more human than one might expect. Marvel at the spectacle of the creation of the universe, fashioned by Odin and his brothers from a wasteland of Icesthrill to the story of Thor's famous journey to the land of the giants; and revel in the cleverness of Loki, whose chaotic nature often threatened the stability of the cosmos Finally, learn of Ragnarok, the apocalypse, when god and human alike perished in an epic struggle between the forces of good and evil. The myths of the ancient Norse are rich in pageantry and pathos, kindness and savagery; they reveal a sensitivity to the human psyche that will prove refreshing to the modern reader. From the student of world mythology to the expert in Norse history, "Norse Gods and Heroes" is the perfect volume for anyone with an interest in the legends of Iceland and the ways in which these stories have influenced the world. With their universal themes of love, loss, and justice, myths, which define the values and customs of a particular society, continue to have meaning for us hundreds and even thousands of years after they were first told. The lavishly illustratd volumes in this series of mythological tales and beliefs from around the world explore the cultures of ancient Greece; Scandinavia; Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales; the Far East; Native America; Africa, and Central and South America.

Tales of the ferocious, beautiful, and decidedly human gods and goddesses of the ancient Norse.

A decade-by-decade look at those great players who have won the award, as well as the essential statistics of each player The actual myths are presented in this volume, along with the story of how these oral traditions were committed to paper