The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

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Title: History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Author: S. A. Dunham

Release date: June 2, 2019 [eBook #59657]

Language: English

Credits: E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY, VOL. 2 (OF 2) ***

E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Barry Abrahamsen,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)
from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive
(https://archive.org)

Note:

Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/historyofdenmark02dunhuoft

Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work.
Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/files/59593/59593-h/59593-h.htm

Transcriber’s Note:

On page 66 (beginning "seas, and streams, on the same principle" and ending "They also, to a certain extent, retain their distinction into white and") there are several words and phrases in Anglo-Saxon that were impossible to transcribe exactly as in the original. The characters are not available in the Unicode standard. However, those words were found in “The Student’s Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon” by Henry Sweet available on-line here: https://archive.org/details/studentsdictiona00swee and transcribed as well as possible.

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

London:

Printed by A. Spottiswoode,

New-Street-Square.

THE

CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA.

CONDUCTED BY THE

REV. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL.D. F.R.S. L.&E.

M.R.I.A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c.

ASSISTED BY

EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

History.

DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

THE “HISTORY OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.”

VOL. II.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER-ROW;

AND JOHN TAYLOR,

UPPER GOWER STREET.

1839.

HISTORY

OF

DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NORWAY,

S. A. DUNHAM,

Author of “The History of Spain & Portugal”

VOL. II.

Copenhagen. E. Finden sc

London:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW

AND JOHN TAYLOR, UPPER GOWER STREET.

1839.

TABLE,

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,

TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF

THE HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA.

CHAPTER IV.—continued.

MARITIME EXPEDITIONS OF THE NORTHMEN DURING THE

PAGAN TIMES.

SECTION II.

IN THE ORKNEYS, THE HEBRIDES, ICELAND, GREENLAND, NORTH

AMERICA, RUSSIA, ETC.

795–1026.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOVERNMENT IN THE ORKNEYS.—SUCCESSION OF JARLS, ROGNEVALD, SIGURD, HALLAD, EINAR, SIGURD II., ETC.—DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF ICELAND.—DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF GREENLAND.—ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF NORTH AMERICA.—STATEMENT OF FACTS CONNECTED WITH IT.—FOUNDATION OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE BY THE SCANDINAVIAN RURIC.

		Page
888.	Establishment of a Government in the Orkneys by Harald Harfagre; Sigurd, the first Jarl	1
889–892.	Able Administration of Sigurd; he is succeeded by Einar	2
893–936.	Administration of Einar	4
936–943.	Of Arnkel and Erlend, the Sons of Einar	5
946–980.	Succession of Jarls	5
980–1014.	Sigurd, the next Jarl, compelled to embrace Christianity; Legend	6
	Piratical Depredations on the neighbouring Islands	8
861, &c.	Iceland Discovered by the Norwegian Naddod, who is followed by other Navigators	9
874.	Iceland first colonised by Ingulf; Fate of Jorleif	10
884.	Other Colonists, especially Thorolf, the Priest of Thor; Manner in which he established the new Colony	11
874–936.	Progress of the new Colonies	13
	Formation of a Northern Code	14
930.	Internal Economy of this important Island; the great Chief of the Law	15
	Circumstances which led to the Discovery of Greenland by Eric the Red	16
	Christianity Introduced into Greenland by Leif, the Son of Eric	17
1001.	Alleged Discovery of North America by Biarn, a Descendant of Ingulf	17
	The newly-discovered Country visited by Leif, the Son of Eric	18
	Remarks on this Relation	19
1004–1008.	Voyage of Thorwald, who dies in the Country called Vinland	19
1009.	Thorfin, a Norwegian Chief, makes the first Attempt at Colonisation	20
1026–1121.	The Country visited by other People, especially by the Missionaries	21
	The Balance of Evidence decidedly in favour of the alleged Discovery of the American Continent many Ages before Columbus	22
862.	A Scandinavian Dynasty founded in Russia by Ruric	23
	Circumstances connected with that memorable Event; how far probable	24
861, 862.	Novogrod the Seat of the new Dynasty	25
	The Domination of the Strangers extended to Kief; two Governments	26
882.	Evils arising from the Creation of two States; Kief subdued by the Regent of Novogrod	27
	Maritime Expeditions of the Northmen into Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, &c.	27

CHAP. V.

COSMOGONY AND RELIGION OF SCANDINAVIA.

INTRODUCTION.

THE TWO EDDAS, THE ELDER AND THE YOUNGER, THE POETIC AND THE PROSE.—CONTENTS OF THE FORMER.—DIVISION INTO CLASSES. 1. THE MYSTICAL. 2. THE MYTHIC-DIDACTIC. 3. THE PURELY MYTHOLOGICAL. 4. THE MYTHIC-HISTORICAL.—POEMS OF EACH CLASS.—THE PROSE EDDA.—SNORRO STURLESON.

	Page
Religion of the Pagan Northmen an interesting Subject of Inquiry	30
The Two Eddas	30
I. Sæmund, reputed Compiler of the Poetic Edda; its slow Publication	31
Poems included in the Elder Edda divisible into four Classes	31
1. The Mystic Class:—
The Voluspa	32
The Grougaldor	32
The Magic of Odin similar in many Respects to that of Zoroaster	33
2. The Mytho-didactic Class:—
The Vafthrudnis-mâl	34
Grimnis-mâl	34
Other Pieces of this Class	36
The Hava-mâl	36
3. The purely Mythologic Class:—
The Hymis-guida	37
The Hamars-heimt	37
The Rafna-galdur Odins	37
The Skirnirs-for	37
The Vegtams-Quida	38
Undoubted Antiquity of the preceding Poems	38
4. The Mytho-historical Class	38
II. The Prose or Younger Edda, usually ascribed to Snorro Sturleson	39
Some Account of that celebrated Man	40
Sources from which he drew	42

SECTION I.

THE SCANDINAVIAN UNIVERSE, ITS WORLDS, AND THEIR INHABITANTS IN GENERAL, WITH THE PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION.

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.—YMER.—THE GIANTS.—THE GODS.—OTHER BEINGS.—THE NINE WORLDS, WITH THEIR POSITION AND PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION.—THE TWELVE HOUSES OF ASGARD.—SWARTALFAHEIM.—INHABITANTS OF THE NINE WORLDS.—THE ASER.—THE VEVER, ETC.

	Page
Progress of Creation according to that venerable Authority, the Elder Edda	43
The Waters of Nifleheim flow into the Abyss and freeze	43
But they are thawed by the Fires of Muspelheim	44
To the Operation of Cold and Heat on the Waters of Nifleheim must be ascribed the Origin of this visible Universe	44
Generation of Ymer, the Patriarch of the Frost Giants	44
Creation of the Cow Andumbla, which calls Burè into Existence	45
From this new Being, half Deity, half Giant, arose Odin, Vilè, and Vè	45
Ymer destroyed, and the Universe formed from his Body	45
Affinities between the Scandinavian and other Systems of Mythology	46
The Cow, as a Symbol, very generally diffused	47
Physical Interpretation of the Mythos	47
Physical Interpretation of another Mythos, the Destruction of Ymer and his Offspring	48
Notions concerning a Supreme, Eternal Being entertained by the Scandinavians	49
Creation of other Beings, especially the Dwarfs	50
Creation of Man	51

	Page
The Nine Worlds.

	Page
Gimlè and Muspelheim	53
Midgard and Utgard	53
Asgard	55
Divine Residences in Asgard:—
1. Ydale	56
2. Alfheim	57
3. Valaskialf	57
4. Soequabeck	58
5. Gladsheim	58
6. Thrymheim	58
7. Breidablik	59
8. Himmelbierg	60
9. Folkvangur	60
10. Glitner	61
11. Noatun	61
12. Landvide	61
Residences of Odin	62
Diversions of the Einheriar	62
Ascent of slain Heroes from Earth to Heaven	63
Bloodthirsty Character of the Odinists	63
Swartalfaheim	64
Residences of the Alfs or Elves	64
Their Nature according to Thorlacius	64
Origin of the Word	65
Universality of the Word	66
Traditions still rife respecting them	67
Scandinavian Dwarfs	69
Two Legends respecting them	70
Their wondrous Manufactures at the Instance of Loke	70
Physical Interpretation	72
Thorston and the Dwarf	73
Helheim and Nifleheim	74
The Yggdrasil	75
Explanation of this Mythos	77
Races which inhabited the Scandinavian Universe	78
Were the Aser Gods, or Mortals only, or deified Mortals?	79
Some Reasons for the Inference that Odin and his Followers really existed	80
Hypothesis of two Odins, how far reconcileable with Facts	81
Did Odin, in his own Case, inculcate the Doctrine of Metempsychosis?	82
Conclusion that Odin and his Companions actually existed on Earth; but how account for the divine Attributes claimed by them? still more, how account for the extraordinary Diffusion of their Worship?	82
Their Policy in the North	83
Two distinct Systems of Religion evidently prevalent in the North,—the Native and the Foreign,—that of Thor, and that of Odin	84
And also two distinct Systems of Magic	85
Another Argument for this Distinction	86
Progress of Odin and his Companions towards Deification	88
Geographical Position of the Aser and Vanir led to their celestial Location	89
The Union of two Systems—the Native and the Foreign, the Finnish and the Gothic—every where discernible in the Eddas	91

SECTION II.

CHIEF MYTHOLOGICAL PERSONAGES OF SCANDINAVIA.

ODIN, THOR, AND LOKE.—THEIR CHARACTERS PHYSICALLY INTERPRETED.—THEIR WIVES AND OFFSPRING.—THE THREE DEMON CHILDREN OF LOKE.—INFLUENCE OF THIS DEITY OVER THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE.—HE IS PRESENT IN EVERY GREAT MYTHOS.—RAPE OF IDUNA.—THOR’S VISITS TO JOTUNHEIM.—THOR AND THE GIANT HYMIR.—THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.—NIVOD, FREYR, FREYA.—EXPEDITION OF SKIRNIR-ÆGIR AND RAN.—OTHER DEITIES.—BALDER.—PUNISHMENT OF LOKE.—RAGNAROK.—RECOGNITION OF A GREAT FIRST CAUSE BY THE PAGAN SCANDINAVIANS.

Odin, Thor, Loke.

	Page
Wives and Sons of Odin	92
His Functions, Abodes, and Ministers	93
The three Valkyrs	93
Legend of Odin and Sterkodder	94
This Legend furnishes another Proof of the Fact that Odin was a foreign Deity	95
Thor, his Superiority over Odin in the more ancient System of the North, and his three Treasures	96
Mythical Interpretation	97
Thor peculiarly worshipped in Norway	97
The Giants, the everlasting Enemies of Thor	98
This Article of popular Belief essentially Celtic	98
Loke	99
His Description	100
His Offspring three:—
1. The Great Serpent	101
2. Hela, Queen of Death	101
3. The Wolf Fenris	102
Manner in which the last-named Demon was bound by the Gods	102
Loke originally the same with Utgardelok, and the Personification of Evil in the Celtic Creed	103
Mythological Fables in which Loke is concerned	104

Rape of Iduna.

	Page
Odin, Hoenir, and Loke visit Utgard	105
Loke compelled to promise that he will deliver Iduna into the Power of Thiasse	105
He performs his Promise	106
Consequent Wrath of the Gods, who compel him to restore her	106
Interpretation of this Mythos	107

Thor’s Visits to Utgard.

	Page
Loke, taken by the Giants, is compelled to promise that he will bring Thor without Belt or Hammer	108
Thor accordingly undertakes the Journey; his Punishment of Geyruth, and the Daughters of that Giant	109
Second Journey of Thor to Utgard, accompanied by Loke	110
Adventure in the Cottage	110
Dreary Wastes through which the Travellers passed	111
Adventure in the desert Heath	112
Adventures in Utgard itself	113

Thor and the Giant Hymir.

	Page
Banquet of the Sea-god Ægir	114
Thor and Tyr proceed to Giant-land to steal a Caldron	114
Adventures at the House of Hymir	115
Physical Meaning of this Mythos	116
The same Adventures paraphrased by the Danish Poet Ohlenschlager	117

Thor and the Giant Thrym.

	Page
Thor loses Miölner	124
Loke discovers the Thief, who is the Giant Thrym	125
Thrym will not restore it, unless he have Freya to Wife	125
When Freya refuses, Thor is persuaded to assume Female Apparel, and go to Jotunheim	126
Adventures there	127
Metrical Version of this Legend	128
Magnussen’s Interpretation	129
Sif, the Wife of Thor	131

Niord, Freyr, Freya.

	Page
Niord, Lord of the Vaner, and a God	132
His second Wife is Skada, from whom he separates	133
Freyr, the Son of Niord, in love with a Giant Maiden	133
Skirnir, his Attendant, goes to Jotunheim and wins her	134
Metrical Version of Skirnir’s Expedition	135
Freya, the Daughter of Niord, and the Goddess of Love	136
Her Functions and Authority in Asgard	140

History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

About This Book

The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)

HISTORY OF DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NORWAY,

E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Barry Abrahamsen,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)
from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive
(https://archive.org)

HISTORY

OF

DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NORWAY,