Course Description
Explores the Viking myths and legends from multiple perspectives: comparative world mythology; ancient Germanic origins; medieval literary and historical context; modern reception, revival, and misuse; popular mass culture; and creative reinterpretation. Taught in English.
Athena Title
Viking Mythology
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, students will have: General Competence *Understanding of mythological structures and narratives *Understanding of source problems when dealing with ancient textual traditions *Understanding of religious values in cultural and historical context Specialized Knowledge *Close familiarity with the main literary sources of Viking mythology *General familiarity with other (literary, archaeological, iconographic, runic) sources of Germanic and Viking mythology Basic knowledge of scholarly methods and schools of interpretation in the cultural study of mythology Specialized Abilities The ability to analyse a selection from the main literary sources of Viking mythology The ability to place the texts in a socio-cultural, religious, and historical context
Topical Outline
Sources and source probematics Oral culture vs. written culture The Viking pantheon Myths of origin and etiological myths Ancient Germanic pagan religions Germanic paganism in Christian Europe Christian conversion of Germanic peoples The Germanic in the age of nationalism Germanic pagan revival movements Viking mythology and modern popular culture
Syllabus