Nordic Mythology

Fall & Spring | 3 credits | Elective
Majors: History, Literature, and Religious Studies

The religion and world view of the pre-Christian Scandinavians is refl ected in the mythology preserved in medieval texts and poems from the Viking Age (800-1050). The course is based on readings of these primary texts, and the Icelandic Sagas further provide a glimpse into the culture and values of the Vikings. Analysis of the sagas as anthropological source material, as well as literature, will complete the course. Throughout the semester, fi eld trips to museums and archaeological sites will help us reconstruct Viking spiritual life.

Field Studies

National Museum
Visit to the National Museum to view the exhibition of Danish prehistory
Viking Ship Museum
All-day field study trip to the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, The ship-shaped burials in Gl. Lejre, the Viking fortress in Trelleborg and the church in Fjenneslev.
Arnamagnean Institute
Visit to the Arnamagnean Institute at the University of Copenhagen (New KUA) to view the Manuscript Collection of Medieval vellum and paper originals of the Icelandic sagas and Eddic poetry

Instructors

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One of the greatest parts of the class included a field study where we were able to visit Viking age burial mounds, a reconstructed fortress and even the site of Hroðgar's (the legendary king, from the epic poem "Beowulf") mead hall. These are definitely not experiences you could get at your home university and it makes all the difference in bringing what you study to life.

Margaret Durham Southwestern University, Psychology major, Religious Studies Minor

Read a blog post about the all-day field study to the see the Viking Museum and other historical sites related to Old Norse culture from Nordic Mythology student Kyle Kissick.

You can find more blogs from current DIS students here.

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