Kultledare i fornskandinavisk religion

About this book

Pre-Christian Scandinavian cult leaders and religious specialists have been recognised and discussed in general handbooks and articles on ancient Scandinavian and Germanic religion. However, a book that treats this topic in a more comprehensive manner has not previously been available. The present collection of articles has the ambition of helping to fill this gap. Collectively, these articles present different types and aspects of ancient Scandinavian cult leaders and analyse their presence in different sources and contexts. The study focuses on the Late Iron Age (400-1050 AD) and is divided into four parts. In part 1 the different types of religious leaders documented in the sources are presented. This part addresses some fundamental problems, such as terminology, ritual contexts, specialisation, office, gender aspects and the position of the different cult leaders in society. Part I1 concerns the authority, ideology and power strategy of cult leaders. In part III, some of the places where these leaders appeared and the ritual objects they applied are examined. Part IV, finally, addresses the theme of cult leaders and the encounter of religions. In this section an ancient cultic office is examined, namely the one designated erilar. Keywords: cult leader, cult functionary, religious specialist, religious leadership, Ynglingatal, authority, ideology, power strategy, Adam of Bremen, myth, cosmic symbolism, cult building, oathring, Forsaringen, encounter of religions, Odin, Roman mystery cults, lsis.