Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

Redwald, King, 219

Regin, 43–4

Rerir, King, 112

Rigspula, 174, 176

Rind, 185, 186

Ring of Thor, 76–7, 78

Ring, Sigurd, of Sweden, 49–50, 136, 150

Rivers, 36, 119, 193, 200

Rock-carvings, 60, 80

Romove, 87

Roskva, 32

Ruad, 130

Runes, 13, 14, 18, 57, 106; Odin and, 141, 144

Runic poem, 104

Saxnot, 60

Saxo Grammaticus, 46, 69; mentions: Balder, 183–9; fighting gods, 170; Freyr, 96, 122; Fridleif, 112; Frodi, 103, 135; Geirrod, 153, 182; Hadding, 143, 152; Hagbard, 151; Harald Wartooth, 49; Thor’s hammer, 81–2, 86

Saxons, 11, 60, 129, 196, 206

Scani, 105

Sceaf, 105, 107

Scyld, 104, 107, 110, 113, 135–6

Scyldings, 105

Sea, Anglo-Saxon words for, 114, 129

Seafarer, The, 218

Seaxneat, 60

Seeresses, 61, 117–21, 146, 185, 219

Sei?r, 117–21

Sermo Lupi, 61

Semnones, 59

Serpent, 27, 184, 207; poison dropping from, 37, 179, 184, 207; and the eagle, 193–4. See also World Serpent

Shamanism, 141–2, 144–5, 191–2, 195; in sagas, 118–19; in Siberia, 19; Lappish, 82; Odin as shaman, 147, 148–9

Shape-changing, 67–8, 140, 145, 178; bird shape, 117, 119, 141

Ship: as symbol, 132–7; burning of, 52, 80, 136, 187; in grave, 17, 95, 133–7, 148; of Balder, 36; of Freyr, 29, 42, 100, 132; of Ull, 105–6

Shorter Voluspa, 146, 175, 205

Sif, 30, 41, 42, 84

Sigmund the Volsung, 49, 143

Sigrdrifumal, 57n.

Sigrid the Proud, 151

Sigrun, 157

Sigurd the Volsung, 43–4, 49, 150, 162, 218

Sigvat the poet, 156

Sigyn, 30, 207

Skadi, 30, 39, 106–7, 153

Skaldic poetry, 23, 46; Bragi in, 164; Eysteinn Valdason, 89; Gamil Gn?va?arskald, 89; Kormak, 205; Sigvat, 156; Thorbjorn Brunarson, 165; Thorbjorn Disarskald, 91; Ulfr Uggarson, 89; end of world in, 205; Odin’s brothers in, 201; Thor in, 76, 78, 84; Ull in, 106; valkyries in, 106

Skaldskaparmal, 39, 130

Skarpaler, stone from, 205, 208

Skeggi, 76

Skialf, 116

Ski?bla?nir, 29, 100, 132

Skiold, 45

Skirnir, 30, 92, 165

Skirnismal, 92, 185

Skjoldunga Saga, 136n.

Skrymir, 33, 34

Sky God, 20–1, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 106, 196, 221

Slavs, 86

Sleipnir, 26, 41, 49, 141, 142, 145; birth of, 31, 178; ridden by Hermod, 36, 193

Snorri Sturluson, 24, 39, 45, 46, 203, 216–17, and passim; account of Balder’s death by, 183–9

Solomon and Saturn, 141

Sonatorrek, 129

Spear of Odin, 42, 49, 51–3, 67

Spring: of Mimir, 26, 38, 166; of Urd, 26; sacred, 87, 171, 184, 191

Squirrel, 27, 194

Staff of Thor, 42

Stapenhill, cemetery at, 160

Starkad, 52, 69

Stars, 37, 38, 40, 41

Stenqvista, 82

Strabo, 54, 204

Strategicon, 215

Styrbiorn the Strong, 53

Sun, 28, 37, 38, 183, 203

Sun-wheel, 83, 132

Surt, 37, 38, 202, 206, 208

Suttee, 150–2, 157

Sutton Hoo, 17, 133, 136, 159

Suttung, 40

Sva?ilfari, 31

Svein of Denmark, 69, 151

Sviagriss, 99

Svipdagsmal, 181, 185, 195

Swastika, 83, 158

Sweden: boar helmets in, 99; cremation in, 158; elves in, 156; folklore in, 18; Gefion and, 45, 113; lucky tree in, 88; place-names in, 87, 115, 116; ship-burial in, 133; suttee in, 151; Thor’s hammers in, 81; worship of Freyr in, 92–4, 96, 100, 107, 154; worship of Odin in, 25, 56, 70, 148, 154

Swedes, 12, 51; early kings of, 97, 109, 126, 169; gods fighting for, 170

Sword: boars on, 98; forbidden in temple, 101; given by Odin, 49; heirloom, 102; Mimming, 168, 184; Mistletoe, 187; sacrificed, 56, 71; Saxnot and, 60; taken from mound, 157; with swastika, 83

Tacitus, 15; mentions: Aestii, 99; Alcis, 169–70; battle god, 55, 56, 58; Chatti, 55, 56, 66; Harri, 67; Hercules, 82; Hermundari, 55, 56, 200; Mannus, 199; Nerthus, 94–5, 96, 102, 110–11, 113; Semnones, 59; Suebi, 100; Tuisto, 199; Veleda, 121

Temple, 75–9, 80, 84, 88

Thangbrand, 85