Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

Bergelmir, 27, 198–9

Berserks, 66–8, 70

Beyla, 108

Bifrons, sword from, 83

Bifrost, 26, 29, 38, 193

Boar: of Freyr, 29, 42; of Freyja, 98; on helmets, 98, 99, 116; thrown into sea, 101; worn by ?stii, 99

Bobd, 65

Boe, 185

Bog-finds, 55–6, 71, 83

Boniface, St, 87

Bor, 27, 47, 198

Bothvar Biarki, 49, 67

Bragi, 29, 30, 164–5

Bragi Boddason, 89, 164

Brian Boru, King, 87

Bridge: of the gods, 26, 29, 38, 173, 202; on road to Hel, 36, 193

Brisingamen, 116, 176

Brosingamene, 116

Brynhild, 150–1

Burchard, Bishop, 112

Buri, 27

Burning of dead: after battle, 135, 159, 160; associated with Odin, 51, 52, 54, 148, 152; associated with Thor, 79, 158; Balder, 36, 187; by Alamanni, 161; by Anglo-Saxons, 83, 147, 160; women, 150, 151

Byggvir, 108

Caedmon, 198

Caister-on-Sea, 134

Cats, 30, 34, 120, 139

Celtic peoples: deities of, 65, 86, 112, 165, 174, 204; poetry of, 75, 77; saga of, 130, 132, 165–6, 167

Chain, for Fenrir, 31

Chariot of Thor, 75, 76

Charles the Great, 171, 196

Chatti, 55, 66–7, 69

Child, divine, 104–5, 107, 111, 138

Children: birth of, 111, 112, 123, 156–7, 174, 195; hallowing of, 80; foretelling destiny of, 112, 120, 121, 195; name-giving to, 111, 155

Christ: Balder representing, 108; Forseti representing, 172; on Gosforth Cross, 179, 208; seen as warrior, 221; Thor adversary of, 73

Christianity: of Gosforth Cross, 207; in Snorri, 25; in Voluspa 203, 204; victory of, 219–23

Cimbri, 54, 99

Clontarf, Battle of, 64–5

Codex Regius, 15–16

Coifi, 50–1

Cold: at creation, 27, 198–200; at end of world, 37, 46, 202, 209

Cow, 27, 198, 200

Creation, 27–8, 46, 197–202

Cross: at centre of the world, 196; Gosforth, 173, 179, 207; opposed to hammer, 80–1, 83

Cuthbert, St, 12, 223

Cybele, 21, 96, 123

Cynewulf, 99

Danes, 11, 12, 77; conversion of, 12; in England, 77. See also Denmark

Darra?arljo?, 65

Dejbjerb, wagons from, 95

Denmark: amulets from, 81; Balder in, 185; bog-finds in, 55–6; folklore from, 203; fortresses in, 69; Gefion in, 113; Ing in, 104; kings of, 45, 103–4, 105; place-names in, 87; lucky trees in, 88; Wade in, 131; Wodan in, 148; worship of Nerthus in, 94–5, 100, 109, 110

Deus Regnator Omnium, 59

Devil, 148, 176, 178, 179

Dioskouroi, 169–71

Dokana, 169

Donar, 82, 86, 87, 163

Dragon, 159–62

Draugr, 154

Draupnir, 36, 42

Dream of the Rood, 108–9, 221

Drum, 82–3, 145, 148

Dublin, 12, 64, 73, 75, 87, 88

Dumezil, G., 21, 60, 67, 79, 108, 167, 179

Dwarfs, 23, 27, 28, 31, 40, 42, 178

Dying God, 21, 108–10. See also Balder

Eagle: giant in form of, 39; on Tree, 27; in Valhalla, 149

Earth deity, 21, 93, 110–11, 113–14; mother of Thor, 29, 84; Nerthus, 95, 102, 110

East, influences from, 148, 161–2, 196, 200

East Anglia: Redwald of, 219–20; ship-burial in, 133–4, 136; urns from, 83, 147

Edda (Elder), 24, 162, 187, 192, 196, 201, 205, 213

Edwin of Northumbria, 50, 221–2

Egg, in creation myth, 200–1

Egill Skallagrimsson, 13, 68, 128–9

Egils Saga, 115

Egils Saga ok Asmundar, 143

Eiriksmal, 153, 186, 205

Eiriks Saga Rau?a, 117, 118

Elene, 99

Eliade, Mircea, 16, 20, 126, 142, 144, 203, 212

Eligius, Bishop, 86

Elli (Age), 34

Elves, 28, 156

Eric of Sweden, 53, 94, 151

Eric the Red, 17

Exodus (Old English poem), 65

Eyrbyggja Saga, 53, 77, 78, 122, 158

Eysteinn Valdason, 89

Eyvind Kelda, 121

Fafnir, 23, 43–4, 162

Fenrir, 29, 31, 37, 38, 59, 178, 216–17

Fetters, 59, 63, 64, 66

Fimmilene, 62

Finno-Ugric myths, 174, 192, 195, 201

Fire: at Romove sanctuary, 87; in grave, 160, 161; kindled from image, 78; of dragon, 161; of Thor, 79; realm