Fragments of Lappish Mythology [Paperback]

Lars Levi Laestadius (Author), Juha Pentikainen (Editor), Borje Vahamaki (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

The detailed book of Lappish or Sami mythology is a translation from Swedish of Lars Levi Laestadius's famous manuscript from 1840-1845 that was lost for many decades and was published in Swedish in 1997, and in Finnish in 2000.

Translated by Börje Vähämäki

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861) was a Sami pastor in Northern Sweden who became famous as a botanist, as a mythologer, and after 1845 as the founder of a wide-spread Lutheran sect called Laestadianism or Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Aspasia Books (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0968588190
• ISBN-13: 978-0968588192
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, June 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Fragments of Lappish Mythology (Paperback)

This book is divided in to sections about Dieties, Sacrifice, Divination and Lappish Tales. Giving his own recollections and knowledge and quoting a number of others who wrote before him, and an Addition that adds more information from another who wrote at the same time (around 1840). Covers a range of beliefs and practices that continued on into the 18th century. Including detailed descriptions of such things as the bear hunt and reindeer sacrifices, as well as about their shamen (noaides) and a collection of tales about giants (stallo), that he theorizes are about invading Vikings, as well as detailed information about the Sami divination drum and how it was used.

I read this book as part of a study of Norse mythology, but enjoyed reading it for its interest in giving as much detailed information as possible from a region where paganism seemed to linger on. And is fine an interesting enough for a general reader. However it is all scholarly prose with only a few actual poetic verses. Clearly none of the old religion remained when this book was written, but it still provides a great deal of information. Only a few illustrations.