Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press (October 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815624417
• ISBN-13: 978-0815624417
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #221,034 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #42 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology > Norse
  #53 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology > Celtic & British Isles
  #82 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Celtic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars refreshing, no-nonsense view of paganism, March 25, 2000

By	Susan Zuckerman (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This is an objective analysis of pagan beliefs and practices, mostly in Viking and Celtic times. Davidson gives well -documented explanations of such things as holy places, feasting and sacrifice, rites of battle, land-spirits and ancestors, foreknowledge and destiny. As a historical fiction writer, writing about Viking times, this book is a valuable resource for me. I especially appreciate the careful referencing, and inclusion of evidence from archaeology as well as literature and folklore. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Viking and Celtic religion from a more historical rather than a "cultist" perspective.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but should have been longer, April 22, 2003

By A Customer

I found this book quite interesting but it should have been longer and given more details about myths and symbols. I was brought up being required to read old Icelandic literature at school and I found it astounding that this scholar didn't treat Iceland essentially as a Norwegian sub-colony. Refreshing. Also, if you are interested in old religions and don't want to float in the sea of new age and fancyful imagination this book is a "not romanticizing, not cynical" introduction into scandinavian and celtic symbolism. I don't have the diploma to comment on its accuracy.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent and Scholarly work, July 31, 2001

By	"snowcatguy" (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews

H.R. Ellis Davidson has done a fabulous job in this book, where she illustrates a number of critial simularities and differences between what we currently understand of pre-Christian Celtic religion and pre-Christian Scandinavian religion.

I was constantly surprised and challenged as I worked my way through this book and experienced a number of my preconcieved notions of both Celtic mythology and Norse mythology being deconstructed and reassembled.

And, I felt, for a book mostly intended for a University Library, that it was a pleasant and entertaining read.