Nordic Religion

The integral culture and values of ancient Nordic society have been significantly influenced by the religion and mythology illustrated, practised and believed each and every day. The past beliefs and normality of certain rituals impressed the Viking civilization in extensive forms. Principle Nordic beliefs such as the idea of light and darkness in a constant battle, as well as the concept of fertility being tied to intercourse were and still are incredibly prominent in the Scandinavian region. Practical ways of life were combined with religious ritual and non-theoretical information was held at the same standard as the theoretical. The polytheistic Nordic society was rich in art and various forms of writing, and it is through this that the impression religion left is so strongly created.

Ritualistic behaviour was extensive in ancient Nordic society. A vital part of life was the perception of

The region was harsh by definition. Cold winds, long winters and various predators all put strain on the population. As such, a very powerful image of light and dark, or ice and fire in a perpetual battle formed and became an integral area of belief. This struggle between harshness and kindness was what caused hope and the belief in divine deities for many of the Viking people. However, there was a potent sense of anxiety in Nordic society. The originally nomadic civilization became dependant on agriculture after settlement. Due to climate and the lack of technology at the time, storage of food was ever-increasingly unstable. To combat this, the Nordic people believed that nature and its gifts could be balanced through ‘divine marriage’ of gods and deities. This led to a tie between fertility of crops and sexual intercourse. The consequence of this was that population followed a constant upward trend, expanding the society and