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Thanks so much! This is all uber useful. I know what I'll be reading this evening! So that's your personal blog, of sorts?
This is the copy of the Poetic Edda I was looking at. I'm not sure if that one is the "revised" edition.
Also, last time I checked this was weirdly not on the reading list:
The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).
> Also, I’m told the stories of the pantheon involve…
I think it might help you to give these stories a read for yourself, specifically from the source texts. My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Give those a read and I’d be interested to hear whether you are inspired to update your theory.
Loki is a particularly intriguing character who may be a hypostasis of Odin according to one theory, may be one of Odin’s brothers who assisted in the creation of mankind according to another, and may be related to common-class folklore about a tricky hero who upsets the order imposed by nobility according to yet another. It’s unclear why he is portrayed as a helpful character and friend to the other gods in certain myths, and as a downright murderous villain in others. I’m personally pretty skeptical about the idea that he could be adapted from Jesus, but far be it from me to discourage out-of-the-box thinking :)
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Both come in hardcover.
The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).
This Poetic Edda and this Prose Edda
The Poetic Edda translated by Carolyne Larrington, 2014 and the Prose Edda translated by Anthony Faulkes, 1995 ;)
The vast majority of Norse mythology (including all of the myths you will ever encounter in popular media) is contained in two books: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.
The Poetic Edda is a collection of poetry about gods and heroes that was largely composed during the pagan era. The Prose Edda is a medieval scholarly work that recounts ancient myths in an effort to educate people on the references found in pagan poetry. You can read modern retellings, but these invariably alter the source material in ways the original composers of the ancient poetry did not intend. I highly recommend reading the actual sources rather than any modern retellings. Specifically:
This version of the Poetic Edda and this version of the Prose Edda.
You’re graduating, friend. Time to read the two books all these stories actually came from:
Well you're asking in r/norsemythology so I'm going to recommend you get him the two main sources of Norse Mythology: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.
I loved this show as a child. I also used to have this book, which the show was really inspired by.
A classical scholar make a point how german nationalism used Tacitus texts about Germania as an inspiration about the "Germanic race".
Here is the book.
Burn Tacitus’ Germania before it leaves Hersfeld Abbey. The text was completely misunderstood by early German humanists, essentially inspired the unification of Germany, and was then used as pretext to stir German nationalism prior to WWI, and again for WWII.
A Most Dangerous Book by Christopher Krebs provides more detail, if anyone is interested.
The translation by Professor Crawford is very readable. I also recommend professor Crawford’s you tube channel.
May The Gods Be With You.
Al
it is worth bearing in mind that the havamal shouldnt be taken as a perfect piece or perfect rules to follow - a lot of it is (understandably) outdated and theres a considerable amount of awful things written about women in there. its best taken as helpful suggestions and not mandatory commandments you should unquestioningly live by. parts of it are definitely more helpful and applicable than others.
i have this copy of the poetic edda and its beautiful.
You might find this retelling of the gospels as a Saxon epic to be interesting as the author is trying to appeal to people with that viking warrior ethos in a way that both respects it and challenges it.
https://www.amazon.com/Heliand-Gospel-G-Ronald-Murphy/dp/0195073762
The translation is done by a Jesuit priest and he wrote a commentary on it as well.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0810909650/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
If you can find that book, it's amazing. It is a ridiculously thorough guide to gnomes. The geographical differences, their customs, where they live, what they eat, what their homes are like, clothing, physiology, interspecies relationships, etc. And the artwork is excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Good-Evil-Friedrich-Nietzsche/dp/1503250881
Did you, a person who gets their morality from a fucking book that tells you exactly and in absolute terms what to think, tell me to think for myself?
That is absolutely fucking hilarious.
Jackson Crawford is always good.
For further reading Asatru for Beginners by Dr Mathias Nordvig is great. He's got a PHD in Norse Mythology and he's native Danish. He was actually raised Heathen. Very good book.
The great and powerful Amazon is your friend :P. https://www.amazon.com/Gnomes-Wil-Huygen/dp/0810909650/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=gnomes&qid=1551623297&s=books&sr=1-1
Jackson Crawford's translations are pretty well regarded and generally considered one of the go-tos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1624663567/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_suksFb1FY2CC5
Also go and check out r/heathenry for some good resources as well!
I found it on Amazon. I'll see if I can send you the link. I /think/ you can get it legally as a free pdf, but I am not 100%
Edit: Amazon Link
https://www.amazon.com/dp/110763234X/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1SUCGR33A18YX&colid=306UI30TPLGWI
I goofed. [Reworked](/e "edited"). Also, OP [brought up](/e "mentioned") both Dutch and German. And as for learning OHG and Old Saxon...there are old texts and newer books written about those texts, therefore they can be learned. For Old Saxon, The Heliand and Murphy's oversetting of the same would be a good place to start.
My Old Norse professor's translation of the Poetic Edda is fantastic. Check it out here.
I like Dr. Jackson Crawford's translation. It's easy to read.
>> Had attempted a few times to read the Poetic Edda after finding it at the campus library, but never got myself to sit still long enough to do that
Same here, until I found a (translation) version that worked for me.
This version was easy to understand and felt more natural (for lack of a better description):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624663567/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This translation of The Poetic Edda came out earlier this month. It is very readable.
R. Crumb did a biography/illustrated adaptation of Kafka's stuff that was pretty well done I thought.
http://s13.postimg.org/uyuhhrmbr/tumblr_moca4vfgiu1qz4yqio1_1280.jpg
