By the close of the first millennium, Christianity had itself evolved into an ancient amalgam of religious traditions. Prior to their official conversion to the Christianity endorsed by tenth- and eleventh-century institutional authorities, Scandinavians had enjoyed direct contacts with Christians for at least two centuries, while the possibility for indirect contact and cultural exchange extended much further back in time. For its typological similarities, the mythological complex focused around a dying god Baldr has been variously considered a derivative imitation of or autonomous analogue to Christ's soteriological and eschatological roles within what had then come to be orthodox Christian theology across medieval Europe. In any case, such similarities could have been used by adherents to indigenous Scandinavian religious traditions as alternatively common ground for dialogue with or defining points of difference from groups labelling themselves as Christian, while similar ideological tactics would have been no less available to their Christian interlocutors. Counterpoised to the sacred mystery of Christ's resurrection and redemption of mankind, stands the mystery of Baldr's post-mortem destiny, esoteric lore which is intimated by but not revealed in such late poetic texts as `Vafðrúðnismál' (54-55) and `Baldrs draumar' (12-13). This study presents new and compelling textual evidence as to the significance of this mystery for Scandinavians of the conversion period, based on an analysis of the imagery from the earliest Norse poetry, Eddaic but particularly scaldic. The analysis then draws upon the cognitive systems ideated through such rhetoric to explicate the conceptual vehicles whereby the theology of Baldr's fate in the wake of his funeral was articulated within native discursive genres which served as functional counterparts to the theological tractates and other literary forms drawing upon the liturgical rites of the Christian Middle Ages. The aim of this study is thus to contribute to the history of Scandinavian religious thought so as to clarify the choices in cult practice surrounding the official religious conversion of Scandinavian polities around the turn of the millennium.
On wind and waves
WYLY B
2006-01-01
Abstract
By the close of the first millennium, Christianity had itself evolved into an ancient amalgam of religious traditions. Prior to their official conversion to the Christianity endorsed by tenth- and eleventh-century institutional authorities, Scandinavians had enjoyed direct contacts with Christians for at least two centuries, while the possibility for indirect contact and cultural exchange extended much further back in time. For its typological similarities, the mythological complex focused around a dying god Baldr has been variously considered a derivative imitation of or autonomous analogue to Christ's soteriological and eschatological roles within what had then come to be orthodox Christian theology across medieval Europe. In any case, such similarities could have been used by adherents to indigenous Scandinavian religious traditions as alternatively common ground for dialogue with or defining points of difference from groups labelling themselves as Christian, while similar ideological tactics would have been no less available to their Christian interlocutors. Counterpoised to the sacred mystery of Christ's resurrection and redemption of mankind, stands the mystery of Baldr's post-mortem destiny, esoteric lore which is intimated by but not revealed in such late poetic texts as `Vafðrúðnismál' (54-55) and `Baldrs draumar' (12-13). This study presents new and compelling textual evidence as to the significance of this mystery for Scandinavians of the conversion period, based on an analysis of the imagery from the earliest Norse poetry, Eddaic but particularly scaldic. The analysis then draws upon the cognitive systems ideated through such rhetoric to explicate the conceptual vehicles whereby the theology of Baldr's fate in the wake of his funeral was articulated within native discursive genres which served as functional counterparts to the theological tractates and other literary forms drawing upon the liturgical rites of the Christian Middle Ages. The aim of this study is thus to contribute to the history of Scandinavian religious thought so as to clarify the choices in cult practice surrounding the official religious conversion of Scandinavian polities around the turn of the millennium.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
