Exploring the relationship between animals and humans in Scandinavia from the Roman Iron Age to the Viking Period, this book interprets Old Norse mythology in which imaginary creatures with strong characters were invented and examines the importance of animals in the human world. According to Old Norse perceptions, real and fantasy animals in Midgard became mouthpieces for human characteristics and reflections of people's social position. With the aid of animals, humans could also show who they really were as well as control higher powers. Combining results from archaeology and Old Norse texts, this account discusses the functional, symbolic, and cognitive meanings of animals and the implications of animal rights.

• VÄGAR TILL MIDGÅRD
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• CHAPTER 1 - Introduction
  • Archaeology and Old Norse religion
  • The archaeology of religion
  • Human–animal relations
  • Old Norse religion versus Christianity
  • Orality, materiality, visuality
• CHAPTER 2 - Animals in Norse mythology
• CHAPTER 3 - Animals in Midgard
  • Domesticated animals
  • The farm perspective and animal husbandry
  • Game
  • Hunting
  • Animals in rituals
• CHAPTER 4 - Animals between context and text
  • Bodily metaphors
  • Animals and humans
• CHAPTER 5 - A Midgard mentality –why animals?
  • The practical and functional purposes of animals
  • Social identity and lifestyle
  • Animal and human properties
  • Transformations between animal and human
• CHAPTER 6 - Old Norse religion
  • Shamanistic features
  • Pre-Christian versus Christian
  • Summing up
• CHAPTER 7 - The archaeology of religion
• CHAPTER 8 - To interpret interdependence over time
• Notes
• References