Synopses & Reviews
Discover the untamed paganism of the Vikings and the Germanic tribes prior to the complete Christianization of Europe
• Explores the different forms of magic practiced by these tribes, including runic magic, necromancy (death magic), soul-travel, and shape-shifting
• Examines their rites of passage and initiation rituals and their most important gods, such as Odin, Loki, and Thor
• Looks at barbarian magic in historical accounts, church and assembly records, and mythology as well as an eyewitness report from a 10th-century Muslim diplomat
• Reveals the use and abuse of this tradition’s myths and magic by the Nazis
Before the conversion of Europe to Christianity in the Middle Ages, Germanic tribes roamed the continent, plundering villages and waging battles to seek the favor of Odin, their god of war, ecstasy, and magic. Centuries later, predatory Viking raiders from Scandinavia carried on similar traditions. These wild “barbarians” had a system of social classes and familial clans with complex spiritual customs, from rites of passage for birth, death, and adulthood to black magic practices and shamanic ecstatic states, such as the infamous “berserker’s rage.”
Chronicling the original pagan tradition of free and wild Europe--and the use and abuse of its myths and magic by the Nazis--Hans-Peter Hasenfratz offers a concise history of the Germanic tribes of Europe and their spiritual, magical, and occult beliefs. Looking at historical accounts, church and assembly records, mythology, and folktales from Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, and Iceland as well as an eyewitness report of Viking customs and rituals from a 10th-century Muslim diplomat, Hasenfratz explores the different forms of magic--including charms, runic magic, necromancy, love magic, soul-travel, and shamanic shape-shifting--practiced by the Teutonic tribes and examines their interactions with and eventual adaptation to Christianity. Providing in-depth information on their social class and clan structure, rites of passage, and their most important gods and goddesses, such as Odin, Loki, Thor, and Freyja, Hasenfratz reveals how it is only through understanding our magical barbarian roots that we can see the remnants of their language, culture, and dynamic spirit that have carried through to modern times.
Review
“Barbarian Rites provides a wealth of facts free from ideological or interpretive overlay, yet does so in a prose that can be read for pleasure as well as instruction. One feels the secure weight of lifelong scholarship behind this book.”
Review
“Professor Hasenfratz presents both a solid introduction to the mysterious world of Germanic spirituality and something that goes well beyond the introductory as he demonstrates many deeper insights through his lively comparative and holistic approach.”
Review
“A number of books describe the pagan gods of the ancient Norsemen, but very few explain why pagan beliefs appealed to so many for so long. In this outstanding English translation of Barbarian Rites, Hasenfratz engages Germanic spiritual tradition seriously and empathetically. He provides an important and useful resource for students of northern European religions at all levels.”
Review
“Do NOT pass this book by.”
Review
“Despite their barbarism, Hasenfratz situates the Vikings within Indo-European culture, and suggests that their view of the end of this world and the coming of a new age will resonate with today’s new age philosophy.”
Review
“An interesting read for those who are drawn to the ways of Thor, Odin and all their kin.”
Review
“Far from being a dry academic text, this is a captivating book that will inform and entertain all levels.”
Review
“This is a must-read for Heathens and an essential text for scholars of ancient civilizations. A hearty “Well Done!.” to the author and translator for an unflinchingly honest look at this culture, and to Inner Traditions for publishing this singular text.”
Review
“...this is a gripping and fascinating read for those interested in historical Germanic and Viking Culture.”
Review
“The book, which ends with scholarly notes, a bibliography, and an index, should be considered indispensable for all readers with an interest in the roots of Heathen culture.”
Review
“Do NOT pass this book by.” Michael Gleason, Independent Reviewer, August 2011
Review
“Barbarian Rites provides a wealth of facts free from ideological or interpretive overlay, yet does so in a prose that can be read for pleasure as well as instruction. One feels the secure weight of lifelong scholarship behind this book.” < b=""> Joscelyn Godwin <> , author of < i=""> Atlantis and the Cycles of Time <>
Review
“Professor Hasenfratz presents both a solid introduction to the mysterious world of Germanic spirituality and something that goes well beyond the introductory as he demonstrates many deeper insights through his lively comparative and holistic approach.” < b=""> Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D. <> , director of the Woodharrow Institute and author of < i=""> The Secret of the Runes <>
Review
“A number of books describe the pagan gods of the ancient Norsemen, but very few explain why pagan beliefs appealed to so many for so long. In this outstanding English translation of Barbarian Rites, Hasenfratz engages Germanic spiritual tradition seriously and empathetically. He provides an important and useful resource for students of northern European religions at all levels.” < b=""> Stephen Harris <> , associate professor of German and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Review
“Do NOT pass this book by.” < b=""> Michael Gleason <> , Independent Reviewer, August 2011
Review
“Despite their barbarism, Hasenfratz situates the Vikings within Indo-European culture, and suggests that their view of the end of this world and the coming of a new age will resonate with today’s new age philosophy.” < i=""> Publishers Weekly <> , September 2011
Review
“An interesting read for those who are drawn to the ways of Thor, Odin and all their kin.” < b=""> Nicholas Breeze Wood <> , < i=""> Sacred Hoop Magazine <> , September 2011
Review
“Far from being a dry academic text, this is a captivating book that will inform and entertain all levels.” < i=""> Psychic Magic <> , Autumn 2011
Review
“This is a must-read for Heathens and an essential text for scholars of ancient civilizations. A hearty “Well Done!.” to the author and translator for an unflinchingly honest look at this culture, and to Inner Traditions for publishing this singular text.” < b=""> Elizabeth Hazel <> , FacingNorth.net, October 2011
Review
“...this is a gripping and fascinating read for those interested in historical Germanic and Viking Culture.” < b=""> Frater U.I.F. <> , < i=""> Behutet Magazine <>
Review
“The book, which ends with scholarly notes, a bibliography, and an index, should be considered indispensable for all readers with an interest in the roots of Heathen culture.” < b=""> Barbara Ardinger <> , < i=""> Witches and Pagans Magazine <>
Review
“Barbarian Rites presents the reader with a clean and delightful overview, a treasure hoard of information about the religious and spiritual world of the North. Its reach will satisfy the scholar who wants to make sure he has a complete overview from the creation Gap to Ragnarok, from Yggdrasil to the casting of runes. Moynihan’s translation is appealingly clear, and his etymological footnotes add to the reader’s enjoyment.”
Review
“An exploration of the early religious cultures of the Germanic tribes, Barbarian Rites offers a scholarly look at the history of this ancient culture. It begins by asking what constitutes a Germanic tribe, then proceeds to answer that question by offering in-depth analysis of their social structures, cosmography, pantheon and so on. A wonderful and dense book for anyone interested in the ritual practices of ancient cultures.”
Synopsis
Odin's Whisper provides the first full treatment of this subject, giving an in-depth account that uses the stories of Norse mythology and the most recent archaeological evidence to draw a vivid picture of the Viking mind. Neil Price contextualizes their understanding of death within the
Ragnarand#246;k, the immense battle of living and dead, gods and humans that would ultimately consume all the world in fire, to illustrate that the Vikingsand#8217; conception of the afterlife was only ever viewed as a respite before this ultimate end. The violence and extravagance that marked their conception of the afterlife equally informed their funeral practice, as Price illustrates with blood-curdling contemporary accounts of the sacrifices and rapes that occasionally marked Viking burial.
Synopsis
The Viking period, which stretched from the eighth to the eleventh century, left behind half a million graves, many containing whole ships, sumptuous goods, and even the bodies of slaves or loved ones sacrificed alongside those who had died. Revealing that it was in death that the Viking view of life was most clearly distilled,and#160;
Odinand#8217;s Whisperand#160;uses Norse mythology and recent archaeological evidence to draw a compelling picture of the Viking mind.
and#160;
In this in-depth account, Neil Price argues that it is by understanding Viking burial that we can best understand the thought and mythology of this fascinating culture. Price contextualizes how Vikings grasped death within theand#160;Ragnarand#246;kand#151;the immense battle of the living, dead, gods, and humans that would ultimately consume the world in fireand#151;and illustrates that their conception of the afterlife was seen only as a respite before this end. He also shows that this violent view of the afterlife informed their funeral practice, divulging blood-curdling accounts of the sacrifices and rapes that occasionally marked burials. Filled with striking illustrations and reconstructions of graves,and#160;Odinand#8217;s Whispercasts new light on Norse beliefs about death and, in turn, what these notions tell us of their beliefs about life.
About the Author
Neil Price is professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a senior research fellow at the Rock Art Research Institute, University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the author of The Viking Way.
Table of Contents
Translator’s Foreword
Introduction
1 A Brief History of the Germanic Tribes
2 Society and Its Values (Sociography and Axiology)
3 The Rituals of Transition (Rites of Passage)
4 Magic
5 The Powers
6 The Conception of the World (Cosmography)
7 The Beginnings of Time and the End Times
Notes
Bibliography
Index