Synopses & Reviews
Fragments of ancient belief mingle with folklore and Christian dogma until the original tenets are lost in the myths and psychologies of the intervening years. Hilda Ellis Davidson illustrates how pagan beliefs have been represented and misinterpreted by the Christian tradition, and throws light on the nature of pre-Christian beliefs and how they have been preserved. The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe stresses both the possibilities and the difficulties of investigating the lost religious beliefs of Northern Europe.
Synopsis
This book examines the complex nature of the surviving evidence for pagan belief amongst the Celtic, Germanic and Nordic peoples, beliefs that have been incorporated into both folklore and Christian tradition. Davidson examines the archaeological evidence available, stresses the possibilities and difficulties of investigating pre-Christian faiths, and emphasizes the need to separate speculation from sound evidence.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-171) and index.