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Norse Mythology Or The Religion Of Our Forefathers: Containing All The Myths Of The Eddas
Systematized And Interpreted. With An Introduction, Vocabulary And Index.
476 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1875
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About the author
Rasmus Bjørn Anderson
151 books11 followersRasmus Bjørn Anderson (January 12, 1846 – March 2, 1936) was an American author, professor, and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the idea that Viking explorers discovered the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day.
Anderson was born in Albion in Dane County, Wisconsin to parents who were immigrants from Stavanger in the county of Rogaland, Norway. His parents were part of a small band of Quaker sympathizers who organized the first Norwegian emigration to America in the early 1820s. Anderson was a graduate of Luther College and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1867-1883. While there, he was the founding head of the Department of Scandinavian Studies, the oldest such department in an American university.
Rasmus B. Anderson founded a publication company, The Norrœna Society, which focused on republishing translations of texts devoted to "the History and Romance of Northern Europe". Anderson was the author of a number of books with Scandinavian themes. He also did a series of translations from Scandinavian languages, most notably the writings of Norwegian novelist Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. From 1885 to 1889, Anderson served as the United States Ambassador to Denmark. After his return to the U.S. in 1889, he was editor (1898–1922) of the Norwegian language weekly, Amerika.
Anderson's book America Not Discovered by Columbus helped popularize the now familiar idea that Vikings were the first Europeans in the New World. Anderson was the originator of the movement to honor Leif Erikson with a holiday in the United States. Through efforts he started and led, Leif Erikson Day became an official observance in his native Wisconsin and other U. S. states. Decades after Anderson's death, it first became a federal observance by Presidential proclamation in 1964.
Anderson was born in Albion in Dane County, Wisconsin to parents who were immigrants from Stavanger in the county of Rogaland, Norway. His parents were part of a small band of Quaker sympathizers who organized the first Norwegian emigration to America in the early 1820s. Anderson was a graduate of Luther College and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1867-1883. While there, he was the founding head of the Department of Scandinavian Studies, the oldest such department in an American university.
Rasmus B. Anderson founded a publication company, The Norrœna Society, which focused on republishing translations of texts devoted to "the History and Romance of Northern Europe". Anderson was the author of a number of books with Scandinavian themes. He also did a series of translations from Scandinavian languages, most notably the writings of Norwegian novelist Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. From 1885 to 1889, Anderson served as the United States Ambassador to Denmark. After his return to the U.S. in 1889, he was editor (1898–1922) of the Norwegian language weekly, Amerika.
Anderson's book America Not Discovered by Columbus helped popularize the now familiar idea that Vikings were the first Europeans in the New World. Anderson was the originator of the movement to honor Leif Erikson with a holiday in the United States. Through efforts he started and led, Leif Erikson Day became an official observance in his native Wisconsin and other U. S. states. Decades after Anderson's death, it first became a federal observance by Presidential proclamation in 1964.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 11, 2025
Anderson's Norse Mythology, despite its late 19th century vintage, is neither a high Victorian nor a scholarly introduction to its subject. Instead, it is a fairly even-handed and simple discussion of what can be, for those not familiar with the study of folklore, an impenetrable subject. It is interestingly and well thought out, and presented in a logical manner, excerpting both the elder and younger eddas and providing fairly lucid commentary on both in order to create a frame of reference that the modern reader can relate to. Through this method, Anderson provides more than a basic introduction, but somewhat less than a guided tour of the nordic pantheon.
Anderson was clearly passionate about his subject, and there are aspects of Norse mythology that he seems to find more uplifting and valuable than the more popular religions of today. At times, however, the author strains so greatly to connect the subject to Christian narratives that he seems almost defensive or apologetic. This minor problem is likely to be a convention of the time of his writing and really does not detract from the book. One of its more endearing Victorian quirks is the author's slightly silly, but interesting, attempt to invent an historical context for the origin of the eddas in Medieval history.
On the positive side - Anderson's book is by no means boring or pedantic. Detracting from the value of the narrative are the occasionally didactic digressions into parallels with Christian beliefs and a reticence to explore much more than a few levels below the text.
I have only recently begun my own study of the eddas. I chose Anderson's work first for a few different reasons: First, it was available for no cost through Google Books. Second, I generally enjoy Victorian writing. And third, when I really want to understand folklore, I prefer to examine it through the lenses of more than one period, and if possible, more than one culture. With respect to these criteria, the book is quite satisfying - as a start.
Anderson was clearly passionate about his subject, and there are aspects of Norse mythology that he seems to find more uplifting and valuable than the more popular religions of today. At times, however, the author strains so greatly to connect the subject to Christian narratives that he seems almost defensive or apologetic. This minor problem is likely to be a convention of the time of his writing and really does not detract from the book. One of its more endearing Victorian quirks is the author's slightly silly, but interesting, attempt to invent an historical context for the origin of the eddas in Medieval history.
On the positive side - Anderson's book is by no means boring or pedantic. Detracting from the value of the narrative are the occasionally didactic digressions into parallels with Christian beliefs and a reticence to explore much more than a few levels below the text.
I have only recently begun my own study of the eddas. I chose Anderson's work first for a few different reasons: First, it was available for no cost through Google Books. Second, I generally enjoy Victorian writing. And third, when I really want to understand folklore, I prefer to examine it through the lenses of more than one period, and if possible, more than one culture. With respect to these criteria, the book is quite satisfying - as a start.
October 7, 2020
La gran falla de este libro es que no tiene índice analítico. Cuando se publica un libro con tan amplia variedad de personajes y lugares y conceptos mitológicos, un índice es primordial para complementar la lectura.
September 27, 2018
Valhalla... estoy llegando.
August 24, 2023
For a book written in 1876, it holds up remarkably well. Thank you project Gutenberg for allowing these books to be accessible to the general population. Enjoy!
February 25, 2023
Algunas ideas/párrafos interesantes:
• "Odín pasó nueve días sobre el árbol (Yggdrasil) y se sacrificó a sí mismo, y él mismo se hirió con su lanza. Esto se ha interpretado como si significara los nueve meses durante los cuales el niño se desarrolla en el seno de su madre. Amable lector, ¿habéis tratado alguna vez de penetrar con vuestro espíritu en los misterios de la materia?¿Os acordáis que Odín dio su ojo en prenda para beber en la fuente de Mimer? La lanza con la que él mismo se hirió muestra la solemnidad de la consagración de su persona. En esta lucha para adquirir la ciencia, el espíritu se debe a sí mismo. Sabe que penas y que sufrimientos debe soportar en el camino de la ciencia, pero considera valientemente estos obstáculos, quiere luchar contra ellos; allí esta su grandeza, su gloria, su poder. Odín pasa nueve días sobre el árbol. Roma no se construyo en un día.
Tantae molis erat romanas condere gentes (Virgilio, Eneida, 1, 33)
Igualmente no se adquiere la ciencia en un día. El espíritu se desarrolla con un progreso lento. No debe ni come, ayuna. Se deben también reprimir los apetitos corporales y, como Odín, sumergirse con el espíritu en las profundidades y penetrar en los misterios de la naturaleza. Entonces se aprenderán todos estos cantos maravillosos que Odín aprendió llorando antes de caer del árbol."
• La muñeca se conoce como la juntura del lobo (úlfridr) en honor al sacrificio que hizo Tyr.
• Heimdall es hijo de Odín y 9 vírgenes hermanas.
• El libro contiene información muy interesante, pero tiene muchos errores ortográficos que dificultan la lectura.
• "Odín pasó nueve días sobre el árbol (Yggdrasil) y se sacrificó a sí mismo, y él mismo se hirió con su lanza. Esto se ha interpretado como si significara los nueve meses durante los cuales el niño se desarrolla en el seno de su madre. Amable lector, ¿habéis tratado alguna vez de penetrar con vuestro espíritu en los misterios de la materia?¿Os acordáis que Odín dio su ojo en prenda para beber en la fuente de Mimer? La lanza con la que él mismo se hirió muestra la solemnidad de la consagración de su persona. En esta lucha para adquirir la ciencia, el espíritu se debe a sí mismo. Sabe que penas y que sufrimientos debe soportar en el camino de la ciencia, pero considera valientemente estos obstáculos, quiere luchar contra ellos; allí esta su grandeza, su gloria, su poder. Odín pasa nueve días sobre el árbol. Roma no se construyo en un día.
Tantae molis erat romanas condere gentes (Virgilio, Eneida, 1, 33)
Igualmente no se adquiere la ciencia en un día. El espíritu se desarrolla con un progreso lento. No debe ni come, ayuna. Se deben también reprimir los apetitos corporales y, como Odín, sumergirse con el espíritu en las profundidades y penetrar en los misterios de la naturaleza. Entonces se aprenderán todos estos cantos maravillosos que Odín aprendió llorando antes de caer del árbol."
• La muñeca se conoce como la juntura del lobo (úlfridr) en honor al sacrificio que hizo Tyr.
• Heimdall es hijo de Odín y 9 vírgenes hermanas.
• El libro contiene información muy interesante, pero tiene muchos errores ortográficos que dificultan la lectura.
April 19, 2012
Me hubiese gustado que utilizara la traducción española más extendida de los nombres nórdicos.
August 7, 2012
Lo leí en dos días de lo que me capturaba y entretenía la mitología nórdica. Sencillamente mi ciclo de historias preferidos.
December 6, 2013
Una buena introducción a la mitología nordica
January 1, 2016
No es tan completa, pero es una buena forma de iniciar en esta mitología.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews