03/19/2024
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- Adam of Bremen - Uppsala
Chapter 27: For all their gods there are appointed priests to offer sacrifices for the people. If plague and famine threaten, a libation is poured to the idol Thor; if war, to Wotan; if marriages are to be celebrated, to Frikko. It is customary also to solemnize in Uppsala, at nine-year intervals, a general feast of all the provinces of Sweden. From attendance at this festival no one is exempted Kings and people all and singly send their gifts to Uppsala and, what is more distressing than any kind of punishment, those who have already adopted Christianity redeem themselves through these ceremonies. The sacrifice is of this nature: of every living thing that is male, they offer nine heads with the blood of which it is customary to placate gods of this sort. The bodies they hang in the sacred grove that adjoins the temple. Now this grove is so sacred in the eyes of the heathen that each and every tree in it is believed divine because of the death or putrefaction of the victims. Even dogs and horses hang there with men. A Christian told me that he had seen 72 bodies suspended promiscuously. Furthermore, the incantations customarily chanted in the ritual of a sacrifice of this kind are manifold and unseemly; therefore, it is better to keep silent about them.
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Adam of Bremen, a medieval chronicler, offers us a fascinating glimpse into the pagan rituals of Uppsala, Sweden, during the 11th century.
According to Adam, the Norse people had specific gods assigned for different facets of life - Thor for natural disasters, Wotan for war, and Frikko for marriage celebrations. In times of trouble or celebration, the people would offer sacrifices to these deities, led by appointed priests known as the Gothar.
Every nine years, a grand festival united all the provinces of Sweden at Uppsala. This event was so sacred that no one, not even kings, could forgo sending gifts. Intriguingly, Adam notes that even those who converted to Christianity would partake in these pagan ceremonies, a testament to the festival's deep-rooted significance and the importance of tradition to Germanic people.
This ritual is attested as offerings of nine heads of every living male creature are made to the gods. This act of sacrifice, believed to appease the deities, led to the bodies being hung in a sacred grove, which may be considered divine due to the mythological representation of the sacrifices.
Adam comments on the sacredness of the groves to the heathen and the rituals taking place. However, he chose to remain silent about the specific incantations used, as most Christians didn't feel it was appropriate to record such things.
This historical account by Adam of Bremen not only showcases the rich tapestry of Norse mythology and traditions but also reflects the tension between old beliefs (Forn Siðr) and the new religion (Christanity) during the medieval period. It's a vivid reminder of how deeply spirituality and tradition can shape a society.
Image of the temple at Uppsala from www.germanicmythology.com
