Haf Gengr Hríðum Við Himin Sjálfan …” an Investigation Into the Rôle(S) of the Sea in Pre-Christian Scandinavian Beliefs and Practices of the Iron Age
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MA ritgerð Norræn trú “Haf gengr hríðum við himin sjálfan …” An Investigation into the Rôle(s) of the Sea in Pre-Christian Scandinavian Beliefs and Practices of the Iron Age Jonas Koesling Leiðbeinandi Terry A. Gunnell Júni 2021 “Haf gengr hríðum við himin sjálfan…” An Investigation into the Rôle(s) of the Sea in pre-Christian Scandinavian Beliefs and Practices of the Iron Age Jonas Koesling Lokaverkefni til MA-gráðu í Norrænni trú Leiðbeinandi: Terry A. Gunnell 60 einingar Félagsfræði–, mannfræði– og þjóðfræðideild Félagsvísindasvið Háskóla Íslands Maí, 2021 “Haf gengr hríðum við himin sjálfan …” An Investigation into the Rôle(s) of the Sea in pre-Christian Scandinavian Beliefs and Practices of the Iron Age Ritgerð þessi er lokaverkefni til MA-gráðu í Norrænni trú og er óheimilt að afrita ritgerðina á nokkurn hátt nema með leyfi rétthafa. © Jonas Koesling, 2021 Prentun: rafræn útgáfa Reykjavík, Ísland, 2021 Útdráttur Þessi ritgerð rannsakar hlutverk sjávarins í forkristinni norrænni trú (PCRN) og athöfnum frá járnöld til fyrri hluta miðalda. Greining heimilda kynnir fjölbreyttar heimildir sem eiga uppruna sinn víða, frá Eystrasaltinu til eyja í Atlandshafi og meginlönd Skandinavíu. Í fyrsta hluta af tveimur á sér stað greinargóð umræða um hlutverk sjávarins í sögu og rannsókna á sviði PCRN. Á þessum grunni er nálgun ritgerðarinnar byggð, sem lítur til nýlegra vistfræðilegra hugmynda innan fræðasviðsins. Með notkun aðferða úr nýefnishyggju við rannsókn á sjónum opnast sá möguleiki að skoða hverskyns sambönd, hvort sem hlutaðeigendur eru mennsk, ómennsk eða ofur-mennsk. Þess konar sambönd eru ígrunduð í öðrum hluta ritgerðarinnar, sem skiptist síðan í þrjá hluta, hver þeirra með áherslu á ákveðna tegund heimilda: forn grísk-rómversk rit; efnisbundnar heimildir úr fornleifum og táknmyndafræði; og bókmenntir miðalda. Séstakar tengingar milli fornnorræns fólks, guða og sjávarins eru mótaðar og greindar. Skoðað er sérstaklega hvort for-kristin trú og athafnir hafi falið í sér einhverskonar trú á sjávar-guði, og þá hvaða merkingu sjórinn hefur haft í trúarlegum skilngi ef ekki sem guð. Ritgerðinni lýkur með þeirri staðhæfingu að gagnlegt sé að taka til greina umhverfis- og vistfræðileg sjónarhorn við greiningu heimildanna. Færð eru rök fyrir því að skoðun á hlutverki efniskenndra eiginleika hafsins í trú og athörfnum fólks fyrri tíma—án þess þó að festast í gildrum náttúru-rómantískra hugmynds—gefst tækifæri til þess að sjá blæbrigði í samböndum mennskra og ómennskra fyrirbæra sem miðalda og nútíma handbækur gefa ekki nóg til kynna. Raunar eru hér haldið fram að heimildirnar virðast sýna sjóinn sem svo margslungið fyrirbæri að yfirráðasvið eins guðs dugar ekki til, jafnt eins og sjórinn hefur alltaf verið svo botnlaus að hugarheimar mannfólks nær einfaldlega ekki utan um hann. iv Abstract This thesis investigates the rôle of the sea in pre-Christian Nordic religious beliefs and practices (PCRN) from the Iron Age to the Early Middle Ages and includes source-critical discussions which showcase a range of sources from a broad area, spanning from the Baltic to the North Atlantic islands and the Scandinavian mainlands. In the first of two parts, a detailed discussion of the rôle of the sea within the history of research into PCRN is carried out. The thesis builds on this foundation by drawing on some of the most recent eco- theoretical approaches to the field.U tilizing a new-materialist framework to the sea it aims to map out of relationships of any kind, that is, between human, non-human, and more- than-human agents of all sorts. Such relationships are discussed in the second part of the thesis in three analytical sections, each focusing on a particular set of sources: early Græco- Roman writings; material sources in the fields og archæology and iconography; and the Mediæval literary sources. Particular links between Ancient Scandinavian people, divinities, and the sea are developed and discussed. Of particular interest here is whether the pre-Christian religious beliefs and practices involved any sea-deities, and how the sea might have been conceptualized in religious terms if it was not through some kind of deification. The thesis concludes by arguing that there is much to be gained from considering the various climato-ecological layers in the sources. It argues that considering the role that physical aspects of the sea might have played in religious beliefs and practices of past peoples—while attempting to avoid pitfalls of Nature-Romantic perspective— might reveal a more nuanced understanding human and non-human relationships than Mediæval and Modern handbooks on PCRN. Indeed, as is argued here, the sources appear to present the sea as a multi-faceted entity that seems to transcend the domains of single deities, just as the sea has always been somewhat unfathomable to the human imagination. v Foreword ThisMA -thesis in Old Nordic Belief(s) did not came about out of of nothing, and yet, when I look back today on the circumstances of how the initial thought arose, I am still puzzled at how this all grew into an organic whole, perhaps into something resembling an oceanological ecosystem. I began my studies simply out of curiosity about this small programme that I was so lucky to find, almost by coincidence, after I had moved to Iceland first and foremost tobe with my beloved. It was precisely the small size of the programme that won me over, although it might be considered a field so much vaster and deeper than many others. I am thus profoundly grateful for the chance I got here at HÍ, especially considering the fact that the programme has now been terminated meaning a unique possibility will disappear from the universitiy, leaving hardly any equivalent behind. More than anything, however, I am thankful for the man in charge of this programme, Terry Gunnell, with all his wit and knowledge, but first and foremost his generosity and investment in his students. This thesis owes Terry so much for his uncountable scribbles correcting my knotted sentences and thoughts but also the numerous inspiring conversations in his office, and after the start of the pandemic, from home-desks. I still remember our first meeting some three years ago, a small orientation-talk while I was still thinking about starting a second MA-degree. Today I am sure that my decision was sealed then and there. While it was not clear then that I would write about the sea, this idea surfaced quickly, probably helped by Terry’s knack at locating one’s interests. At the time I was working in Sjóminjasafnið í Reykjavík before shifting to Þjóðminjasafn Íslands, to both of which I owe many new insights and wonderful aquaintences. I had previously worked at Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schøtstuene in Bergen and Kystmuseet i Øygarden during my time studying Norrøn filologi at Universitetet i Bergen. All of these experiences have close connections to the strong maritime culture of the Nordic countries, and were preceeded by my military service in the German Navy that in many ways was my first encounter with the sea. The present thesis would not have been possible without the help and support of those closest to me, some of whom I would not have met if not for Terry and the programme: Amanda Green, Nicolai Lanz, and Katie Beard. Lastly thanks are due to my dearest Jóa for the support and distractions that kept keep me sane throughout the whole process. vi Table of Content Útdráttur .......................................................................................................................... iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................. v Foreword .......................................................................................................................... vi Table of Content ............................................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... ix I. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 I.1 Framework of the Thesis ....................................................................................... 1 I.2 Terminology & Definitions ................................................................................... 2 I.3 Reasoning and Aims of the Thesis ........................................................................ 3 I.4 Structure & Navigation ......................................................................................... 4 II. A History of Research into PCRN (c.1250–2000), and Eco-Theoretical Debates ....5 II.1 Remarks on Writing a History of Research ........................................................ 5 II.2 Eleventh to Sixteenth Century: From Mediæval Scholasticism to Early Humanism ............................................................................................................. 6 II.3 Sixteenth to Seventeenth Century: Renaissance Humanism and Antiquarian Beginnings............................................................................................................. 7 II.4 Mid-Seventeenth to Late-Eighteenth Century: Humanism and Human Nature 10 II.5 Long Nineteenth Century: Romanticising ‘Nature’ (and Nation) .....................13 II.6 The Twentieth Century ...................................................................................... 26 II.6.1 The