User:Salleman/Norse mythology
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Norse mythology, Scandinavian mythology or (deceptively) Viking mythology refer to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Viking Age Scandinavians, in particular those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. It is the best-known version of the older common Germanic mythology (formerly known as Teutonic mythology), which also includes the closely related Anglo-Saxon mythology. Germanic mythology, in its turn, had evolved from an earlier proto-Indo-European mythology, which can only be studied through speculation, based upon the archeological material and comparison of its descendant mythologies. In such efforts, Norse mythology is an integral source component.
It is a polytheistic religion with prominent elements of animism and animatism. The principal gods are Óðinn (Odin), Þórr (Thor) and Freyr. It is evidently the mythology of a patriarchal clan society, where violent feuds and strifes were customary; nevertheless, it is also notable for its many strong and influential female characters.
Norse mythology was a collection of beliefs and stories shared by the northern Germanic tribes, not a revealed religion, in the sense that there was no claim to a divinely inspired scripture. The mythology was transmitted orally during most of the Viking Age, and our knowledge about it is mainly based on the two Eddas and other medieval Icelandic texts written down after Christianization.
In Scandinavian folklore, these beliefs held on the longest, and in rural areas some traditions have been maintained until today, recently being revived or reinvented as Ásatrú or Odinism. Ever since the interest in Norse mythology surged during the Romantic era, it has also remained as an inspiration in literature as well as on stage productions and movies.
In popular works, Old Norse names often appear Anglicized according to various systems. See Old Norse orthography for a treatise.