The Dísablót was the blót (sacrificial holiday) which was held in honour of the female powers called dísir[1] (they include the Norns[2] and the Valkyries[3]), from pre-historic times until Christianization in Scandinavia. The blót ( Old Norse plural same as singular refers to Norse pagan sacrifice to the Norse gods and Elves. In Norse mythology, the dísir ("ladies" are fate goddesses who can be both benevolent and antagonistic towards mortal people and they include the Norns The Norns ( Old Norse: norn, plural nornir) are a kind of Dísir, numerous female beings who rule the fates of the various races of Norse In Norse mythology the valkyries ( Old Norse Valkyrja "Choosers of the Slain" are Dísir, minor female deities Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Its purpose was to enhance the coming harvest. [4] It is mentioned in Hervarar saga, Víga-Glúms saga, Egils saga and the Heimskringla. Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks is a Legendary saga from the 13th century combining matter from several older sagas Víga-Glúms saga is one of the Icelanders' sagas. It tells of a chieftain who kills several people and tries to cover his guilt Egils saga is an epic Icelandic saga possibly by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241 AD who may have written the account between the years 1220 and Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse Kings' sagas. The celebration still lives on in the form of an annual fair called the Disting in Uppsala, Sweden. The Disting is an annual market which is held in Uppsala, Sweden, since pre-historic times Uppsala ˈɵpˌsɑːla (older spelling Upsala) is the capital of Uppsala County ( Uppsala län) and the fourth largest city of "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation.
The Dísablót appears to have been held during winter nights,[1] or at the vernal equinox. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle [5] In one version of Hervarar saga, there is a description of how the sacrifice was performed. Álfhildr, the daughter of king Álf of Álfheim, was kidnapped by Starkad Aludreng while she was reddening a horgr with blood. Alfheim redirects here For other uses see Alfheim (disambiguation Álfheimr or Alfheim ( Elf-home) is the abode of the Starkad, Old Norse: Starkaðr or Störkuðr, Latin: Starcaterus, and during the late Middle Ages, also known as Starkodder In Norse paganism, hörgr (plural hörgar) was a type of Altar, constructed of piled stones [1][6]
This suggests that the rite was performed by women. [1] However, according to the Ynglinga saga part of the Heimskringla, the king of Sweden performed the rites, which was in accordance with his role as high priest of the Temple at Uppsala. The Ynglinga saga was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225. The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a for the town in Nepal see Gothi Nepal A goði or gothi (plural goðar) is the Old Norse term for a Priest The Temple at Uppsala was a religious site in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala near modern Uppsala, Sweden, that was created to worship the Norse gods The mention of the Dísablót concerns the death of king Eadgils (Aðils, Adils) who died from falling off his horse while riding around the shrine:
| “ | King Adils was at a Disa sacrifice; and as he rode around the Disa hall his horse' Raven stumbled and fell, and the king was thrown forward upon his head, and his skull was split, and his brains dashed out against a stone. Eadgils, Adils, Aðils, Adillus, Aðísl at Uppsölum, Athisl, Athislus, Adhel was a Semi-legendary king Adils died at Upsal, and was buried there in a mound. The Swedes called him a great king. [7] | ” |
In Sweden, the Dísablót was of central political and social importance. The festivities were held at the end of February or early March at Gamla Uppsala. Overview February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the Events in March American Red Cross Month Fire Prevention month ( The Philippines) Women's History Month ( United Gamla Uppsala ("Old Uppsala" is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. [8] It was held in conjunction with the great fair Disting and the great popular assembly called the Thing of all Swedes. The Disting is an annual market which is held in Uppsala, Sweden, since pre-historic times Thing of all Swedes ( allra Svía þing, Þing allra Svía, or Disaþing, Kyndilþing) was the thing (general assembly which was held [9]
The Icelandic historian Snorri Sturlusson, who was well-informed of Swedish matters and visited the country in 1219,[10] explained in the Heimskringla (1225):
| “ | In Svithjod[11] it was the old custom, as long as heathenism prevailed, that the chief sacrifice took place in Goe month[12] at Upsala. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian poet and politician Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse Kings' sagas. Gamla Uppsala ("Old Uppsala" is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. Then sacrifice was offered for peace, and victory to the king; and thither came people from all parts of Svithjod. All the Things of the Swedes, also, were held there, and markets, and meetings for buying, which continued for a week: and after Christianity was introduced into Svithjod, the Things and fairs were held there as before. [13] | ” |
The shrine where the Dísir were worshiped was called dísarsalr and this building is mentioned in the Ynglinga saga concerning king Aðils' death. The Ynglinga saga was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225. It also appears Hervarar saga, where a woman becomes so infuriated over the death of her father by the hands of Heiðrekr, her husband, that she hangs herself in the shrine. Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks is a Legendary saga from the 13th century combining matter from several older sagas Heidrek or Heiðrekr was one of the main characters in the cycle about the Magic sword Tyrfing.
References and notes
- ^ a b c d The Religious Practices of the Pre-Christian and Viking Age North at Northvegr
- ^ The article Dis in Nordisk familjebok (1907). Nordisk familjebok (en Nordic familybook is a Swedish Encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957
- ^ The article Diser in Nationalencyklopedin (1991). Nationalencyklopedin ( NE) is the most comprehensive contemporary Swedish language Encyclopedia, initiated by a government grant
- ^ "Disablot", Nationalencyklopedin. Nationalencyklopedin ( NE) is the most comprehensive contemporary Swedish language Encyclopedia, initiated by a government grant
- ^ The article Distingen, in the encyclopedia Nationalencyklopedin. Nationalencyklopedin ( NE) is the most comprehensive contemporary Swedish language Encyclopedia, initiated by a government grant
- ^ Hervarar saga in Old Norse, N. M. Petersen's edition
- ^ The Ynglinga saga at Northvegr
- ^ The article Landsting, at the official site of the Museum of National Antiquities, Sweden.
- ^ The article Disablot, in the encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok.
- ^ The article Snorres Ynglingasaga at the official site of the Museum of Foteviken, Sweden
- ^ An obsolete name for Sweden, more specifically what today is named Svealand. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Svealand ( or (rarely or historically Sweden Proper is the historical core region of Sweden. Literally: "the Swedish people".
- ^ The month of February. Overview February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the
- ^ Saga of Olaf Haraldson, part II.
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