Nordic myths and legends. The life of gods and heroes with illustrations and detailed commentary (18+)

Scandinavian myths are a vivid example of living mythology: stories are overgrown with new plot turns, images and details and adapt over time, persisting in various versions. These poetic and prosaic works, which initially existed in oral tradition, are filled with many allusions and are extremely complicated for studying both in its original form and translated. Tom Birkett set his goal to systematize the Scandinavian myths and retell them in an accessible language, based on a solid scientific base.
In addition to the retelling of myths about the creation of the world, about nine worlds and the world tree of Iggdrasil, about the most famous gods and goddesses (one, Frigg, Thor, Cyph, Freur, Freja, Baldr and others), about giant Yetuna, about the monsters , Alvakh and gnomes, about the hero of Sigurde and the Völsungs, leading from Odin, and other legendary heroes, the book tells of the study of the Vikings of the North Atlantic (about the settlement of Iceland and pioneers, the discovery of Greenland Eric Rymim and Vinland by Leif Erickson), about expeditions) to the east and south (on traveling in the Baltic, about relations with Russia, about Harald Surovo and Constantinople, about the caliphate), about the kings of the North (from the first king of Norway Harald Grand -haired to the last King of the Vikings Harald Hardrad) A review of sources on Scandinavian mythology and the variety of interpretation of its motives in art, literature, politics and popular culture, including video games (Skyrim and World of Warcraft), Japanese manga and Korean role-playing online games. The publication is excellently illustrated by engravings and color reproductions of masterpieces of world painting and graphics