Legends of the Asatru?

Question

Ok, I have managed to do some very breif reading about Asatru, I got the impressions their Legends evolve, and I did not manage to find any examples of these legends.

Can anyone tell me one, or point me in the direction of their favourite or the most epic.

Even though I do not prescribe to this belief system I would like to read the tales, I am an avid reader.

Answer 1

*comes when called* :-)

The most scholarly and comprehensive treatment out there is H.R. Ellis Davidson's "Gods & Myths of Northern Europe." It's the standard reference work on ANY heathen's bookshelf, and a wonderful read.

A more "stories" approach and a wonderful book in general would be Padraic Colum's "Nordic Gods and Heros," also sometimes published as "The Children of Odin." Readily available in most bookstores, terrific 1920's artwork. :-)

For an epic work from the Sagaic era (most Sagas were written in the 12th C and have been translated from Old Norse/Icelandic) our most central epic is the "Volsung Saga" . . . in its later Germanic form, the Niebelung (not sure that's spelled quite right) it's the source of Wagner's "Ring Cycle."

For the original mythic poetry, the "Poetic Edda" is where it is preserved . . . the Voluspa poem covers our mythic cycle, and the Havamal is, well, the source of heathen wisdom. The Hollander translation is very poetic.

For an overview, there's what I laughingly call "the book of 1000 titles" . . . coffee tableish, remainders table denizen usually called "The Vikings" or something similar. Many different versions, all with the same illustrations and text (I have half a dozen of them, I think . . . I'm hopeless) but it gives a fair overview of the culture and history from which our legends and myths arose, as well as a brief retelling of the myths themselves.

Avoid: H.A. Guerber (making the Viking mythos safe and sanitized for Victorian Sunday school kids) and Kevin Crossley-Holland's "The Norse Myths" ("See Thor hammer. Hammer, Thor, hammer" . . . blech.)

Answer 2

Well, the Æsir and Vanir (gods) are all betrayers, for one.

According to legend, they had bound Fenrirulfr (Fenris Wolf), but to do so, Tyr, the god of Battle and later Justice, had to give an oath they would not do so, and yet they did.

Then they shoved a sword in his mouth.

Great people, the Æsir and Vanir, huh?

Freaking traitors.

Answer 3

Calling Boar's Heart!!!!!!!

Answer 4

ive tried asatru

its the nicest beer to come out of asia since tiger beer

Answer 5

Asatru....was'nt he a professional wrestler?