'Why did Christians Continue to Find Pagan Myths Useful?'.

McKinnell, John

Abstract

This article considers the problem of why early Christian pseakers of Germanic languages preserved the myths of their heathen ancestors. It concludes that in most Germanic societies the major reasons for preservation were their usefulness in connection with practical magic, learned comment or condemnation, or claims of divine lineage. In Scandinavia, one may add their usefulness in the training of professional court poets. However, none of these explain their much more extended appearance in Iceland, where they seem to have been used as a non-authoritative (and therefore flexible) means of working out common social and psychological problems.

Citation

McKinnell, J. (2007). 'Why did Christians Continue to Find Pagan Myths Useful?'. In J. P. Schjødt, P. Hermann, & R. T. Kristensen (Eds.), Reflections on Old Norse Myths. Brepols Publishers

• Publication Date: 2007
• Publisher: Brepols Publishers
• Book Title: Reflections on Old Norse Myths
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1691892