THE SCENE: Olaus Magnus, the Archbishop of Uppsala, provides some insight into the pagan worship of Norse gods in the pre-Christian north.
THE TEXT: During the period when the ancient Goths were pagans, they had three gods who were honoured with deepest reverence. Of these, the first was mighty Thor, who was worshiped sitting the middle of a cushioned couch, flanked on each side by two other deities, Odin and Frigga. Thor, they say, rules in the air, thundering and lightening, controlling winds, clouds, and fair weather, having under his care all the fruits and crops of the earth, and removing plagues. The second, Odin, meaning “the strong one”, holds sway over wars, affording men help against their foes. He was set at the right hand of Thor himself, and his reputation was of such splendor that all peoples cherished him exactly as if he were light granted to the world, and there was no place on earth which did not submit to the might of his godhead. Frigga, the third, regulated peace and pleasure. Her image also shamelessly flaunted its sex and for this reason was worshipped among the Goths as Venus was among the Romans; she keeps Friday, Venus’ day, sacred to herself even into our own times. She was painted with a sword and a bow; these weapons meant that in those lands either sex was always perfectly willing to take up arms. Thor, however, was depicted with a crown and scepter and with twelve stars, since people thought there was nothing of equal worth that could be compared to his grandeur. The Goths always sought to appease [Odin] with the harshest rites, that is to say with the death of their prisoners, supposing that the presider over wars was more fitly appeased with human blood.
– A Description of the Northern Peoples, Olaus Magnus, 16th Century AD
