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<blockquote data-quote="Griffith Dragonlake" data-source="post: 3868811" data-attributes="member: 40379">Agreed.&nbsp; Even a cursory glance at the Tacitus' writing on the Germans compared to Adam of Bremen, and Snorri Sturlasson's Icelandic writings and it becomes apparent that there was a quite a variation of beliefs and practices across lands and histories.&nbsp; Add in the ever-present problem of chroniclers writing unusual events or practices which shouldn't be taken as a whole.&nbsp; A good example is the sacrifice at Uppsala.&nbsp; Adam of Bremen's comments while accurate for a particular point in time and place should not be taken to be typical of Aesir worship in Germany, England, Iceland, etc. anymore than Caesar's comments on wicker men.&nbsp; Of course what made for interesting reading back then also makes for interesting games today.Lettuceman is absolutely correct about being careful of Wikipedia and Neo-Pagan reconstructionism.&nbsp; Best advice is to read the sagas yourself and then review the academic writings -- and draw your own conclusions.&nbsp; I highly recommend reading (I forget the title) by Viktor Ryberg's Teutonic Mythology (<a href="http://www.northvegr.org/lore/rydberg/)" target="_blank">http://www.northvegr.org/lore/rydberg/)</a>.&nbsp; Even though it was written in the late 1800s, I found it to offer some fresh perspectives which are still fresh today. Just don't be concerned about it being found on a Neo-Pagan website.&nbsp; In fact, many of those sites (the Scandavian heathens) actually have some good source material just treat their commentaries with a grain of salt.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Griffith Dragonlake, post: 3868811, member: 40379"] Agreed. Even a cursory glance at the Tacitus' writing on the Germans compared to Adam of Bremen, and Snorri Sturlasson's Icelandic writings and it becomes apparent that there was a quite a variation of beliefs and practices across lands and histories. Add in the ever-present problem of chroniclers writing unusual events or practices which shouldn't be taken as a whole. A good example is the sacrifice at Uppsala. Adam of Bremen's comments while accurate for a particular point in time and place should not be taken to be typical of Aesir worship in Germany, England, Iceland, etc. anymore than Caesar's comments on wicker men. Of course what made for interesting reading back then also makes for interesting games today. Lettuceman is absolutely correct about being careful of Wikipedia and Neo-Pagan reconstructionism. Best advice is to read the sagas yourself and then review the academic writings -- and draw your own conclusions. I highly recommend reading (I forget the title) by Viktor Ryberg's Teutonic Mythology ([url]http://www.northvegr.org/lore/rydberg/)[/url]. Even though it was written in the late 1800s, I found it to offer some fresh perspectives which are still fresh today. Just don't be concerned about it being found on a Neo-Pagan website. In fact, many of those sites (the Scandavian heathens) actually have some good source material just treat their commentaries with a grain of salt. [/QUOTE]

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