Imagining the Supernatural North

Synopsis

In This Interdisciplinary Collection, Sixteen Scholars From Twelve Countries Explore The Notion Of The North As A Realm Of The Supernatural. This Region Has Long Been Associated With Sorcerous Inhabitants, Mythical Tribes, Metaphysical Forces Of Good And Evil, And A Range Of Supernatural Qualities. It Was Both The Sacred Abode Of The Gods And A Feared Source Of Menacing Invaders And Otherworldly Beings. Whether From The Perspective Of Traditional Jewish Lore Or Of Contemporary Black Metal Music, Few Motifs In European Cultural History Show Such Longevity And Broad Appeal.-- Introduction -- I Ancient Roots. 1 In Jewish Lore, Not Only Evil Descends From The North / Ya’acov Sarig -- 2 The Realm Of The North In Ancient Greek Proverbs / Maria Kasyanova -- 3 The Ancient Greek Myth Of Hyperborea / Athanosios Votsis -- Ii From The Middle Ages To The Early Modern Period. 4 Monstra Septentrionalia / Rudolf Simek -- 5 From Eiríkr The Red To Trolls In The Wilderness / Rosamund Barraclough -- 6 Winter's Flesh / Brenda S. Gardenour Walter -- 7 The Supernatural Image Of Iceland In Johannes Kepler's Somnium (1634) / Stefan Donecker -- Iii The Nineteenth Century. 8 Imagining The Celtic North / Angela Byrne -- 9 Mesmerism And Victorian Arctic Exploration / Shane Mccorristine -- 10 Myths Of Iceland And Mount Hekla And Their Deconstruction / Jennifer E. Michaels -- 11 Moon Men And Inland Dwellers / Silvije Habulinec -- Iv Contemporary Perspectives. 12 A Distant Northern Land / Brian Walter -- 13 The Idea Of North / Danielle Marie Cudmore -- 14 The Elf In Self / Jay Johnston -- 15 A Blaze In The Northern Sky / Jan Leichsenring -- 16 Men, Women, And Shamans / Erica Hill. Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, Danielle Marie Cudmore & Stefan Donecker, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format.