An arena for higher powers : : ceremonial buildings and religious strategies for rulership in late Iron Age Scandinavia / / by Olof Sundqvist.

• Superior document: Numen Book Series, Volume 150
• VerfasserIn: Sundqvist, Olof,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, Netherlands ;, Boston, Massachusetts : : Brill,, 2016.; ©2016
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in the history of religions ; Volume 150.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (661 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

In An Arena for Higher Powers Olof Sundqvist investigates ceremonial buildings and religious ruler strategies in Late Iron Age Scandinavia (i.e. AD 550-1050/1100). The author offers here an account of the role played by religion in political undertakings among the pre-Christian ruling elites at halls and cultic buildings. Sundqvist applies a regional approach, so as to be able to account for the specific historical, cultural and social contexts. The focus is mainly on three regions, the Lake Mälaren area in Sweden, Trøndelag in Norway, and Iceland. Since the political structure and other contextual aspects partly differed in the three regions, the religious strategies for gaining legitimacy and authorization at the sanctuaries also varied to some extent in these areas.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Three Areas of Investigation and their Political Leaders -- 3 Religious Strategies for Political Authorization—A Case Study -- 4 Ceremonial Buildings and Sanctuaries -- 5 The Religious Leadership of the Sanctuaries and the Economic System -- 6 The Ritual Structure of the Sanctuaries and Cosmic Symbolism -- 7 The Relation between Rulers and Cultic Images -- 8 Sacred Sites, Ritual Restrictions and Religious Strategies for Rulership -- 9 Ceremonial Feasts as Ritual Strategies -- 10 Rulers, Rings and Rituals—From Svetjud to Iceland and Back Again -- 11 Golden Objects as Media of Power -- 12 Ceremonial Buildings, Great Burial Mounds, and the Worship of Dead Rulers -- 13 The Arenas for Royal Funeral Feasts and Inauguration Rituals -- 14 (Inter-)Regional Chief Sanctuaries as a Religious Strategy for Rulership -- 15 Valhǫll, Ceremonial Buildings and Warrior Lords -- 16 Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index.