Global ETD Search

1	Uses of Wodan : the development of his cult and of medieval literary responses to it Shaw, Philip Andrew January 2002 (has links) Scholars working on Germanic pre-christian religion have generally considered Wodan to have been a deity of considerable importance to most if not all Germanic tribes. This understanding is, however, based on a failure to approach the available evidence for Wodan within appropriate contemporary contexts. This thesis recontextualises the evidence, therefore, building a model of the general nature of Germanic heathenisms in the Migration Age, within which the cult of Wodan can be located. Set against this model, and with due consideration given to its social, political and religious contexts, the earliest evidence for Wodan can be seen as the beginning of a christian reimagination of this deity. A plausible model of Wodan's cult is established, which sees this cult as being geographically limited, and originating probably within the first half millenium of the Common Era; the cult of Odinn would appear, moreover, to be substantially separate in development from that of Wodan. Furthermore, a complex set of eighth-century scholarly re-uses of Wodan are shown to have shaped subsequent understandings of the deity, both in the medieval period and up to the present day. Having considered how the traditions of eighth-century scholarship have misled modern scholarship, the thesis then examines the further development of these traditions in Anglo-Saxon England. In this context, Wodan assumes still more various guises, and is conflated with Odinn, thus helping to cement modern scholarship's belief in the original unity of these two figures. This process is strengthened, moreover, by the strong influence which Anglo-Saxon England exerted on Scandinavia both around the time of the conversion of Scandinavia and at the period when much of the extant Scandinavian mythography was written down. This Scandinavian mythography is examined briefly in the final chapter, which points out some important areas of misreading of pre-christian mythology in thirteenthcentury Scandinavian mythography, as well as arguing for substantial extra-Scandinavian influences on such mythography. This leads, finally, to a consideration of how Odinn appears in what little certainly pre-christian evidence exists for him. 293 Germanic pre Christian religion
2	Spjutets plats i kultur och tro : En undersökning av dekorerade spjut i Birkas kammargravar Barregren, Simon January 2017 (has links) The Viking Age town Birka has since long been a central part of archaeological studies and excavations in Sweden. It has brought much light and information about the people living there from the late 8th century to the late 10th century. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the decorated spears found in a selected number of Birka's chamber graves to see if any visual traces of religious expressions are present. The spears and their context will then be put into contrast with the clear patterns of the worship of Odin in Birka's Garrison area and religious studies from pre-Christian Scandinavia. This is done in the hopes of shedding some light on the spear’s relevance in the Viking Age's culture and religious contexts. Birka Spears Decorations Chamber graves pre-Christian Archaeology Arkeologi
3	Some reflections on ancient Greek attitudes to children as revealed in selected literature of the pre-Christian era De Bloemhead, Diana 05 1900 (has links) This study examines the ancient Greeks’ attitudes to children during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The investigation is limited to literary sources in selected pre-Christian texts. Problems which might bias interpretation have been noted. Parent-child relationships, as revealed in literary examples of parental love and concern, are of particular interest. Hazards affecting survival in early childhood, and factors which influenced attitudes regarding the fetus, abortion, exposure and infanticide are considered. Legal, political and socio-economic factors are amongst motivating forces. Childhood experiences such as education, sport, pederasty, step-families, slaves and slavery, preparation for marriage, and deprivation due to war and environmental factors are also examined. Ancient attitudes to children are compared with modern attitudes to children in similar situations prevailing in Western culture in the 21st century. The findings reveal that basic human behaviour has changed little over the millennia; however, factors influencing attitudes have undergone some change as society evolved. Ancient Greeks Life and death Love and affection Slaves and slavery Pre-Christian era Childhood Hellenistic period
4	Some reflections on ancient Greek attitudes to children as revealed in selected literature of the pre-Christian era De Bloemhead, Diana 05 1900 (has links) This study examines the ancient Greeks’ attitudes to children during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The investigation is limited to literary sources in selected pre-Christian texts. Problems which might bias interpretation have been noted. Parent-child relationships, as revealed in literary examples of parental love and concern, are of particular interest. Hazards affecting survival in early childhood, and factors which influenced attitudes regarding the fetus, abortion, exposure and infanticide are considered. Legal, political and socio-economic factors are amongst motivating forces. Childhood experiences such as education, sport, pederasty, step-families, slaves and slavery, preparation for marriage, and deprivation due to war and environmental factors are also examined. Ancient attitudes to children are compared with modern attitudes to children in similar situations prevailing in Western culture in the 21st century. The findings reveal that basic human behaviour has changed little over the millennia; however, factors influencing attitudes have undergone some change as society evolved. Ancient Greeks Life and death Love and affection Slaves and slavery Pre-Christian era Childhood Hellenistic period
5	An exploration of the changing understandings of physical impairment and disability in early medieval England: a bioarchaeological, funerary, and historical approach Bohling, Solange N., Croucher, Karina, Buckberry, Jo 28 April 2023 (has links) Yes / This paper explores experiences and perceptions of physical impairment and disability in early medieval England, contrasting pre-Christian (AD 5th–early 7th centuries) and Christian (AD late 8th–11th centuries) communities through a combination of bioarchaeological, clinical, funerary, historical, and theoretical analyses. By comparing understandings of physical impairment and disability in the pre-Christian and Christian periods, this paper investigates how political rearrangements and the growing power of the Church might have influenced changing contemporary perceptions of physical impairment and disability. This research has found that the funerary treatment of individuals with physical impairment in the pre-Christian period was extremely variable within and between cemeteries, and there is evidence for arguably positive, normative, and potentially negative burial treatment. Although mortuary treatment of Christian-era individuals with physical impairment was somewhat variable, this variation was much more subtle. This reflects the overall Christian-era pattern in burial form, and strongly negative or positive mortuary treatment was not identified among the individuals with physical impairment. Based on this evidence, it is proposed that administrative and judicial standardisation, conversion to Christianity, and the spread of Christian morals and doctrine influenced the reduction in mortuary variability observed in individuals with physical impairment and/or disability in the 8th–11th centuries in England. Medieval England Physical impairment Disability Bioarchaeological approach Funerary approach Historical apporach Pre-Christian periods Christian periods
6	Die skrifbeskouing van die vroeë kerkvaders uit Afrika (veral Tertullianus en Augustinus) en hulle relevansie vir Suidelike-Afrika (Afrikaans) Odendaal, Johann Wilhelm Smallberger 29 October 2007 (has links) Scripture is God’s Word in human language – a truth reflected over 2000years of Church history. Without this truth, proper knowledge of God is impossible. All human efforts to come to a true and meaningful understanding of God, lead to a variety of religious “isms.” The pluralism, post-modernism and post-Christian society of the 21st century, brings its own challenges. Words mean nothing and truth is relative. There are, however, unique resemblances with the pluralism, pre-modern and pre-Christian society of the patristic. From a historical-theological perspective, the researcher points out that these resemblances could shed light on the current burning issue around the authority of Scripture. This historic continuity with the patristic and apostolic tradition is addressed in relation to Tertullian and Augustine. Both these Church Fathers had to give Biblical answer to the burning issues of their day that sought to undermine the authority of Scripture. The patristic’s emphasis on the authority of Scripture, stems from the unique unity between the Old and New Testament. It finds expression in the Apostolic preaching – regula fidei – the rule by which sound theology and godly living is guaranteed. Their historical-literal method of Biblical exegesis reflects a Christian worldview in contrast to the secular worldview of their day. In conclusion the researcher points out the relevance of this study for Southern-Africa. The confusion within the ranks of society, and the disillusionment of hundreds of thousands in Africa concerning the role of the Church, ask for clear direction and uncompromising answers on the fundamentals of the Christian faith with the framework of the authority of Scripture. / Dissertation (MA (Church History))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Church History and Church Polity / unrestricted Pre-modern Contextual Regula fidei Truth Christian worldview Formulation Exegesis Historical continuity Relevance Post-christian Authority Scripture Tradition Pluralism Pre-christian Post-modernism UCTD
7	De heliga källornas värld : En fallstudie om källkulternas kontinuitet i Mellan- och Sydsverige / The world of the sacred springs : A case study on the continuity of the spring cults in central and southern Sweden Lindström, Karin January 2024 (has links) Den här uppsatsen undersöker källkulten i Mellan- och Sydsverige, där syftet är att ta reda på om en kultkontinuitet eller diskontinuitet finns. Studien utgörs av tre fallstudie bestående av tre heliga källor, Svinnegarns källa, Gödåkers brunn samt Flistad brunn. Utöver fallstudierna undersöks heliga källor ur ett historiskt, sakralt och folkloristiskt perspektiv för att ge förståelse för seder och trosuppfattningar som angår heliga källor i Sverige. Studien söker efter data föratt styrka kultkontinuitet i källkulten. Kultkontinuitet fungerar därför som ett ramverk genom uppsatsen. Med en komparativ metod, samt genom litteraturstudier, nådde uppsatsen slutsatsen att en kultkontinuitet finns i källkulten. Källkulten har genomgått flera förändringar över tid och den huvudsakliga faktorn som varit drivande i kultens utveckling är kristendomen och kyrkan. / This essay investigates the spring cult in central and southern Sweden, where the aim is to find out whether cult continuity or discontinuity exists. The study consists of three case studies covering three sacred springs, Svinnegarns spring, Gödåkers well and Flistad well. In addition to the case studies, sacred springs are examined from a historical, sacral, and folkloristic perspective to provide an understanding of customs and beliefs concerning holy springs in Sweden. The study searches for data to substantiate cult continuity in the spring cult. Cult continuity therefore serve as a framework throughout the essay. With a comparative method and literature studies, the essay reached a conclusion that cult continuity exists in the spring cult. The spring cult has undergone several changes over time and the main factor that has been driving the cult's development is Christianity and the church. Holy springs wells spring cult water history sacrifice pre-Christian time Christian era folklore archaeology Heliga källor brunnar källkult vatten historia offer kult förkristen tid kristen tid folktro arkeologi History and Archaeology Historia och arkeologi Philosophy, Ethics and Religion Filosofi, etik och religion Archaeology Arkeologi History Historia

1

Page generated in 0.0532 seconds