Thor and Ullr in the viking Hebrides? Placenames, landscape and archaeology
Résumé
In this article, I explore the landscape of two potential Norse theonyms to the gods Thor and Ullr in the Hebrides, particularly on the island of Lewis. Using a methodology that combines the local vicinity of the placename with topographical data (relation to bodies of water and agricultural potential) and archaeological evidence, as well as a comparison to known theonyms to Thor and Ullr in Norway, this article explores the potentiality of these placenames as theonyms. I argue that these placenames are likely theonyms to the gods Thor and Ullr. There are further ramifications for Norse theonyms on Lewis. The first is that they represent a different naming system than in the Norwegian homeland, illustrating the non-uniform nature of Scandinavian cultic practices. The second is that they are indicators of political power that is hierarchical but with multiple elite centres in the region.
Téléchargements
Téléchargements
Publiée
Numéro
Rubrique
Licence
The author (s) of the original submitted undertake to comply with the following:
- All authors are publicly responsible for it.
- The authors claim that this original is their own and that they assume full responsibility to third parties, whether moral or patrimonial, by reason of its content, stating that the work does not infringe any intellectual property rights of third parties.
- The author (s) agree to the copyrights of the original to Scandia Journal, to which they grant permission for its reproduction, editing and online publication.
- The author (s) grant their copyright of their original to the Scandia Journal, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows the sharing of this work with the acknowledgment of their authorship.
- The author (s) have permission and are encouraged to cite and distribute their original.
