The Saga of Vanadís, Völva and Valkyrja

Names of goð or spells are found engraved with runes, as well as practical messages
concerning trade and personal matters. Images from known myths are also found
engraved on stones. The knowledge in the art of writing with the Latin alphabet came
from the British Isles. It is therefore most likely that all written material from early Island
has its roots not only in the Norse pagan culture and the old worldview of the people we
have learned to call Vikings, but is also deeply rooted in Celtic and Sámi cultures. Hilda
Ellis Davidson (1988), among many, has pointed out the strong relationship between the
Norse, Germanic and Celtic religions. We must remember, as well, that the Vikings were
extensive travelers, and brought knowledge from France, - called Valland in the literature
-, from Greece, the Roman Empire, Egypt (Einar Pálsson, 1970) and even Old North
America (The Vinland Sagas). Considering these facts I choose to define the old literature
as Islandic, not for nationalistic reasons, but to emphasize that in this country many
nations and cultures were gathered and together they created a hybrid island culture,
reflected in the old literature. The old literature referred to in this work is therefore Irish,
Scottish or Sámi as well as Norse, and it is even adorned with some Native American,
Cretan or Egyptian gems. Behind all of this there is a layer of an old but not entirely
forgotten culture, called Old European by Marija Gimbutas. I call it the Vanir layer. It is
from this layer that I hope to reveal glimpses in the process of remembering.
Finally we must be aware of the Christian influence in all the written material 29 .
Snorri Sturluson, who wrote both Snorra Edda and Heimskringla, two of the main
sources for Islandic pagan mythology, was a Christian man and although his knowledge
of and feeling for the old knowledge is remarkable, he is clearly influenced by those two
aspects, Christian and male. Most of the editors recording the myths were monks or other
27