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Gudrun & Ghost, Laxdale Saga
A scene from the 13th-century Icelandic Laxdæla Saga (anglicised as Laxdale Saga), which is set in the Viking Age (c. 790-1100). Illustration from "Vore fædres liv" : karakterer og skildringer fra sagatiden, collected and published by Nordahl Rolfsen, translated by Gerhard Gran., Kristiania: Stenersen, 1898.
Here, we see one of the saga's main characters, Guðrún, meeting a ghost:
That same evening that Thorkell and his followers were drowned, it happened at Holyfell that Gudrun went to the church, when other people had gone to bed, and when she stepped into the lichgate she saw a ghost standing before her.
He bowed over her and said, "Great tidings, Gudrun."
She said, "Hold then your peace about them, wretch."(Laxdæla Saga, ch. 76)
Questions & Answers
What is the oldest known image of a ghost?
- The oldest known image of a ghost is the Ghost Tablet from ancient Babylon dated to c. 1500 BCE.
How did an amulet protect one from a ghost or demon?
- The amulet was created in the image of a protective figure – a god, goddess, dog, sacred plant – and that image would invoke the power of that protector. In ancient Mesopotamia and China, a dog amulet would serve to protect you if you had no actual dog at your side.
Is Pazuzu an evil demon?
- The word “demon” in the ancient world had a different meaning than it does today. Pazuzu was a demon – meaning a supernatural entity neither good nor evil – and his image often appears on protective amulets and charms. Pazuzu was, unfortunately, misrepresented in the film The Exorcist, and is in no way associated with the Christian Satan.
Is Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, really haunted?
- Bhangarh Fort has a reputation as the most haunted place in India. Whether it really is, though, is a matter of personal belief. The site is closed from sunset to sunrise by order of the government, however, based on the belief that it is haunted and the living would be endangered visiting at night.
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License & Copyright
Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished.
Original image by Andreas Bloch (1860-1917). Uploaded by Emma Groeneveld, published on 07 December 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Public Domain. This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
