Animals and humans recurrent symbiosis in archaelogy and old norse religion | 0:e upplagan

Animals have always been an important part of thehuman life-world, and they stand out as signifcantforces in the Old Norse mythology here they becameimaginary creatures with strong characters. In Animalsand Humans archaeologist Kristina Jennbert explores therelationship between animals and humans in Scandinaviafrom the Roman Iron Age to the Viking Period.Real animals and fantastical creatures in Midgard becamemouthpieces for human characteristics and reflections ofpeoples social position. Animals were of great importancein everyday life and in rituals, and as metaphors in social identity and power relations. In the course of time,however, the human view has changed, and nature hasincreasingly been subjected to humans. Through her detailed analysis, Jennbert raises questionsabout the boundary between human and animal, as wellas about our ethical and moral precedence.