Did you know that the Scandinavian image of Satan absorbed traits of trolls, water spirits, and household spirits—and over time became one of the causes of the most ruthless witch hunts in history? Who and for what purpose made deals with the devil, what happened at the sabbaths, and what does a calfskin have to do with it? Open the book created based on the sagas and court materials to plunge into a dark yet captivating world of magic, feasts on the Brocken (Lysaia Gora), and northern sorcery.
In Scandinavia, ideas about Satan were shaped not only by the biblical tradition. Gradually, local legends about the unclean—trolls, household spirits (tomten) and water spirits—were woven into the Christian worldview, and over time these beings came to be seen as manifestations of devilish power. Later, relying on state support, the church launched a campaign against “superstitions” and magical practices, which led to a wave of trials on accusations of witchcraft.
The book is devoted to the distinctive northern notions of the devil, demons, and witchcraft, and it examines in detail the causes and development of witch trials in the Scandinavian countries. Drawing on ancient sagas, legal codes, court protocols, and folkloric sources, the author leads the reader into a mysterious world of spells and descriptions of “feasts” on the Brocken (Lysaia Gora).
Who was most often declared a wizard or a witch? In what ways and under what conditions, according to beliefs, did people make a pact with the devil? What did they do at the sabbaths—and what do children, milk hares, and a calfskin have to do with it? These questions are answered by an engaging study of the phenomenon of northern witchcraft.