Norse society during the Late Scandinavian Iron Age.
Accounts of seiðr later made it into sagas and other literary sources, while further evidence has been unearthed by
Accounts of seiðr later made it into sagas and other literary sources, while further evidence has been unearthed by
archaeologists. Various scholars have debated the nature of seiðr, some arguing that it was shamanic in context,
involving visionary journeys by its practitioners.
Seiðr practitioners were of both sexes, although females are more widely attested, with such sorceresses being variously
Seiðr practitioners were of both sexes, although females are more widely attested, with such sorceresses being variously
known as vǫlur, seiðkonur and vísendakona. There were also accounts of male practitioners, known as seiðmenn.
Seiðr is believed to come from
Seiðr is believed to come from
Proto-Germanic *saiðaz, cognate with Lithuanian saitas, "sign, soothsaying" and Proto-Celtic *soito- "sorcery"
(giving Welsh hud, Breton hud "magic"), all derived from Proto-Indo-European *soi-to- "string, rope", ultimately from
the Proto-Indo-European root *seH2i- "to bind".