IMC 2013: Sessions

Session 1202: Paranormal Encounters, III: Gods and Witches

Wednesday 3 July 2013, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	University of Iceland, Reykjavík / Icelandic Research Fund
Organiser:	Ármann Jakobsson, Reykjavik Academy, Reykjavik
Moderator/Chair:	Miriam Mayburd, University of Iceland, Reykjavík
Paper 1202-a	Divine Disabilities: The Old Norse Impaired Gods (Language: English) Kolfinna Jónatansdóttir, School of Humanities, University of Iceland, Reykjavík Index terms: Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Pagan Religions, Social History
Paper 1202-b	'Priest Ketill visits Rome': A joca sanctorum in Icelandic 14th-Century Hagiography (Language: English) Gunnvör S. Karlsdóttir, School of Humanities, University of Iceland, Reykjavík Index terms: Hagiography, Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Religious Life
Paper 1202-c	The Best Defense is a Good Offense: The Battle of Hjörungavágr (Language: English) Þórdís Edda Jóhannesdóttir, School of Humanities, University of Iceland, Reykjavík Index terms: Folk Studies, Gender Studies, Historiography - Medieval, Language and Literature - Scandinavian
Abstract	The session is one of four formed by the Icelandic 'Encounters with the Paranormal' project.The project is directed towards how the paranormal (supernatural, occult) is defined in medieval Iceland. Its appearances in various types of medieval texts, e.g. Sagas of Icelanders, Sturlunga saga, bishops' sagas, the Eddas and legendary sagas, will be surveyed. The main focus of the project is on one hand how the paranormal is defined and categorised, specifically relating to the concepts which are used and their meaning. On the other hand the focus is on the experiences of individuals and their access to the uncanny and the otherworld. This session focuses on wielders of the paranormal and their social status.