Library After Hours: Gods and Goddesses of the Viking World

with Dr. Lilla Kopár

Dr. Lilla Kopár, professor of medieval literature and culture at Catholic University joins us for Library After Hours to give a captivating talk on Norse mythology, gods and goddesses.

The fascinating stories of the Norse gods have long captured the imagination of people from the medieval period to modern days. Odin, Thor, Loki, and their companions inspired the world of Tolkien, the operas of Wagner, movies of the Marvel universe, and more. But what do we actually know about these deities, their cults, and the myths and legends that brought them to life?

This richly illustrated talk will provide an overview of Norse mythology and the religious practices of the Viking world, with the help of literary sources and the material evidence of art and archeology. We will discuss the history of the world from its creation from the body of Ymir to the dramatic events of Ragnarök, meet the key deities of the Norse universe, (from Odin, Thor, and Loki to Heimdall, Freyr, and Freya) and their fierce adversaries, and explore aspects of lived religion through rituals and religious objects.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we will pay special attention to goddesses, valkyries, and other female spirits, and explore the unique role of women in religion and magic. 

About Dr. Lilla Kopár: Dr. Lilla Kopár is Associate Professor of Medieval English Literature and Director of the Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Her research focuses on the visual culture of early medieval England, in particular on stone sculpture, on the iconography of myth and heroic legend, on visual storytelling, and on runic writing and inscribed objects in early medieval northern Europe. Her publications include Gods and Settlers: The Iconography of Norse Mythology in Anglo-Scandinavian Sculpture (2012) and articles on early medieval art and iconography of the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Greenland, on English and Scandinavian literary connections, on Old English time words, and on runic inscriptions. She also serves as co-director of the NEH-funded Project Andvari: A Digital Portal to the Visual World of Early Medieval Northern Europe.

Doors will open at 6:45 PM. Drop in event, registration is not required for this event. 
For questions, please email programs@ccplonline.org

Upcoming events