ABSTRACT
One of the most influential texts in the archaeology of South Scandinavia was written by Adam of Bremen in 1076. This describes the monuments of Gamla Uppsala and the rituals that took place there. Its reliability has been questioned for it is clear that he depended on informants rather than his own observations, but nevertheless his account refers to three important elements. There was a kind of theatre at the site, from which an audience might watch human and animal sacrifices taking place, and there was also a pagan temple:
In this temple, which is decorated entirely with gold, people worship images of three gods. The mightiest of them, Thor, has his throne in the middle of the room, with Odin and Frey sitting on either side of him. They are said to have the following meanings. Thor, people say, rules the air and commands thunder and lightning, wind and rain, sunshine and crops. Odin, meaning fury, governs war and gives man the strength to fight his enemies. The third, Frey, gives peace and enjoyment to mortals . . . They also worship men raised to the gods and granted immortality by reason of great deeds.
