ABSTRACT

European Paganism provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of ancient pagan religions throughout the European continent.

Before there where Christians, the peoples of Europe were pagans. Were they bloodthirsty savages hanging human offerings from trees? Were they happy ecologists, valuing the unpolluted rivers and mountains? In European Paganism Ken Dowden outlines and analyses the diverse aspects of pagan ritual and culture from human sacrifice to pilgrimage lunar festivals and tree worship. It includes:

  • a 'timelines' chart to aid with chronology
  • many quotations from ancient and modern sources translated from the original language where necessary, to make them accessible
  • a comprehensive bibliography and guide to further reading

chapter |24 pages

Approaching Paganism

chapter |14 pages

Dividing the Landscape

chapter |19 pages

Focus I: Spring, Lake River

chapter |20 pages

Focus II: Stone and Tree

chapter |11 pages

Area I: Land

chapter |28 pages

Area II: Growth

chapter |18 pages

Christian Paganism

chapter |25 pages

Pagan Rite

chapter |21 pages

Pagan Time

chapter |11 pages

A Few Aspects of Gods

chapter |33 pages

Priests

chapter |17 pages

Cradle to Grave

chapter |17 pages

Unity is the Thing