Temple at Uppsala

The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times.

Related Topics:
Temple - Gamla Uppsala - Uppsala - Sweden - Norse gods - Ancient

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The temple is only sparsely documented, but it is referred to in the Norse sagas and Gesta Danorum, and it is described by Adam of Bremen. The chief controversies are exactly where in Old Uppsala the temple was located and whether or not it was a building. Some believe that the temple was confused with the hall of the Swedish kings (located some tens of metres to the north of the present church). Churches were usually built on top of previous pagan temples, and during an excavation of the church, the remains of one, and possibly several, large wooden buildings were found.

Related Topics:
Norse saga - Gesta Danorum - Adam of Bremen - Hall

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Snorri Sturluson wrote that the temple had been built by the god Frey who used to reside at Uppsala. Snorri and Saxo Grammaticus claimed that it was Frey who began the human sacrifices. The Norse sagas, Saxo Grammaticus and Adam of Bremen describe the sacrifices at Uppsala as popular festivals attracting people from all over Sweden, and many of these sources provide accounts of human sacrifice for the Norse gods.

Related Topics:
Snorri Sturluson - Frey - Saxo Grammaticus - Norse saga - Adam of Bremen

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The Temple at Uppsala was probably destroyed by King Ingold I in 1087 during the last known battle between the pagans and the Christians.

Related Topics:
Ingold I - 1087

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In the year 2000, a blót was performed at Old Uppsala. This was almost

Related Topics:
2000 - Blót - Old Uppsala

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certainly the first one in 900 years. It was done by the Swedish Asatrúer.

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