Anders Askåsen

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Gods and Cults in Scandinavian Rock Carvings

The Bronze Age in Scandinavia is a period of significant societal changes where religious cult activity thrived. The rock carvings scattered throughout the landscape hold incredible cultural value and perhaps the key to unlocking the mystery of the religion of the time. However, the absence of written sources and the complexities of interpretation have left much of the meaning shrouded in enigma. The author, inspired by the local rock carvings in Askim and around western Sweden, aims to unravel their secrets, particularly their religious significance to the Bronze Age peoples. Although the interpretations of rock carvings vary, the author aims to identify religious elements and provide a complementary picture of their connections and parallels to later religious practices. The book explores the development of worldview from the Bronze Age to the Viking Age mythology and examines whether there are traces of cultural and religious exchanges with other parts of the world. By comparing the petroglyphs with symbolism worldwide, the author shows the intimate relationship between spirituality, religion, society, and humans. The book serves as a testament to the afterworld, attempting to shed light on the enigmatic Scandinavian petroglyphs and archaeologists' interpretations of them. Despite extensive studies of the petroglyphs, the mysterious and arcane nature of these ancient carvings often leaves more questions than answers.