The Temple to Thor and Odin

A rare pagan temple from the times of the Vikings was recently uncovered in Norway. The remains belong to a 1,200-year-old temple dedicated to the Old Norse gods, including Thor and Odin. Archaeologists found the remains of a large wooden building that was about 45 feet long, 26 feet wide, and around 40 feet high. It is thought to have been built during the eighth century and was used for god worship and sacrifices during the midwinter and midsummer solstices. A century later, Norse culture became known throughout Europe after the Vikings started raiding, trading, and colonizing different areas. This Old Norse temple is the first one found in Norway, but others were discovered in Sweden and Denmark before. The Norse called these buildings “god houses” and started building them in the sixth century. Archaeologists uncovered the foundations of this ancient building at Ose, which is a seaside village in western Norway. The excavations also revealed traces of early agricultural settlements from two thousand years ago. The remains of the temple dedicated to Thor and Odin are from a time when the Norse religious worship was getting more organized and ideological. It was patterned after Christian basilicas that travelers were observing in foreign lands. This resulted in Old Norse temples including a high tower above the roof, which is reminiscent of the towers on early Christian churches of the time. The shape of the wooden building can be determined by the post-holes that still remain, including the round central posts of the tower. This distinctive construction was only used in the making of god houses.