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(1915)]] The temple is sparsely documented, but it is referenced in the Norse Saga s and Saxo Grammaticus' '' Gesta Danorum ''. It is also described by Adam Of Bremen . The chief controversies concerning the temple focus specifically on determining 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 and consecrated on top of older pagan temples and other sites that witnessed ritual activities. In 2003 and 2004, scientists using Ground Penetrating Radar found the remains of what was interpreted as three wooden Feasting Halls dated from the 11th century, with at least one of them directly under the currently standing cathedral. Snorri Sturluson wrote that the temple had been built by the god Freyr , who allegedly used to reside at Uppsala. Snorri and Saxo Grammaticus both claimed that it was Freyr who began the tradition of human sacrifices at the temple site. The Norse Saga s, Saxo Grammaticus and Adam Of Bremen describe the sacrifices at Uppsala as popular festivals that attracted people from all over Sweden. Many of these sources provide accounts of human sacrifice for the Norse gods. The Temple at Uppsala was probably destroyed by King Ingold I in 1087 during the last known battle between the pagans and the Christians. In the year 2000 , a Blót was performed at Old Uppsala . This was almost certainly the first event of its kind at that location in 900 years. It was done by Swedish Heathen Ásatrú er. SURVIVING ACCOUNTS Adam of Bremen ' '' Historia De Gentibus Septentrionalibus '' ( 1555 )]] and Birka . A golden chain was around the temple hanging over its gables. The chain could be seen glittering far and wide for those who approached. It stood on flat ground surrounded by Mound s like a theatre. Inside the temple, which was richly decorated with gold, there were three statues of gods. The most important god, Thor sat on a throne in the centre and beside him sat the gods Odin (called ''Wotan'' by Adam) and Frey (called ''Fricco'' by Adam). Thor was said to govern the air, thunder, lightning, winds, rain, good weather and harvests. Odin, which meant the furious, brought war and gave strength against enemies. Frey who gave peace and pleasure was represented by a statue with an immense Phallos . Odin's statue was armed, and was likened to Mars and Thor was likened by Adam to Jupiter . The people also worshiped heroes who had been elevated to gods, such as king Erik about whom it is told in Vita Ansgari . There were priests appointed for the gods, and if plague or famine threatened they sacrificed to Thor, whereas they sacrificed to Odin for war and to Frey for marriages. The tradition was that every ninth year, there was a great feast at the Vernal Equinox which was attended obligatorily by all Swedes. Not long ago, a Christian king named ''Anund'' ( Anund Gårdske ) had refused to sacrifice to the gods and had left gladly for his faith. All the kings and the people brought gifts to Uppsala and even the Christians had to redeem themselves by attending, which Adam found to be distressing. There were feasts and sacrifices for nine days and each day they sacrificed a man and animals so that when the nine days had passed seventy-two men and animals had been sacrificed. They offered nine male heads of every living thing that was used in sacrifices, even dogs and horses together with the men (the remaining were probably rams, cocks, pigs, goats and bulls) and the bodies hanged in the Sacred Grove adjoining the temple. Every tree in the grove was sacred due to the death and decomposition of the corpses. A 72-year-old Christian had seen the corpses hanging arbitrarily from the branches and reported that the songs sung were many and improper. Adam considered it best not to be more specific about their content. Heimskringla (1830)]] 13th Century Icelandic historian and mythographer Snorri Sturluson tells of a temple that was built in Uppsala by the god Freyr : Odin took up his residence at the Maelare lake ( Mälaren ), at the place now called Old Sigtun . There he erected a large temple, where there were sacrifices according to the customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself the whole of that district, and called it Sigtun (by some suggested to be the same as Tacitus 's Frey built a great temple at Upsal, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land, and goods. Then began the Upsal Domains , which have remained ever since. But after Frey was buried under a Cairn at Upsala, many chiefs raised cairns, as commonly as stones, to the memory of their relatives. He also relates that there were human sacrifices in Uppsala, which may have taken place at the temple: Domald took the heritage after his father Visbur , and ruled over the land. As in his time there was great famine and distress, the Swedes made great offerings of sacrifice at Upsal. The first autumn they sacrificed oxen, but the succeeding season was not improved thereby. The following autumn they sacrificed men, but the succeeding year was rather worse. The third autumn, when the offer of sacrifices should begin, a great multitude of Swedes came to Upsal; and now the chiefs held consultations with each other, and all agreed that the times of scarcity were on account of their king Domald, and they resolved to offer him for good seasons, and to assault and kill him, and sprinkle the stalle of the gods with his blood. And they did so. After Ole 's fall, On returned to Upsal, and ruled the kingdom for twenty-five years. Then he made a great sacrifice again for long life, in which he sacrificed his second son, and received the answer from Odin, that he should live as long as he gave him one of his sons every tenth year, and also that he should name one of the districts of his country after the number of sons he should offer to Odin. Moreover, he writes that many people gathered in Uppsala for these sacrifices: Onund 's district-kings were at that time spread widely over Sweden, and Svipdag the Blind ruled over Tiundaland , in which Upsal is situated, and where all the Swedish Things are held. There also were held the Mid-winter Sacrifices , at which many kings attended. One year at midwinter there was a great assembly of people at Upsal, and King Yngvar had also come there with his sons. Alf, King Yngvar's son, and Ingjald , King Onund's son, were there -- both about six years old. They amused themselves with child's play, in which each should be leading on his army. According to Snorri, there was a main blót at the Temple at Uppsala in February, and they sacrificed for peace and for the victories of the king. Then the '' Thing Of All Swedes '' was conducted and there was a grand fair. This continued even after Sweden had been Christianized. The Dísablót was performed to see how large the next harvest would be."Disablot", '' Nationalencyklopedin ''. Gesta Danorum Like Snorri, Saxo writes of Frey's sacrifices in Uppsala: Also Frey, the regent of the gods, took his abode not far from Upsala, where he exchanged for a ghastly and infamous sin-offering the old custom of prayer by sacrifice, which had been used by so many ages and generations. For he paid to the gods abominable offerings, by beginning to slaughter human victims. He also writes that there were assemblies of people entertaining themselves: And when he ( Starkad ) had done many noteworthy deeds among them, he went into the land of the Swedes, where he lived at leisure for seven years' space with the sons of Frey ( House Of Yngling ). At last he left them and betook himself to Hakon, the tyrant of Denmark, because when stationed at Upsala, at the time of the sacrifices, he was disgusted by the effeminate gestures and the clapping of the mimes on the stage, and by the unmanly clatter of the bells. DESTRUCTION When Olof Skötkonung had been baptised he wanted to have it destroyed, but the Temple at Uppsala was probably destroyed by king Ingold I in 1087 during the last battle between the pagans and the Christians. The new cathedral of the Swedish Archbishopric was constructed on the site, and during an excavation of the church the remains of several major wooden constructions were found, which may be remains of the temple.The article ''Gamla Uppsala'' in '' Nationalencyklopedin '' (1992). The parish is also rich in ancient monuments and although most have been destroyed by agriculture, about 1000 of them remain. The three most prominent grave fields are the mound area with the royal mounds from the Age Of Migrations , whose dating agree with the information given in '' Ynglingatal '', an early iron age grave field of 200 graves, east of the village, and the prominent grave field of Valsgärde with Boat Grave s. Around the village, there are also several remains of grave fields, and the remains of the houses of the Swedish kings. Since the Iron age, the area has always been the property of either the Swedish king or the Swedish state (the centre of the Uppsala öd ). There is a museum and a restaurant where visitors among other activities can drink mead from horns. REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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