The Heathen Hof: Resurrecting a Germanic Pagan Temple

A heathen hof, also referred to as a Germanic pagan temple, is the name given to a place of worship in the Germanic religion. These were pre-Christian temples found in various parts of Northern Europe, where Germanic paganism thrived. Such places of worship have been mentioned by various medieval writers, and some have even been preserved in the archaeological record. These sources of information allow us to have a unique glimpse into the world of the pagan Germanic belief system.

What’s a ‘Hof’?

The word ‘hof’ is said to have originally been used to denote a hall, after which it was also used to designate a court, and even a farm. It was only later on that it acquired its religious association as a place of worship. There are different opinions amongst scholars regarding the way these hofs functioned. Some, for example, argue that hofs were used exclusively for rituals, whilst others have suggested that they did not only serve a religious purpose, but were used also for feasting and dwelling.

Animal Sacrifice and Feasting

Heathen hofs, along with some of their associated rituals, have been mentioned in a number of medieval sources. For example, in Hakon the Good’s Saga, which is found in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla, there is a description of a sacrifice festival being carried out at Hlader. The sacrifices involved the slaughtering of all kinds of cattle, as well as horses. The blood of these sacrificed animals was then collected, and sprinkled over the altars, the interior and exterior temple walls, and the people gathered there. The meat of these animals was then boiled and given those attending the sacrifice.