[eis]

But the Vikings did have believes in afterlife. Later records of Valhalla or Folkvangr speak of that very clearly. There is also the fact that items were added to burried bodies which usually is done with the believe that these items would be useful for the deceased person in the afterlife.

[jacquesm]

> in pre-Christian Scandinavia there was no strong or even existing belief in a timeless afterlife

Pre-Christian Scandinavia is a rather long span of time.

[eis]

Well he mentioned Norse mythology and particularily the Vikings. The whole Pre-Christian Scandinavia of course is a way too wide a time span with very spotty historic records the further back we go.

[bigpeopleareold]

I was careful in using the book's words: "not a timeless afterlife" or suggesting at least "not eternal". Because we know what happens in the end :)

[eis]

While it's true that the afterlife was not eternal (Ragnarök) the same goes for the fame or legacy because the whole world is pretty much rebooted in their belief and with that the legacy vanishes.