Documentation and dissemination of the history of Denmark in Greenland and the Arctic

The database Greenlandic Myths and Stories is compiled by senior researcher Birgitte Sonne.

Greenlandic Myths & Stories consists of approximately 2150 translated stories or summaries and about 130 only registered. The materials used in the database are from collections by eg. Heinrich Rink, Knud Rasmussen, Gustav Holm, William Thalbitzer, Erik Holtved, Paul-Émile Victor, Jens Rosing, Otto Sandgren, Hans Lynge, Mâliâraq Vebæk and Martêraq Nielsen. Sonne has composed a comprehensive introduction to the database, which you can find here:

Search in the database >

 

Besides this Birgitte Sonne has written a comprehensive document (118 pages in Danish), in which she gives examples of how to use the database and how to interpret the stories. The document refers to these topics: 

  • Examples of using the database 
  • Translation of culture 
  • Changes of attitude
  • European merchandises 
  • Demographics and mobility
  • Traditional religion and Christianity
  • Pooq, bag, mother - a metaphor for life 

Download the document (PDF) here > 

"Greenlandic Myths & Stories" is compiled by Birgitte Sonne, born. 4. Jan 1936, MA in sociology of religion, retired in 2006 from Eskimology and Arctic Studies, Dep. of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. She still carries out research. 

Contact: bbsonne81@remove-this.gmail.com.