Some Commonality in Differences
Two Cultures [Religion]
Ifá Norse
Scriptures (holy words) held in oral poetry [Odu]
God-forms anthropomorphic Gods
reified humans
ritual sacrifice blood sacrifice includes
chickens
trance both possession and ecstatic
trance - [priests and
Egungun (ancestor actors)
and even those who are only
initiated can (in some cases
often do) go into wild trance
dancing / babaláwo use
quiet ecstatic trance in their
divinations]
burial people were buried with
important objects for use in
the afterlife
Written language The Yoruba had access to
the Mediterranean
languages early, through
trade, and then Arabic
through conversion and
culture. They deliberately
decided not to use it, at least
for holy stories and ritual
use.
environmental conditions Extreme climate [hot &
humid]
occupation main occupations were
farming and trade - cities
important
family type housing is a compound
[many smaller buildings
within a wall] to include the
whole extended family
female role strong female roles [women
rule the marketplace, and
hold all the money]
held in oral poetry [Eddas &
Sagas]
anthropomorphic Gods
reified humans
blood sacrifice includes
chickens
both ecstatic and possession
trance - [priests use ecstatic
trance for divination,
worship, and spell-casting.
People can also go into
possession trance, called
wód. Wód can all take over a
person into such states as
berserk rage, inspired
poetry, or healing by laying
on of hands
people were buried with
important objects for use in
the afterlife
The Norse written language
was designed to be carved in
stone. That is not the kind of
writing that you use for
making shopping lists or
sending love letters. It was
used in magic and
memorials.
Extreme climate [cold &
damp]
main occupations were (and
are) farming and trade [with
some raiding, called viking] -
cities important to
government (not people in
general)
housing is a building
[longhouse] to house the
extended family
strong female roles [women
are head of household and
household can include entire
 countries]
practiced slavery practiced slavery
Personalities are known to Personalities are known to
run in families, not totally by run in families, not totally by
individuals individuals