This chapter showcases the interdisciplinary work in the volume, work characterized by the use of data from various sources – archaeological as well as textual – in order to address both mythological concepts of the afterlife and ritual activities involving mourning and handling of the diseased.

This volume brings together scholars from archaeology, historical linguistics and comparative mythology to explore how early Indo-European communities imagined death and what lies beyond. From poetic visions of the afterlife to the ritual logic of cremation and the etymology of mourning, Indo-European Afterlives examines how the transition from life to death was conceptualized and ritualized across the Indo-European world. Topics include the eschatological power of poetry, the symbolic role of fire in funerary rites, linguistic reconstructions of underworld deities and rituals and the significance of mythic figures such as the Valkyries, the R̥bhus and Orpheus in navigating the boundary between life and the afterlife. By interweaving philological analysis, archaeological evidence and mythological narratives, the volume offers new perspectives on how notions of death and the beyond were embedded in early Indo-European belief systems. Interdisciplinary in scope, Indo-European Afterlives will appeal to scholars and curious readers alike.

This volume brings together scholars from different fields, exploring how early Indo-European communities understood and mythologized their natural and social environments. From sacred cattle and milk rituals to the chthonic symbolism of serpents and the mythological periphery of water, this interdisciplinary volume uncovers deep-rooted ecological imaginaries embedded in language, archaeology, and comparative mythology. With contributions spanning from the Indo-Iranian plains to the Baltic forests, the book reveals how beliefs about animals, agriculture and the household shaped Indo-European worldviews.

This introductory chapter presents an exploration of the concept of ecology in Indo-European studies, emphasizing its dual nature in encompassing both culture and nature. It highlights the pivotal roleof cattle in Proto-Indo-European societies, exploring their influenceon the economy, social structures and religious beliefs. The chapter furthermore discusses the integration of cattle in guest–host relations and the mythologization of cultural others, as well as the perceived threats to cattle and their symbolic significance.

This chapter deals with the phenomenon of milk-drinking snakes in Lithuanian and Latvian folklore and ritual practices. While this motif was predominantly documented during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, older chronicles provide evidence of the significance of snakes in early Baltic religious practices. This study aims to explore the origins of the Baltic house snakes and shed light on the ritual and folkloristic practices that involve milk and snakes within the Baltic tradition.

Current scientific advances are reshaping our understanding of prehistory, offering unprecedented insights into the movements and kinship patterns of prehistoric populations. These new advances provide us with detailed information on several aspects of the early speakers of Indo-European and their lives. However, the prehistoric humans that we know through bones and potsherds were once real people speaking real languages and having specific beliefs, mythological tales and poetic expressions.

With this book, we want to apply a multidisciplinary approach that combines historical linguistics, archaeology, and comparative religion in order to improve our understanding of the early speakers of Indo-European. The book is a collection of papers by specialists in historical linguistics, archaeology and comparative religion, each examining different facets of the early Indo-European speakers, including their language, culture, and religious practices.

This inaugural chapter introduces Indo-European Interfaces. By emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach that combines historical linguistics, archaeology, and comparative religion it intends to set the stage for future research and debate in this evolving field.

Många av världens språk är besläktade, vissa närmare än andra. Man brukar tala om olika språkfamiljer, varav den största är den indoeuropeiska. Dit hör såväl svenskan som flertalet europeiska språk, men även utomeuropeiska språk som hindi och persiska. Många ord har liknande ljudbild. Tänk på ett ord som näsa som ju heter nose på engelska, Nase på tyska, nos på ryska, nosis på litauiska, nasus på latin och så vidare. När man undersöker de indoeuropeiska språken i detalj visar det sig dessutom att de har en liknande struktur. Liksom orden går strukturen tillbaka på ett gemensamt ursprung.