Goðdalir

Goðdalir (Old Norse: goð "gods", dalir "valleys") is a placename element found in Icelandic sagas and folklore, referring to valleys associated with heathen Norse gods or temples dedicated to them. The term suggests a valley, or valleys, considered sacred due to the presence of religious sites or perceived divine connection. Such valleys may have served as important locations for rituals, gatherings, or other religious activities in pre-Christian Iceland and Scandinavia.

The precise nature of a Goðdalir is open to interpretation. It could indicate a valley literally owned by a goði (chieftain/priest), or a valley where a temple (hof) dedicated to the Norse gods was located. It also could suggest a valley simply perceived as imbued with divine power or favored by the gods.

The existence of place names incorporating "Goðdalir" provides indirect evidence of pre-Christian religious practices and beliefs in the regions where they are found. Archaeological evidence and saga accounts would be needed to confirm the specific activities that occurred in a particular valley bearing the name.