Iceland's first temple to the Nordic gods in more than 1,000 years is set for construction this month, part of a growing trend in modern-day Norse paganism on the island nation, Reuters reported.
In the age of the Vikings, people in Scandinavia worshiped a collective of Norse gods, including the leader Odin who rode an eight-legged horse and his son Thor who wielded a mighty hammer.
But that system of worship gave way to Christianity and seemed to have modern representation only in Marvel comics until about 10 years ago when it was revised by a neo-pagan group dedicated to carrying on Norse traditions.
The group, named Ásatrúarfélagið, or the Asatru Association, has seen its membership more than triple to 2,400 in 2014.
They do not take legends of the Norse gods literally, but sees them as offering insight on life, Reuters reported.
"I don't believe anyone believes in a one-eyed man who is riding about on a horse with eight feet," Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, the group's high priest, told the news agency.
"We see the stories as poetic metaphors and a manifestation of the forces of nature and human psychology."
Followers of neo-paganism hold the same ceremonies practiced centuries ago, including the ritual of Blot involving animal sacrifices along with eating, drinking and music. But today's rituals are carried out without the animal slaughter, Reuters noted.
With the new temple, the group will be able to host weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies like other faiths do. The round structure will be dug 13 feet down into a hill, where it will have a view overlooking Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
Sunlight will cascade down into the space through a dome on top, Reuters reported.
"The sun changes with the seasons so we are in a way having the sun paint the space for us," Hilmarsson said.
