spådommene

Spådommene refers to prophecies or predictions about the future. In Norwegian, the word spådom means a prophecy or divination, and spådommene is the definite plural: "the prophecies". The term stems from the verb spå, meaning to foretell, with the suffix -dom forming the noun and the definite plural ending -ene.

Historically, spådommene appear in many cultural expressions: in folklore, religion, and literature, as oracles, dreams, visions, signs, or interpreted events. In Norse and broader Scandinavian tradition, seers such as the vølve delivered prophetic utterances, and medieval and religious texts contain prophecies about kingdoms, fate, or eschatology. Outside these contexts, prophecies take forms in astrology, fortune-telling, and apocalyptic literature, as well as in modern fiction where prophecies drive plots.

Contemporary usage ranges from scholarly study of prophetic texts to entertainment and pseudoscientific practices. Many discussions emphasize that prophecies are culturally shaped and often interpreted as allegory or social commentary rather than deterministic forecasts. The term spådommene thus encompasses a broad category of predicted outcomes, across religious, literary, and popular contexts.