Norse mythology is full of fantastic objects that had special powers or symbolism. The vast majority of these were associated with men, and in particular the male gods of Asgard, and reveal much about the characters and powers of these deities. In contrast, very few are associated with the female goddesses of Norse mythology, about…
Norse mythology is full of incredible creatures and fantastical treasures. The golden boar Gullinbursti, which belonged to the god Freyr, was both a beast and a treasure, and the fylgia of the god Freyr. What did the strange entity Gullinbursti represent to the Vikings? Freyr: God of Fertility and Virility Gullinbursti was an attribute of…
Thor’s Hammer, Mjolnir, is the most iconic object from Norse mythology. This was true in Viking times as well as today. Mjolnir is by far the most common Viking amulet found, and its use survived well into the Christian period as a symbol of continued allegiance to the old faith. But where did Mjolnir, the…
Norse mythology is full of enchanted objects that enhanced the powers of the Viking gods. One such object was Draupnir, a powerful ring that belonged to the god Odin, the king of the Norse gods. But why was Odin’s ring an important objects in the Nose world? The Dripper Odin’s ring Draupnir, which means “dripper”…
While we might think of Loki as the major villain of Norse mythology, it is actually Loki’s children that are some of the most terrifying and interesting creatures in the Viking stories. The children of Loki with the giantess Angrboda were Fenrir, Jormungandr and Hel. Loki’s children with the giantess were feared and persecuted by…
In most ancient cultures we encounter ideas of magic, witchcraft and shamanism. Norse society is no different. The Viking witch was known as a Völva, and they were considered to be powerful seeresses, shamans as well as workers of Seidr magic. Read on to find out more about these Viking witches, the powers these Volva…
While the surviving Norse sources have a lot to say about the exploits for Odin, Thor and Loki, relatively little information is preserved about the majority of the other Norse deities. Instead, we are left to piece them together from the etymology of their names, passing references in the surviving prose, and surviving depictions. Sigyn…
Hel, goddess of death, could there be a more fearsome being in the world of Norse mythology? But don’t be taken-in by the portrayal of the Norse goddess of death in the Marvel universe. While the Norse goddess was the ruler of the underworld, she was never represented as pure evil. Hel was a more…
Norse mythology is full of fearsome beasts with the power to wreak havoc over the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos. One of the most important and dangerous among them is the mighty Norse wolf Fenrir. A beast of terrifying strength, he stands out among the Norse beasts as he is destined to kill Odin…
As modern Viking culture surges, and TV shows such as Vikings bring the Viking look into popular culture, Viking inspired men’s hairstyles have been making a comeback. But how historically accurate are the Viking haircuts that we are seeing today? Did Nordic hairstyles really include long hair, undercuts, braids and man buns? The short answer…
Brísingamen
Gullinbursti: The Golden Boar
Mjolnir, thor’s hammer
Ring of Odin