We often talk about “the Vikings”, but the people that we think of today as Vikings were not in fact a homogenous group. They were northern Europeans from present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden whose culture thrived between the 8th and 11th centuries. They also shared a seafaring culture of exploration, trade, and also pillaging. They…
The idea of Mimir catches the imagination as he is described as the disembodied head of an extremely intelligent being. He exists in a place at the base of the world where the wise, including Odin himself, travel to consult him and gain his wisdom. It is little surprise that Mimir has become a pop-culture…
Ragnar Lothbrok is the most famous Viking we know about today. But he was at least as famous for the vast number of warrior sons that he fathered as he was for his own exploits and deeds. Ragnar seems to have had at least nine sons and two daughters, though different sources record different lineages…
When God of War moved from its Greek mythology timeline to Norse mythology, they took their Greek protagonist Kratos and placed him in the Norse world. Some fans might be wondering how historically accurate this move is. Sadly, I have to tell you that this is complete fiction and that the game makers have taken…
Those of us who loved the History Channel’s Vikings series and watched it more than once on Netflix were devastated when it came to an end (even if the final season wasn’t quite as good as the ones that went before). Netflix, knowing when it was onto a good thing, promised us a new series…
One of the incredible things about the Vikings is how much of the world they discovered, more than 500 years before Christopher Columbus landed in America while looking for India – someone took a major wrong turn on the way! Meanwhile, the Vikings not only raided across mainland Europe by land and sea, but they…
Vikings fans are rejoicing that the latest version of the video game Assassins Creed is set in a world of Viking warriors and Norse mythology. In the game, you play the hero Eivor, which can be male or female depending on your preference. At some point during the game, you can devour a mushroom that…
I have heard quite a few people suggest that the image of Santa Claus, an important character in the Christain Christmas festival, is based on Odin, the All-Father and principal Viking god. They make a good point. If you look at traditions surrounding Santa Claus, especially before Coca-Cola reimagined him for their brand in the…
When you read the Viking sagas one of the things that you will notice is that the Vikings seem to have drunk, a lot! Sharing alcohol played an important role in the social customs that cemented social hierarchies and political alliances, which is why drinking features so prominently in so many Viking stories. You can…
In modern stories of the Vikings, Norse warriors tend to be presented as enormous and towering over their European neighbors. But were the Vikings really taller and stronger than other people living in Europe at that time? The short answer is actually yes! When the Vikings first landed in England at the end of the…
Who Were the Danish Vikings?
Mimir: The Wise Advisor in Norse Mythology
Sons of Vikings: The Importance of Fatherhood in the Viking World
God of War: Kratos in Norse Mythology