When we think of the Norse gods, we think of the mighty Aesir gods: Odin, the god of war and wisdom; Thor, the god of thunder; and Heimdall, the ever-vigilant guardian. These were the gods of the mighty stronghold of Asgard that the Vikings believed brought order and security to the cosmos. But they were…
Like most ancient cultures, the Vikings believed in the supernatural and magic. They had their pantheon of gods, led by Odin the All-Father and his son Thor. They believed in other supernatural entities such as elves and trolls, and that the spirits of the dead lived on in other worlds. They also believed that while…
At the center of Norse mythology is Yggdrasil. This mighty ash tree is the backbone of the Norse cosmos, with the nine realms situated among its roots and branches. As such, it has become one of the most popular Norse symbols in the modern world. But what do we actually know about how the Vikings…
While the surviving Norse sources have a lot to say about the exploits of Odin, Thor, and Loki, relatively little information survives about most other Norse deities. Instead, we are left to piece together profiles of these gods from the etymology of their names, passing references in the surviving prose, and rare depictions. Sigyn is…
The Norse sagas often feel like modern soap operas when you read them, with the characters trapped in a cycle of love, betrayal, and vengeance. This is particularly true for the Volsunga Saga, probably the best-known of the Norse sagas, especially since it inspired Wagner’s Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.…
The Norse sagas often feel like modern soap operas when you read them, with the characters trapped in a cycle of love, betrayal, and vengeance. This is particularly true for the Volsunga Saga, probably the best-known of the Norse sagas, especially since it inspired Wagner’s Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.…
The Norse sagas often feel like modern soap operas when you read them, with the characters trapped in a cycle of love, betrayal, and vengeance. This is particularly true for the Volsunga Saga, probably the best-known of the Norse sagas, especially since it inspired Wagner’s Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.…
The Ynglinga Saga is one of the most important Old Norse sagas. It is one of the works composed by the Icelandic Christian scholar Snorri Sturluson in the 12th century. It is part of his Heimskringla and is based on a 9th-century Skaldic poem called the Ynglingatal by Thjodolfr of Hvini. The saga tells the…
If, like me, you are a fan of Old Norse symbols, then you have probably come across the “Web of Wyrd” described as a Viking symbol linked with ideas of fate and destiny. However, if you search for examples of the Web of Wyrd symbol from the Viking Age, you will be disappointed. The Web…
Any Viking enthusiast will be familiar with the Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok and the idea that Ragnarok is the story of the end of the world in Norse mythology. But Marvel takes significant liberties for the sake of entertainment and the continuity of their timeline. What really happens in the story of Ragnarok, and why…