Symbols were important to the Vikings. For the Vikings, the runes were more than just an alphabet. They believed that runes could not only describe the world as a written script, but, when used correctly, could also shape the world. This is why the Norns, the Norse Fates, wrote the destiny of men by inscribing…
While many of us were still grieving about the end of the History Channel’s epic Vikings series, Netflix threw us a lifeline and announced that it would be working with the same creators to make a sequel, Vikings: Valhalla. This new series will be set 100 years after the current show and will tell the…
It was not just Viking men, but also Viking women, that were known and feared as ferocious warriors. Of all the Viking shield maidens whose stories have been preserved, Freydis is probably the most ferocious. The daughter of Erik the Red, she travelled to Vinland in the Americas where she terrified the natives. She was…
If you know much about Viking history, you have probably come across the name Leif Ericson, the icelandic explorer. A son of Erik the Red, he was more than you typical Viking warrior. Leif Ericson was the 1st Viking explorer that visited North America, and also the man that brought Christianity to Greenland. With such…
There is little question that the Vikings have captured the imagination. We see them as romantic warrior figures that displayed intense bravery, a rugged style, and followed an intriguing and profound belief system. But while Vikings are fascinating figures from the past, Vikings do not belong exclusively to history. With a little bit of searching,…
Often when we think of Norse mythology, we think of the Aesir as the gods – similar to deities from other ancient religions, responsible for different areas of life such as war, love, and fertility – and the giants as the opposing malevolent force. But the truth is far less clear-cut. The Aesir and the…
Norse mythology is full of mythical objects and weapons owned by the gods and heroes. While the most well-known of these objects must be Mjolnir, Thor’s Hammer, arguably the most important was Gungnir, the spear of Odin. Odin was the king of the Norse gods, as well as the god of war and wisdom. His…
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…
