According to Norse mythology, men live in Midgard, the world of mortal beings, and the gods live in Asgard, the world of the divine. But these are only two of the many worlds that make up Norse cosmology. According to Norse mythology, there are nine realms, all of which are nestled in the Tree of…
The vast majority of stories about the gods in Norse mythology focus on the likes of king Odin, invincible Thor and trickster Loki. There are also stories about Balder, Freyr and Heimdall. But just like the world of men, the realm of the gods was populated by both men and women. While the Norse goddesses…
At the centre of Norse mythology is Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. This mighty tree held together the nine worlds of Norse mythology and connected the Vikings living in the world of men with the fantastic worlds of the gods and giants. But what exactly was Yggdrasil, where did it sit in the Norse cosmos,…
What is Ragnarok? The Real Story 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 take significant liberties for the sake of entertainment and the continuity of their timeline. What really happens in…
When we imagine the Viking diet, we probably think of a group of warriors roasting meat, which they have hunted, over and open fire and eating it with their bare hands while drinking mead. While the Vikings ate a lot of meat, and certainly liked their drink, the Viking diet were more sophisticated that campfire…
Norse mythology is full of gods and goddesses with mysterious powers and fantastic tales. Of all the Viking gods recorded in Norse mythology, none is described as more beloved by both the gods and men as Balder. But who was, Balder, this most blessed among all the gods? And why is this celebrated Viking god…
As well as being warriors that terrified and raided their neighbors, the Vikings had a rich culture with elaborate religious beliefs, sophisticated literature, stunning art, and, of course, traditional music. Our knowledge of Viking age music, like our knowledge of the traditional music of many cultures, is limited. We do not really have any idea…
Death was an essential part of life for the Vikings. A warrior people, death on the battlefield was common and considered an honorable and even desirable end. Living before the epoch of modern medicine, for the Vikings disease could be rampant and minor accidents fatal. Death also meant significant changes in the lives of the…
If we believe popular culture, the Vikings were very fashionable people! But when we take away the glamour added for the television cameras, what do we really know about Viking clothes? Farmers and warriors living in some of Europe’s colder climates, Viking clothes were comfortable, warm and functional. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t…
Considering the warrior lifestyle of the Vikings, it is no surprise that weapons played an important role in Norse mythology. Almost all the Norse gods had special magical weapons that enhanced their warrior abilities. Here are 10 of the most interesting and powerful norse mythological weapons wielded by the Norse Gods according to Norse mythology.…
