The god Tyr is always listed as among the most important Viking deities in the surviving sources. For example, he is one of the 12 gods enthroned in high seats in the Skáldskaparmál. Despite that, Tyr is rarely mentioned in the surviving sources and we know very little about him. His name, Tyr, simply means…
According to the sagas, an enormous army of Vikings, assembled and led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, attacked England in 865 to avenge their father’s death at the hands of King Aella of Northumbria. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle called this the “Great Heathen Army,” which was larger than any previous invading force. The Viking army…
The Viking world was full of symbols, many of which have become popular designs for Viking tattoos (I may have one or two). Understanding what common surviving symbols meant to the Vikings and how they were used is a bit like putting together an historical puzzle. We look at archaeological evidence, surviving art, and often…
Title Image: Tin alloy dragon head found in Brika, Sweden, c. 750-900. Source: Science Nordic Dragons are important figures in many mythologies, including Norse. However, understanding Norse dragons can be difficult because almost everything we know about them comes from Christian sources, which project established Christian ideas about the mythical beasts onto the Norse stories.…
One of the Viking cities that has yielded the most fascinating Viking archaeological evidence is not in Scandinavia. York, or Jorvik in Old Norse, was a Viking outpost in Northumbria, England, for around 200 years following the arrival of the Great Heathen Army. As well as yielding fascinating archaeological finds, it is tied to some…
In 1066, the Vikings had a very good claim to the throne of England. Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, set sail to assert his rights. But an invasion that could have seen the Vikings overrun England ended in disaster when they were defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Moreover, by splitting the English resources…
The Vikings firmly believed in life after death, as indicated by the elaborate burial practices, which ensured that people were able to take what they needed with them from this life into the next. They also believed in multiple different afterlives, most of which were a reflection of this life. Where you ended up depended…
Belts, a very useful accessory, have been around since ancient times. They have been worn since the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC), and those worn by the Greeks and Romans would look familiar today. The Vikings also wore belts that would not be too out of place in a modern wardrobe. The belt itself was…
Many people are familiar with the Oseberg ship burial, as it is one of the most famous and well-preserved ship burials surviving from the Viking age. It is known for its elaborately decorated ship, unusual Buddha bucket, and the two enigmatic women buried inside. Fewer people know that it is one of our few sources…
While Loki is often cast as the major villain in retellings of Norse mythology, it is actually Loki’s children who are some of the most terrifying creatures in Norse tales. The children of Loki with the giantess Angrboda were Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel. These children were feared and persecuted by the Aesir gods, acts that…
