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 mythological weapons wielded by the Norse Gods, according to Norse mythology. 1.…
Deep in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, just a few miles outside of Heavener, Oklahoma, stands a stone slab about 10 feet by 12 feet, chiselled with markings that have been identified as Norse runes. Many Norse runestones have been found across the United States. Most people believe that they are modern, created by…
According to Norse mythology, the cosmos is composed of nine discreet worlds, all of which are held together and connected by Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. Chief among these worlds, and situated high above the others in the heavens, is Asgard. This is the realm of the Aesir gods, the principal gods in Norse mythology.…
Aegishjalmr, better known as the Helm of Awe, is one of the best-known Norse symbols. It is a magical runic stave that offers warriors protection, as well as helping them draw on reserves of courage and strength. Power of the Runes Symbols were important in the Viking world. It begins with the runes, which the…
In 1898, a Swedish immigrant named Olof Ohman reported that he found a stone, measuring 30 x 16 x 6 inches in size, while clearing land he had acquired in Western Minnesota for farming. It weighed a hefty 202 pounds. The stone was found lying face down in wetlands covered by the roots of a…
The Viking world was full of symbols. Not only were they a powerful way to express ideas, but the Vikings also thought that symbols had power. The Vikings believed that their runes were more than just a script, they were also a magical tool that could be used to shape the world. Symbols were an…
Archaeologists have confirmed that the stories of Vikings sailing to the New World around 1000 CE. This is thanks to the discovery of a Viking-style settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows at the northern tip of Newfoundland in the 1960s, and other scattered archaeological evidence in this region of Canada. But before this archaeological confirmation, there…
Viking culture centered around community gathering and feasting, which provided social cohesion. Therefore, the modern idea of a Viking festival, where people with a shared interest in Norse history and Viking culture get together, would have seemed like a good idea in the Viking world. Modern Viking festivals are more about fun than marriage alliances…
The Vikings generally had a good diet, rich in animal proteins and much less reliant on grains than their southern neighbors. This is one of the main reasons why the Vikings were on average several inches taller than the English and the French, and why the English sometimes referred to the Vikings in England as…
Title image: Hermodr riding Odin’s steed Sleipnir to Helheim, by W.G. Collingwood 1908. Source: University of Victoria, Canada Before the rise of the motor vehicle, horses played an essential role in shaping human civilization. Horses were essential for everything from transportation to warfare. Viking society was no exception. Horses were functional tools, status symbols, and…
