Symbols were very much a part of Viking’s life, depicting the various aspects that held the most meaning. Strength is one attribute that one can confidently attribute to the Vikings, given their ability to wage war and conquer their enemies. They had gods on their side, calling to them for strength, particularly during battle. Here, …
The Viking Age has generated significant interest in the public sphere, primarily based on their depiction in the media. After the myth that Vikings wore horned helmets got debunked, many were left wondering what else what real and what wasn’t. There are plenty of other Viking misrepresentations, but Vikings using horns for drinking a beverage …
Plan all we might, there is a significant part of our days that harbor uncertainty. For some, that brings a heightened level of fear and anxiety. Not being sure if something terrible will happen to us can profoundly affect the kind of day we’re having. That’s why it helps to have something that keeps ups …
In Norse culture, there was a strong belief in gods that ruled over various aspects of life. Themes, such as war, death, love, courage, strength, protection, and the like, could each be ascribed to one or more gods. There were male and female gods, but the nature of love and the emotion it evokes this …
War is a terrible time for many, whether you’re on the losing or winning side. Carnage is inevitable, and no life remains untouched. While that is true for physical wars, we tend to experience the same when fighting things in our personal lives. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the importance of not giving …
Did you know that the Swastika is the symbol of luck in Nordic culture? That might come as a surprise given its use during the German Nazi regime. Even so, it’s worth discovering the origins. Here, we are going to explore the Swastika’s symbolic use over millenniums and centuries before it became infamous. The Swastika …
Berserker was a kind of warriors in Norse mythology. They could shift into a state of wild frenzy when becoming angry, which enabled them to engage the enemy without armor. This was also the origin of in word “Berserker” in English. “Berserker” is composed of “Ber” and “Serk” and considered to originally mean “the warrior wearing …
The runes are the ancient Nordic characters mainly used in Scandinavia. Apart from being used in writing, they were also carved on the surfaces of animal hides, wood chips, stones, crystal, metal or jewels. In addition, they were used in divination as magical characters. The runes on every runestone describe the story and meaning of …
Yggdrasil, also known as the “World Tree” or “Universe Tree”, is an immense tree in Norse mythology. Its branches compose the world in Norse mythology. In Norse mythology, the lord god Odin’ spear Gungnir is also made of a branch from Yggdrasil. Odin once hung himself from a branch of this tree, pierced himself with …
Mjölnir, also known as Thor’s hammer, is the weapon used by Thor in Norse mythology. The hammerhead of Mjölnir is forged with the core part of a dying planet, while the hammer handle was made of a branch from the world tree Yggdrasil. Mjölnir is the weapon unexpectedly obtained by Loki when he is making …