-
Gullinbursti and Hildisvíni: Boars as divine status symbols
More than just a huntable meal for a hungry horde, boars were seen by people in Viking societies as symbols of authority, divine power, and prosperity. Two in particular stood apart, regaled in Old Norse sources for their golden brilliance and warlike ability.6 months ago — Culture and religion -
Skíðblaðnir: Freyr's magical ship and its dwarf-made origins
People in Viking societies were some of history's best sailors, as their ships transformed the culture, economics, and politics of the age. Little wonder that their mythology has a rich maritime theme that runs through it, as epitomized by the magical ship Skíðblaðnir.7 months ago — Culture and religion -
The sky, according to the Vikings: Sun chariots, moon wolves, and world trees
In Norse cosmology, the sky was a dynamic backdrop that saw a host of beings, deities, and even trees animate it with an interplay of divine motion and cosmic struggle.10 months ago — Culture and religion -
Light and dark elves in Norse mythology
Are the two types of elves in Norse mythology – light and dark – but different sides of the same coin? And were these mythical creatures the subject, like the societies that invented them, of Christianization in the later medieval period?1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Faces of the Allfather: Odin's disguises in Grímnismál and Vafþrúðnismál
Two famous poems in the Poetic Edda reveal much about the mighty Norse Allfather as a god of wisdom, deception, suffering, and fate.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Norse mythology: Svalinn, the shield of legends
Svalinn, said to safeguard the earth from the harsh rays of the sun, stands out as a symbol of protection and resilience, as well as reflecting the Viking appreciation of harmony and balance found in the natural world.2 years ago — Culture and religion
