The Myths of the Vikings
Our Norse ancestors left us myths and stories that shaped our civilization -- and remain important today.
by Kyle Rogers (Introduction by Sam Francis, Ph.D)

American children are generally raised to read and study many of the world's myths and legends -- Greek mythology, the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, and of course the stories of the Bible. These are all excellent stories that impart many important lessons for children as well as adults, but one great body of myths that has helped shape our civilization in many ways we seldom realize is that of the Norse peoples of Northern Europe -- the Vikings, Danes, and other nations of ancient and medieval Scandinavia.

Many of these myths reveal ideas about man and the universe that philosophers of later ages pondered and wrote about -- the idea of "Ragnarok" or the end of the world and the world's rebirth resembles some of the philosopher Nietzsche's ideas in the late 19th century, for example -- and the myths hold up the martial and manly virtues of courage independence, and willingness to risk life and fortune for one's people that today are sneered at and dismissed by our intellectual elites.

Of course, the Norse myths are not really "true," but men and women believed in them for hundreds or thousands of years, and they helped shape the civilization our ancestors created and left to us. If we are to preserve the race and civilization they left us, we need to understand what they believed and thought, who they were, what they mean, and where they come from.

In Norse Mythology the center of the Universe is the world tree, Yggdrasill (pronounced IGG-drazil). Yggdrasill forms the frame of the universe and supports the world of men as well as the worlds of the Gods. Midgard, or 'middle earth,' was created from the body of Ymir for mortal men to live in. Ymir was a massive giant killed by Odin and his two brothers. The various parts of his body were used to create the sky, trees, rivers, rocks, and mountains. The Sun and the moon were put in the sky and pursued by wolves to create night and day. Odin breathed life into two trees to create the first man and woman.

Above Midgard was Asgard, the realm of the Gods. Beyond Asgard were the realms of the elves and others. Down by the roots of Yggdrasill was the realm of giants and Niflheim, the underworld.

Loki, the principal antagonist of Norse mythology, gave birth to numerous monsters, and his daughter Hel rules Niflheim. Loki is responsible for the death of the God Balder, which allows for the future doom of mankind known as Ragnarok. After the death of Balder, Loki is tied to a flat stone with the entrails of his own son. A giant snake is placed over him to drip venom on his forehead.
Preceding Ragnarok, men will break the bonds of kinship and commit murder and incest. The earth will be full of hatred. Then the wolves will devour the sun and moon, turning the world dark and bitter cold. Loki as well as other bound monsters will all be set free. Loki will lead an army of Frost Giants into war against the Aesir, the race of the Gods. jewelry box plans review

The Gods, giants, and mankind are wiped out. However, the universe experiences a new beginning with all evil wiped out. The earth becomes more fertile and beautiful than ever before. A new sun and moon are placed in the sky. One man and one woman are protected by Yggdrasill and survive to repopulate the earth, with some surviving children of the Gods to rule over them.
This was the basic theology of the Scandinavians, as well as the Angles, Saxons, and other Germanic peoples in pre-Christian times. Much of what we know about Norse mythology and Old Norse culture is due in large part to Snorri Sturluson. Born in 1179 and executed by the Norwegian king in 1241, Snorri was an Icelandic patriot, statesman, poet, and author who worked for Icelandic independence against Norway. Snorri is most famous for the Prose Edda, which consists of a narrative on Norse Mythology and Gylfaginning. Gylfaginning, or "Deluding of Gylfi," was written as a textbook on how to write poetry in the Old Norse form. Today the Prose Edda is the principle source of information on the Norse creation and end times mythology. The Prose Edda inspired other Icelanders to commit oral myths to book form and create a collection of literature now known as the "Icelandic Sagas." All the Sagas were written in the same time period, from 1200 to around 1230. Some of the Sagas describe Germanic history as far back as the Hun invasion, while others are accounts of life in 10th and 11th century Iceland. Buy Balenciaga Navy Covered Giant Money

Snorri wrote that the Norse people and culture originated near the Black Sea. He wrote detailed accounts of old kings who became deified as Gods. Thor, he says, was a Trojan who ruled over Thrace. A later king named Odin would lead his people into Germany. As Odin traveled north he appointed his three sons to rule over what is now France and Germany. When Odin reached Scandinavia, he appointed twelve chieftains and drew up laws based on those of Troy.

It is not known where Snorri obtained his detailed knowledge of Norse origins, however modern archeology has recently validated his most basic claim. Scandinavian and Russian archeologists have discovered sites with Norse artifacts around the black sea. The sites date from around the time of Christ. They believe that this is the area where Norse culture originated.

Scholars believe that the worship of Odin originated around 300 A.D. Odin is called the All-Father and lives in Valhalla, the hall of kings. Odin has two wolves, two crows, and a host of beautiful winged females known as Valkyries. The Valkyries are the "choosers of the slain," as they choose who is most worthy of Valhalla by selecting them to die in combat and then transporting them to Valhalla. In Valhalla, the men fight each day to train for Ragnarok. In the evening those killed are raised again and everyone feasts and drinks together. The belief that the Valkyries choose who dies reflects the proud warrior culture.

Contrary to popular belief, Odin is not the chief God worshipped by the Norse. Whereas Christians conform to the image of Christ, the Old Norse had numerous archetypes to choose from. The ruling class and professional soldiers worship Odin. Odin is also a treacherous god, who is known to deceive and abandon his followers at any time.

Odin gave the Norse runic alphabet to the Norse in a story that seems based on that of the crucifixion of Christ. Odin voluntarily allows himself to be hung from Yggdrasill for three days with a spear stuck in his side. He does this to memorize the runes, which are written on the tree to give them to mankind. However, the theme is unlike that of the crucifixion and more like Asiatic shamanism.
The main god worshipped by the Norse middle class was Thor. Thor was a righteous and just god who protected mankind from the Giants. Thor had a hammer named Moljnir he used to kill Giants. Thor is a God that the Norse could relate to because he makes human mistakes and is willing to show humility. Replicas of the Hammer of Thor are used to consecrate brides at weddings. Married men wear a small Hammer of Thor around their neck as a fertility symbol. The swastika, which stood for righteousness, was also a symbol of Thor. Kannst Du machen er selber oder hilfe bei seminararbeiten, Arbeiten in Geographie.

There are many other Gods as well. Odin and Thor are from the Aesir family of Gods. There is a rival family of Gods, with which the Aesir are sometimes in conflict called the Vanir. The origin of the Vanir Gods probably comes from people who adapted to the worship of Odin and Thor but incorporated their original Gods into the same mythology. Loki is the definite Satan figure in Norse mythology. He is not an Aesir or Vanir but a different type of being. Loki works against the Gods and mankind to bring chaos, but is tolerated by the Gods.

There are also numerous female Gods. Frigga is the wife of Odin and the celebrated Goddess of Fertility.
We also know a great deal about Norse culture and lifestyles from the sagas. Far from being the barbarians that Hollywood often depicts, the Norse were accomplished farmers, city builders, and explorers. Their governments were democratic and centered around yearly gatherings called All-things. Poetry was very important to the Norse and the classic Norse prose was greatly prized. In order to be considered a great warrior you must also be able to write poems. The Norse did have a written language that was carved into countless monuments, however it was probably not widely use by the public on a day-to-day basis.

The Norse had rigid gender roles, which were complementary and harmonious to the family unit. Women were expected to be feminine and men masculine. Wearing clothes for the opposite gender was one of the few reasons that allowed your spouse to divorce you. In the Norse sags women are treated with respect, chivalry, and have influence in decisions. Arranged marriage is shunned in the sagas. This is a far cry from Asiatic and African cultures where women have no rights, no influence, and are bought and sold as property.

Contrary to what is promoted by the New Age, the Norse viewed witchcraft as a deviancy.
The beekeepers held a high status in Norse society because they made mead, an alcoholic drink produced from honey that was associated with fertility. The term "honeymoon" comes from the Norse practice of drinking mead after weddings. Mead corrects the pH balance in a woman's body to increase the chance of conception.

The term "Viking" is actually a verb. Young men would "go Viking" by leaving in exploration and war parties. Similar to the practices of Greek and Roman societies, it was customary for young men to go out and make a name for themselves before settling down to marry. What is now known as the "Viking Age" lasted from June 8th 793 until October 15th 1066.

Prior to 793 A.D. Britain and France had only suffered minor sporadic attacks from Viking raiders. In 793 A.D., possibly in retaliation for King Charlemagne's destruction of sites sacred to the Norse, the monastery on the Island of Lindisfarne was attacked. The monks were slaughtered and a vast horde of treasure was hauled away.

Afterwards, the Norse unleashed attacks all over Europe. The Norse "Dragon Ships" were the most advanced sea crafts in Europe and key to their success. They could travel as fast as 15 knots and sail up shallow rivers and surprise cities. They could even carry horses on their boats.

Historians estimate that in 793 fewer than one million people lived in Scandinavia, yet they became the terror of the entire continent of Europe. They formed states inside the British Isles and built major cities such as Dublin. They founded kingdoms in France and Russia. The Vikings established colonies everywhere in Europe, and trading posts in the Middle East. They settled Greenland, Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, the Shetland Islands, Orkney, the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. They traveled to Canada and formed temporary colonies in Newfoundland and Labrador. Many artifacts suggest that Vikings traveled deep into what is now the interior of the United States. The Icelandic Saga of Leif Ericsson was a favorite of Christopher Columbus and describes Viking explorers in Canada who were overwhelmed by hostile Indians.

The Viking Age came to an end in 1066. Duke William (the Bastard) of Normandy defeated the king of England at the battle of Hastings and established Norman dominance over the Anglo-Saxons. He imported Norman culture and boating technology into England. He also introduced what some historians believe was an early version of the longbow, which would later be improved and make England's army the most powerful in Europe. With England, under Norman rule, as the dominant power in Northern Europe, the practice of "going Viking" comes to an end.

By this time, many of the former Vikings had already adopted Christianity. The church declared that Odin, Thor, and the other Gods were devils and those who continue worshipping them were persecuted. The church shaped Christianity specifically for the Norse. Norse/Germanic heroes and deities were transformed into saints. The communion with the saints is specifically based on a Norse/Germanic practice.

Early Christian missionaries were warriors who engaged Norsemen in physical combat. A famous missionary in Iceland converted a large crowd by burning a Berserkr of Odin with consecrated fire and smashing his skull with a steel crucifix. Missionaries had to demonstrate that Christ was stronger than Odin or Thor and had more to offer.

The Vikings influence our culture to this day. The names Thursday and Friday come from Thor's day and Frigg's day, while Tuesday and Wednesday come from Twi's day and Woden's day, the Anglo-Saxon names for Tyr and Odin. The term Easter comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Ostara, and Easter eggs and bunnies were part of the spring fertility celebrations of the Norse. There are many more examples.

The Icelandic Sagas and other books on the Vikings can be obtained at your local library or ordered from any bookstore.
Recommended Reading: Gods And Myths of Northern Europe - H. R. Ellis Davidson;

the Prose Edda - Snorri Sturlusson;

Hrafnkel's Saga - Records about life in 10th century Iceland and Scandinavia;

Saga of the Volsungs - the basis for Richard Wagner's 'Rings of the Niebulung'; the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings." The original fantasy novel! An account of the 5th century Goths full of myth, magic, and intrigue.