Scandinavian Sagas and Norse Omens
Vikings are super interesting to me, likely because of their ties to the settlement discovered in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, the only confirmed Viking site in North America (which the Vikings called Vinland - awesome) and the earliest evidence of Europeans in the western hemisphere. Also it doesn't hurt that they were inherently travelers, like me; to go on a viking in Old Norse meant to go on a voyage. Plus they had really rad runes!
The Vikingskipshuset is part of the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway that showcases archaeological discoveries from three recovered Viking ships. Its most famous piece is the complete Oseberg Ship, which is well preserved and was found with two female human skeletons. There were also some runes etched into the ship which have been interpreted as, "litet-vis maðr" or man knows little.
The runes were found on a piece of wood over two meters long, believed to be part of an oar or mast from the ship. Its discovery has prompted much speculation as to what exactly the Vikings might have meant by this enigmatic phrase and whether they knew something that our modern civilization doesn't. It even prompted the creation of the 2013 action-adventure film Ragnarök. (Click through here to see the trailer!).
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök signifies the end of the world. It is to be an epic battle combined with natural disasters that will result in the death of gods and humans alike, submerging the earth in a great sea. Ultimately the world will resurface, rejuvenated and fertile, the remaining gods will rebuild their homes and the earth will be repopulated by the two surviving humans. The concept of a cyclical cosmology is super interesting to me, and this whole experience has definitely encouraged me to learn more about Scandinavian folklore.
P.S. Viking helmets probably didn't have horns! Mind blown! (The more you know...)
The Vikingskipshuset is part of the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway that showcases archaeological discoveries from three recovered Viking ships. Its most famous piece is the complete Oseberg Ship, which is well preserved and was found with two female human skeletons. There were also some runes etched into the ship which have been interpreted as, "litet-vis maðr" or man knows little.
Bow detail on the Oseberg Ship in the Oslo Viking Ship Museum
The runes were found on a piece of wood over two meters long, believed to be part of an oar or mast from the ship. Its discovery has prompted much speculation as to what exactly the Vikings might have meant by this enigmatic phrase and whether they knew something that our modern civilization doesn't. It even prompted the creation of the 2013 action-adventure film Ragnarök. (Click through here to see the trailer!).
Runes found on the Oseberg Ship and reproduced on a plaque in the Oslo Viking Ship Museum
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök signifies the end of the world. It is to be an epic battle combined with natural disasters that will result in the death of gods and humans alike, submerging the earth in a great sea. Ultimately the world will resurface, rejuvenated and fertile, the remaining gods will rebuild their homes and the earth will be repopulated by the two surviving humans. The concept of a cyclical cosmology is super interesting to me, and this whole experience has definitely encouraged me to learn more about Scandinavian folklore.
P.S. Viking helmets probably didn't have horns! Mind blown! (The more you know...)
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