From Runes to Odin: Learn a little about the Viking civilization

Today's topic will be about Nordic runes and the Vikings, one of my favorite civilizations, which left us a great legacy and a very rich culture, in my opinion. The Vikings came into the spotlight after the series of the same name became a phenomenon. Because of this, this civilization became quite well-known here. But who are they?

The Indomitable Vikings

 

The word Viking means pirate, and many people mistake them for mere savages. The Vikings, from my research, were nothing more than pioneering pirates who colonized some parts of Europe. They originated from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland). As it was a cold place, their main clothing was leather, pieces of fabric and animal skins; something thick that could keep them warm.

Everyone appreciated metal accessories. They were organized in a patriarchal society, with the man being the strongest member and the one responsible for the family. The woman was basically the housewife, and her main tasks were based on taking care of her children and husband, in addition to the art of weaving, but this did not mean that they were submissive or did not have an important role in society. They were considered free women, and many were fighters and warriors. There was a king, who was respected by all, the highest authority, and in each colonized territory there was a count, who was responsible for that piece of land, but who was obedient to the king's orders.

Because they were a polytheistic people, they worshipped many gods. I think the most popular among us is actually Thor , son of Odin and one of the strongest gods of Asgard (the realm of the gods). In great storms, lightning was known among the Norse as the fury of Thor with his hammer, Mjölnir. Odin was considered the God of Gods and one of the creators of the universe, which was based on the tree of life, Yggdrasil .

The Vikings worshipped the sun and the moon and believed that hell was a cold place where the spirits of the sick and cowardly went. Those who died in battle went to Valhalla , a hall where they would dine with Odin and the other gods. Therefore, the Vikings were not afraid of dying in battle; on the contrary, they felt honored by this possibility. Hence the voracity with which they fought, without fear of losing their lives.

Os Vikings e o Drakkar, barco usado para navegações

They believed that destiny was determined from birth, so battles, deaths and events were viewed as normal and widely accepted by everyone. They liked to name their children after gods, highlighting their physical characteristics in similarity to the chosen god. As for children, boys began to learn about fighting early, and any baby born with a deformity was quickly discarded so that he would not suffer in the future or be rejected by the gods and the community.

They always told stories about the Ragnarok , which was the event where the last and bloody battle of the gods and the destruction of the world would take place. Therefore, they believed greatly in signs and in people who were considered seers or oracles, always asking for advice in everything they were going to do.

Human sacrifices were viewed favorably, as the person who offered himself as a sacrifice to a God believed that he would soon be in Valhalla . The sacrifices were necessary so that the gods would not be offended and would bless the people with an abundance of food, rain, victory in battles, etc.

From a Christian point of view, the Vikings were very cruel; they were not afraid of pain or of inflicting it on others, especially their enemies. The most cruel method of torture was called Blood Eagle , which consisted of cutting the enemy's back with a knife, ripping out the ribs and then removing the lungs, so that the victim could continue breathing. The image of the lungs filling with air gave the impression that the individual had wings. All of this was done while the victim was still alive. Fortunately (or not), this method was practiced against traitors to the Count, or someone who committed an unforgivable crime.

After the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, all peoples with distinct religions were decimated. The same happened with the Vikings, who ended up being converted. The dissolution of Viking culture began between the 11th and 12th centuries, but the various conflicts between the English and the noble people of Normandy (France) ended up disintegrating this civilization, which still has followers in Europe and in some parts of the world.

The creation of the world**

 

Before the world existed, there was a land of ice to the north ( Nilftheim ) and a land of fire to the south ( Muspelheim ). Between them was a great void, which received frozen waters on one side and lava on the other. From this fusion of ice and heat, the giant Ymir and the cow Audhmumla were born . From Ymir's sweat other giants were born, and amidst the ice that came from the south, the cow met Buri, the first of the gods, who married and had children, and then grandchildren, who were named Odin, Villi and Ve. They lived in peace for a time, but as the years passed, the three began to feel threatened. So they came to the conclusion that they needed to kill Ymir so that new giants could no longer be born. Together they killed Ymir and created our world, Midgard , from his remains. His flesh became earth; his bones, mountains. His hair gave rise to plants and trees, and his teeth became rocks. Ymir's head became the sky and the pieces of his brain became the clouds.

While Odin and his brothers were building the world, they noticed that there were many worms looking for remains of Ymir's flesh. They decided to turn the worms into dwarves and asked four of them to hold up the sky. Each one was given the name of a cardinal point and was sent to one of the ends. In this way, Midgard (or Middle Earth) was created. On one of their typical walks, Odin and his brothers found two lifeless tree trunks and decided to transform them into living beings, and thus the first human couple emerged, who were sent to live in Middle Earth.

The Tree of Life

 

Viking mythology is based on Yggdrasil , a gigantic tree that served as the axis of the universe, housing Midgard (in the center), the world of the gods (at the top) and the other worlds (near the roots). The enormous tree was watered by the Norns , the Ladies of Fate, who were responsible for determining everything that had ever happened or would happen. Hence the belief that everything was already planned, from before birth until death. There was no creature whose power matched theirs.

a árvore da vida Yggdrasil

**History of the Viking world based on the Super Interesting Dossier Magazine Medieval Legends - The real story behind the dragons, wizards, saints and heroes of the Dark Ages, Editora Abril, 2014.