The Vikings: Who Were They?
The Vikings were a Nordic people who lived from the 8th to the 12th century. Settled in present-day Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. They had the same language, culture, religion and above all the desire for adventure and exploration. The latter being what allowed them to expand their territory throughout Western Europe and even North America. The first Viking invasions began towards present-day England, Russia, and the Ukraine.
They established permanent colonies in the conquered places, imposing their culture based on looting, murder and rape. Even so, they also innovated in agriculture, but above all in the construction of ships for combat.
This being an essential element for their settlements throughout the world. Added to the knowledge to navigate better. The Vikings had a polytheistic religion, so different gods were in charge of a specific role. Being Hela the one in charge of the underworld. In addition, they had ceremonies designed specifically for those who died.
funeral ceremonies
For the Vikings, death was considered of utmost importance and depending on the case, a different funeral ceremony was performed. That is, for a Viking hero or one who died in battle, he expected to be cremated.
His body was deposited in a ship with the belongings he would have had in life. Then they pushed it out to sea and shot arrows with fire, which consumed everything on the ship. According to their religion, these would go to Valhalla. being received by Odin himself and keeping the burned belongings. Monuments could be erected in his honor.
For the others the ceremonies were different, they were only buried. To the women with the jewels they would have had in life, to the artisans with their work tools. Finally, the slaves were buried in any hole in the earth. The latter, if their master was a great lord, could be sacrificed to serve their master in the next life. If the deceased was a chief, a sexual rite was performed with a slave.
It consisted of her sleeping with warriors and merchants, while they told her that the act was out of devotion to the deceased. Later, on the ship that would be incinerated, she had relationships with six more men, who would finally kill her. With the aim that the slave was a vessel for the transmission of vital energy for the deceased.
battle rituals
Some Viking rituals look for the victory of the many battles that were fought in those times. The Vikings, who were very superstitious, had many rituals to win.
For example. They were attentive to any sign of the weather that could be a good or bad omen. They marked the weapons with which they would go to battle with magical symbols of protection and sacrificed animals such as bears and bulls.
Berserkers, the Vikings extra Vikings
Berserkers were extra tough Vikings, who didn’t wear armor. (They covered themselves with the skins of their totem animal, such as bears or wolves). And only his hands and teeth to fight. To achieve that state of extraordinary fierceness. A series of Viking rituals were necessary that plunged the warriors into self-hypnosis. For example, living in the forest like a wild animal, fasting, dancing ritual dances, or undergoing pain or extreme temperatures.
The blot, the festival of gratitude
Another of the most curious and bloody Viking rituals is that of the blot. A festival in which the Norse showed their gratitude to the gods through the sacrifice of numerous creatures. (Usually animals, but not always: legend has it that the king of Sweden participated very actively in the blot, as a sacrifice). The Vikings killed them on a stone altar. And they passed the blood and carcasses of the victims while singing ritual chants.
The man, like the bear
Some of the most curious Viking rituals are not only made up of blood and viscera. But they are full-fledged beauty rituals. For example, it is known that the Vikings loved blonde hair above all else. And that they were able to bleach their hair and beards with a very strong bleach-based soap that, incidentally, eliminated lice and nits.
christmas rituals
During the winter solstice (which would correspond to our Christmas, which by the way has its origin in the solstice). The Vikings participated in rituals that sought the favor of the gods. To do this, they drank large amounts of alcohol. They disguised the little ones as the goats that pulled Odin’s chariot. They decorated trees with clothes and other objects. They are not so different from our celebrations. Although the Vikings also used to light a fire wheel and throw it down the hill to pray for the return of the sun.
Violent games
One thing is to demystify the Viking peoples (without going any further they were neater than they are usually painted). And another thing is to think that they were not something gross.
Again strength and manliness were desirable qualities, so testosterone displays were frequent. In the same games and recreational activities things could get ugly. And finish with more blows than necessary to settle the victory. The champion used to live. The others don’t.
blood eagle
It is believed that it was one of the most savage practices of torture carried out by the Vikings. And I emphasize it is believed, because there have been several controversies when it comes to demonstrating that the Vikings really performed this type of ritual.
The blood eagle was a ritual that was made as an offering to Odin as a punishment.
Those who practiced it tore the back of the punished. From the very top of the spine to the very bottom with a knife, dagger, sword. Or any sharp item they had on hand. In this way. The meat on the back was split in two. As if it were two wings and the victim bled to death. Hence it was known as the blood eagle.