C.J. Adrien's Blog, page 16

What is a Viking, Really?

Harald Hardrada, Considered to have been the last Viking king

Vikings are a popular topic these days. From football teams, to TV shows, to massive reenactment festivals, Vikings are quickly becoming the next werewolves, vampires, and zombies of popular culture. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few show up at Comicon…oh wait, they have. But unlike the afore mentioned topics du jour, Vikings were a real thing. They actually existed. So who were the Vikings? What qualifies as being Viking?

It’s all in the name

The word “Viking” is derived from Old Norse. “Vikingr” was a noun used to describe a sea-rover or pirate. It was also used as a verb, as in “to go Viking”, in other words to go raiding. At the time, a “Viking” was a man who left Scandinavia in search of new opportunities (like pillaging) abroad, and it did not describe the region, the times, or most of the people.

As the Viking Age came to a close, so did the word’s usage. It remained dormant for centuries thereafter.

Historians in the 19th Century who began to study the time period roughly between 793 A.D., the attack on Lindisfarne, and 1066 A.D, the Norman invasion of England, picked up the word as a placeholder to describe an approximate time period, the “Viking Age”. They named it as such because the greatest impact on history was done by the raiders, and so their name became synonymous with the most major upheaval in Europe since the Moorish invasions. As historians looked back to Scandinavia to study the culture from whence the Vikings (old usage) came, they made no etymological distinction between them, and so all of Scandinavia became Viking.

Today, the word is commonplace and is used to describe a greater breadth of topics—from internal politics to daily life, confined only by time and an approximate geographic location—rather than just the men who left to raid abroad.

Essentially, the word “Viking” signifies Viking Age Scandinavia, their culture, their history, their artifacts, etc.

There are of course two divergent thoughts when it comes to what is Viking and what is not. Some people are purists and believe the word Viking should only refer to the raiders who left Scandinavia. Others (most of us) accept the evolution of the word in our modern language and use it to describe the rich culture and history of Viking Age Scandinavia, as well as all the fun things they did across Europe at the time. A Viking, therefore, may refer to a farmer who lived in Vingulmark in 820 A.D., or a Jarl who lived in Trondheim in 850 A.D. (that would be Hakón Grjotgarsson), or a raider accompanying the warrior Hastein in the Mediterranean in 859 A.D. To we modern observers peering into the past, they all belong to the same place and time, and thus carry the same name.

The Dangerous Duality of Modern Paganism in America

America is a diverse place. Freedom of religion is taken seriously and has led to the world’s most interesting mix of highly individualized belief systems. This is no surprise considering the first migrants to arrive in North America fled religious persecution in their homeland and wished to build new lives for themselves where they could worship whatever god or variation of a god they wanted. America is a place where people are allowed to believe whatever they want to believe, and there are quite literally people who believe in anything and everything—from Bigfoot to Aliens to whatever you can think of, evidence not required.

It should therefore be of no surprise that there are small communities and individuals throughout the country who are reviving the old ways of Norse Paganism. Specifically, these groups of people want to emulate the belief systems of Viking Age Scandinavia. This belief system today goes by a few different names, Asatru being the most well known and accepted. Here I will refer to it as the Modern Pagan movement because of the numerous names that are derived from it. It is a subject near and dear to my heart because of the years I’ve spent devoted to the study of Scandinavian history. The attempt to revive their pagan ways is intrinsically interesting to me. Iceland, for example, is also experiencing a revival of what they call the “old ways” and their new pagan church has made headlines around the world. In an age where the masses are becoming disenfranchised with traditional institutions, this revival is attracting a great deal of attention.

There is much to applaud in this movement. It has ignited interest in history, in the exploration of a distant and foreign culture, and it has encouraged many to find a different path for personal growth. Yet what is most curious about this movement is how different the interpretations of the “old ways” seem to be. There is no consistency in Modern Paganism, but many (and I’ve met a few personally) are militant in how they defend their own particular brand of it. In fact, much of the zealousness demonstrated by mainstream religions has carried over, and there are those who are practicing this new faith with immovable conviction without basis in tradition or dogma. These people have an idealized, almost nostalgic vision of how life used to be in pre-Christian times, but it’s all wrong.

What must be noted is that we know very little of the pre-Christian pagan faiths of Northern Europe. What has survived to today isn’t from tradition but from testimonies written by Christian clerics who examined those religions through a specific cultural lens. After the Christianization of Scandinavia, the pagan traditions were essentially wiped out. Therefore, it is important to understand that, realistically, we know close to nothing about the details surrounding the religion of pre-Christian Scandinavia, and we can never truly know. With this in mind, the Modern Pagan movement begins to take on a more problematic character. It means that most of the practices and beliefs of Modern Pagans are mostly made up. This is a problem because the movement is being used by some for nefarious purposes.

The Modern Pagan movement has a seedy underbelly that is by no means representative of the larger population of believers—but it’s there. It seems that many who would seek to argue for their supremacy over others by virtue of race and heritage have hijacked the Modern Pagan movement and given it a bad name. Because there is no rigid doctrine to refer to, it is difficult to dispel their assertions or to convince those not affiliated with Modern Paganism that such views are incompatible with the faith. No one can say that the Vikings were not racist. We cannot know. So, the presumption will always be that Pagans are racist. To quote the Havamal, “The good is ignored where there is fault.”

On the one hand, there are people who are experiencing tremendous personal growth through the Modern Pagan movement. On the other hand, there are those who are utilizing it for hate. So while it all seems like fun and games, there is an innate danger in the revival of a religion that is mostly fictionalized and is derived from a fixation on heritage. Modern Paganism has left itself open to being hijacked and there really is no defense. If an established religion such as Christianity or Islam cannot weed out radicals, how can a revived religion with no clear structure be immune? Perhaps it is best if we not fool ourselves and stick to the history books. Of course, it’s a free country, so believe what you want. Just remember that free speech doesn’t protect hate.

The Vikings: An English Teacher’s Worst Nightmare?

It is the question parents and teachers alike struggle to answer: why does English break all of its own rules? Children are seldom given satisfying answers. In fact, if modern public schools are any indication, most people simply do not know why English is such a mess because (surprise!) the Viking Age is either entirely absent from, or a mere footnote in, the curriculum. To most, English just is what it is. Therefore the following revelation may be come as a surprise to many.

If you’re an English teacher, you owe a great deal of your daily struggles to the Vikings.

Here is why:

The Vikings visited and pillaged the British Isles beginning as early as the 8th Century A.D. and continued this enriching tradition for several decades. By the mid 9th Century, however, their motives changed from plundering to conquering. They invaded a large portion of England and established a territory called The Danelaw, a period in English history that saw the laws of the Norsemen applied widely to the local population (some have even survived in remote parts to this day). This period in the 9th and 10th Centuries A.D. created a melting pot in which swathes of the invaders’ language assimilated into the proto-English language of the time, the language of the Anglo-Saxons. Vikings from Norway and Denmark left their most enduring legacy in the British Isles through their speech.

In 1066 A.D., the Normans, a group of Francophone Danes (former Vikings) from a region across the channel called Normandy, conquered England under the leadership of William the Conqueror. They imposed a strict legal code called Norman Law, and imposed their own form of corrupted early French on their new subjects, which ultimately further confused things. The French language brought with it many new words and a starkly different grammatical structure. What made the Norman conquest one of the most dramatic events to shape the English language was the Normans’ recognition of the need to legitimize themselves to their subjects. This meant that they learned the local language quickly (as they had done with French), and within only a few generations a new language emerged from the mixture.

Suddenly there were many words to say the same thing, and many ways to say it. The language that emerged from the Norman conquest drew upon a combination of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and French. Suddenly, one could use different words for the same thing to be more precise, or to sound more intelligent. Using pigs as an example, the words ‘pig’ and ‘swine’ originated from the Anglo-Saxon language and referred to the animal toiling on the farm, but once it was cooked and served, it was called pork, from the French ‘porc’. Other examples include chicken/poultry, deer/venison, snail/escargot, sheep/mutton, among many, many others. Because of the Normans’ station in society, Norman French words became associated with the upper class, and Anglo-Saxon words were associated with the lower class (Ex., Intelligent vs smart). That’s why fancier words in English tend to come from French roots. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule.

Grammatically, English experienced several major transformations in this early period. The combination of the more germanic Anglo-Saxon language and latin based French created the beginnings of all the fun grammatical exceptions school children so loathe today. Later there would be another major change at the end of the middle ages known as the Great Vowel Shift, which is responsible for many of the spelling anomalies in the written language and pronunciation differences between similarly constructed words.

English is a tricky language because it borrows from so many sources. Therein also lies its strength: it is arguably one of the most adaptable languages in the world. Its malleability has allowed for today’s major industries to invent entirely new vocabularies to describe their creations, tech being the most obvious benefactor, with science closely behind. This too we owe, in large part, to the Vikings.

Long or Short: How Did the Vikings Wear Their Hair?

It should be obvious. Vikings were barbarians, fitting of the description of “Noble Savages” who would have sported long, flowing locks of hair. Or were they?

Recent revisions to Viking history have painted a starkly different picture of what life was like for Scandinavians during the Viking Age. We’ve since learned that they were cleanliness-oriented, bathed weekly, and paid particular attention to their appearance. We know now that women decorated their clothes with colorful beads among other shiny objects, and the men groomed their beards daily. So with all of this new information available to us, the question stands: how did they wear their hair?

Contrary to popular conception, long hair was not universally a sign of a free warrior. In fact, long hair was well known to be a hazard during combat. Historians have noted that very short hair may have been reserved for slaves, but there exists evidence in the form of statues which contradicts this notion. Evidence from the archeological record—which includes statues, statuettes, and picture stones—shows men with many variations of hair cuts. Some may have worn their hair shoulder-length. Others may have had bowl-cuts. Many may have trimmed and groomed their beards into goatees. It appears that, precisely as it is today, hair styles may have been a form of self-expression.

By the end of the Viking Age, the Christianization of Scandinavia imposed rules surrounding vanity, ending the varieties of hairdos among Scandinavians (for a while). The Bayeux Tapestry shows us that military men during this period wore short hair, particularly in the back (pictured below).

Ultimately, the evidence points to a culture that allowed self-expression. This may be a hard pill for some to swallow, but it appears the eccentric hairstyles fashioned by the Vikings in the History Channel’s series of that name may be closer to reality than the idea that they all had long, free-flowing hair.

For a more in-depth analysis of how the Vikings wore their hair, I highly encourage you to read this article by The Viking Answer Lady on the subject.

7 Wonders of the Viking World

The Vikings didn’t leave much behind in the way of brick and mortar buildings, but what we do have from them is all tremendously awe-inspiring. They are not the hanging gardens of Babylon, but the following are seven of the most wondrous finds dating back to Viking Age Scandinavia.

1. Gokstad Ship

It seems appropriate to begin with the ship that began our modern fascination with the Vikings. Prior to the discovery of the Gokstad ship, no one in the 19th century had ever seen a Viking ship up close. The only evidence for the style and build of Viking ships came from the Gotland Stones which depicted Drakkars sailing. Beginning with the Gokstad ship, a new kind of inquiry into the Viking Age began, leading historians to formulate new conclusions about a previously misunderstood people. Within the ship itself were a wealth of artifacts that are studied to this day. Currently preserved and on display at the Viking Ship Museum of Oslo, Norway, this beautiful specimen of Viking Age craftsmanship is well worth a visit.

2. Oseberg ship

The Oseberg ship is a tremendously important discovery that has helped to illuminate many aspects of the Viking Age that were previously completely unknown. Unlike the Gokstad ship, the Oseberg ship possesses more decorations and carvings, including a prow in the shape of a serpent. Buried with the ship were two women with a large amount of grave goods made up of everyday items. These items have helped to reconstruct a few aspects of daily life in the Viking Age. One woman is thought to have been a slave and the other a ruler or possibly a mystic, although these suppositions are unclear.

3. Temple at Upsalla

Olaus Magnus Historia om de nordiska folken. Bok 3 – Kapitel 6 – Om ett härligt tempel helgadt åt de nordiska gudarna. – Utgivningsår 1555.

All that remain of the temple at Upsalla are pole holes in the ground that once held the pillars which formed the outer wall. Luckily, there remains evidence of its construction, including drawings by Adam of Bremen which depict the temple at its peak. According to several sources, the temple was an important religious center that attracted visitors from all over the Viking world and conducted human sacrifices. It is a shame the structure has not survived until today.

4. Groix Ship Burial

The island of Groix off the coast of Brittany in modern day France is an unassuming vacation spot for locals looking for a getaway at the beach. In the early 20th century it was the site of something more. A ship burial was uncovered along with several artifacts that have left archeologists and historians puzzled. The ship itself was badly damaged and not well preserved and the grave goods in it were also damaged. Nevertheless, what makes this find unique is the large number of shield bosses that were found. Most were made in the Norse style, but several among them were made differently. It appears they were constructed using local metals, and their design may have been purposeful to adapt to the weaponry of the Bretons.

5. Stora Hammars Stones

Part of a larger collection of Gotland Stones, the Stora Hammer Stones paint a picture of the Viking Age from the perspective of the Vikings themselves. The stones once served as the only reference to the style of ships the Vikings sailed, and were the only corroborating evidence for what European writers had chronicled durning the Viking Age. From a historian’s perspective, these stones have been and continue to be one of the most important remnants of the time.

6. L’Anse aux Meadows

Very little has survived from the first Norse colony in the Americas, but enough has been found over the years to know that a settlement did indeed exist. The true wonder at L’Anse aux Meadows is the modern recreation of the settlement stylized in the Greenland and Icelandic traditions based on the evidence found in the ground. It is a sight worthy of the seven wonders.

7. Vale of York Hoard

When speaking of “wonders of the world” it is difficult to imagine including a treasure trove. Yet for the Vikings, who were in the most basic sense pirates, a hoard of buried treasure seems quite appropriate. The Vale of York Hoard is a recent find dating to 2007 and one of the largest ever found. What makes it truly special is the quality of preservation of the pieces and the sheer number of them. Mostly made up of coins, the hoard is valued at over £1 million and is thought to have originally belonged to a church. The treasure was either stolen in a raid or given as tribute and its owner was killed without passing on its whereabouts.

Normandy’s Other Founder Who History Forgot

A statue of Rollo in the town of Falaise

The first ruler of Normandy, the mighty Viking Rollo, did not accomplish all that he did alone. Described as a tall, powerful man, he made a most surprising transition from sea rover to monarch, and in so doing transformed himself from a pagan marauder into a legitimate Christian ruler. Normandy is an interesting case because the Vikings who settled there as rulers recognized the need to adapt to their new home to maintain legitimacy. Rollo, by example, married into French royalty and played the game of politics well. Norman rule over the region would eventually become the guiding hand of Europe’s future.

The story of the Normans and their first ruler is undoubtedly one of the most incredible success stories in history, but there is one man who was present and heavily involved who everyone seems to have forgotten. Rollo had a relative, and to illustrate how little we know of him, we are unsure if he was Rollo’s brother or uncle. All we have is a name.

His name was Malahulc.

In 1158, Fulk Paynel, a herald and a historian, put together a family tree of the Norman line from alms housed at Servon-sur-Vilaine Abbey, as well as from records of Tithes paid to the church. His aim was to trace back the family of Robert D’Avranches (the knight who was paying him) to find a connection between both William the Conqueror and Rollo of Normandy. He successfully found a connection to both, but he also found a direct line to Malahulc, a man who history appeared to have forgotten already. Yet from his research it appeared that a major portion of the nobility in Normandy (up to half) could trace back to this man. From the genealogical record we know nearly nothing, and the only other attestation to Malahulc is from William of Jumièges who described him simply as a relative of Rollo.

Why did this man disappear from the historical record? He was evidently present and involved in the early Norman kingdom as well as a relative of the new ruler, so how can it be that he is not more widely known or attested to? We will likely never know, but the fact remains: by virtue of his relation to Rollo, he must have played a major role in the early Norman kingdom. As a matter of conjecture, it is possible that he and Rollo had a falling out at some point, perhaps over religion (Rollo converted to Christianity via baptism, but perhaps not Malahulc). This may explain his rather suspicious absence from history—he may have been the victim of political sabotage, purposefully omitted by chroniclers of the time for his refusal to be Christian. The reality here is that we simply cannot know, but it’s always fun to speculate.

Santa Claus: Odin in Disguise?

Sinterklaas

’Tis the season to be jolly, but is the mythical figure of Santa more than meets the eye? The Santa Claus of today is a rosy-cheeked, portly, elderly man donning a red onesie with white trim and a delightful red winter cap–a stark contrast to his alleged inspiration Saint Nicholas. So who is Santa, really? Where did he come from, and why has he prevailed in the public consciousness as successfully as he has?

Saint Nick

The historical origins of Santa Claus reside with a figure known as Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a Greek bishop in the early 4th Century whose many accomplishments, including protecting children, led to his canonization. A great deal of folklore and legend emerged from his numerous deeds, many of which offer tales of his verdant efforts to protect children from harm. He quickly became known as the protector of children and sailors, the former being the main source of inspiration for the modern Saint Nick. All across Christendom, Saint Nicholas’ reputation spread and his birthday, December 9, became a day of good luck. His association with Christmas has remained fairly consistent through the centuries, but his name has changed over time. Santa Claus is a North American corruption of the Dutch name SinterKlaas which was imported to the Americas in the mid 18th Century when New York was still New Amsterdam. Ever since, the holiday season has prominently featured the saint in his Dutch incarnation.

From Tan Mediterranean Man to  Pale, White-Haired Pole-Dweller

One of the great mysteries of the holiday season is how Saint Nick transformed from a skinny, dark-skinned mediterranean man to a fat, elderly white man. The traditions surrounding Saint Nick were likely well established by the time Christendom began its great expansion into Northern Europe, led substantially by the 8th Century ruler Charlemagne. Over the course of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Centuries, Christianity spread across all the Scandinavian countries and even further East up to the borders of modern day Russia. This expansion was not universally well received, and pagan rituals continued well into the medieval period in isolated areas. It is theorized that the pagan tradition of Yule, which coincided with the celebration of Saint Nick, may have led to an assimilation of sorts of both traditions into one.

Odin, Yule, and the Last Breath of Germanic Paganism

Prior to their Christianization, Northern Europeans celebrated a holiday around the same time the Christians celebrated Saint Nick. Yule was a midwinter festival theorized to have had an association with a variety of other pagan traditions, including heightened paranormal activity and an increase of Draugrs (the walking dead). To decorate for this three-day occasion, they brought in evergreens which symbolized the continuity of life through winter. Odin figured prominently in the Yule tradition. It was said that he wore a blue-hooded cloak and rode his eight-legged horse Sleipnir through the sky at night and stopped place to place to deliver gifts. The exact significance of Yule in Germanic paganism, as well as the exact rituals practiced during the celebration, remain relatively ambiguous in the historical record. Despite this, historians and enthusiasts alike have postulated a strong connection between Odin’s role in Yule and the role Santa would come to play in Western culture later on.

An Opportunistic Odin?

It is possible, but of course not certain, that Pagans may have seen similarities between Saint Nick and their own Odin (or Woden, or ), and may have transposed many of Odin’s characteristics onto the saint. After all, both were associated with a specific time of year, a specific holy day, and both were associated with some form of giving gifts. This could explain why the variations of Santa across Europe depict him as a magical, wandering, white-bearded man of varying powers. In a way, as Norse and Germanic Paganism saw its twilight, the god Odin found an opportunity to live on in some form through the figure of Saint Nicholas. His metamorphosis may not have been discouraged either: the Christian church was keenly aware of the advantages of molding their faith to their audience to encourage conversions.

So, is Santa Odin?

Ultimately, there is no solid evidence to definitively link the two, we only have lofty inferences based on scattered bits of information. It is up to each person to believe what they want to believe about Santa. More importantly, it is up to each person to decide on what Santa means to them during the holiday season. Personally, I like to think that today’s Santa is the latest incarnation of Odin who, over the course of many sagas, metamorphosed numerous times. It would not be a stretch of the imagination for a Viking to believe that Santa is merely his latest disguise.

Happy Holidays!

Odin? You Mean [insert one of hundreds of name variations]!

You know him as Odin. The marvel universe knows him as Odin, and by extension every 8-18 year old boy in the world knows him as Odin. While today we give him a single name by which to identify him, the deity himself has over the millennia had a tremendous variety of names, most of which you probably have never heard. To historians, part of what makes Odin such a fascinating character is his tremendous laundry list of names by which various Germanic tribes identified him. Some of them have survived to today in our culture, such as the naming of the day Wednesday, or originally Woden’s Day, Woden being another name for Odin. The following list is but a sample of the names given to this incredibly versatile deity, and is only representative of a number of names historians have encountered. How many others have been lost to history is a mystery, but there certainly must have been many, many others.

The first mention of the pan-Germanic deity known as Odin comes to us by way of the Romans. The historian Tacitus wrote in his early 1st Century book Germania about a deity he equates to the  Roman god Mercury. He further describes the rituals used to worship him, such as a mixture of human and other sacrifices, as well as offerings of food and trinkets.

From his beginnings as a Germanic deity, the root of his many German names is thought to be Wōđanaz. This name morphed over the centuries into divergent forms such as Woden, Wođen, Wotan, and Wuotan.

By the Viking Age, Scandinavians had adopted a variation of the name as Ođinn, or Odin, the form most familiar to us today. Yet this variation of the name was not universal across Scandinavia. His name likely took on many other variations, many of which are lost to us today.

Aside from his name variations, the deity most widely know as Odin was, as previously discussed, a versatile god. In fact, one of his traits was that he was able to fulfill many roles and wear many hats, and for each one of these incarnations he was given a name. In the Poetic Eddas, he is given a tremendous variety of names depending on the role he was playing in each myth or story. It must be noted that in the old Norse language, names and nicknames were composites created to describe a person within the name. These additional names are thought to have been assigned as nicknames in response to specific deeds or actions, used by Skalds (the people who recited the myths in poetic form) to help them remember a particular story. If someone asked for a story about Odin by a particular name, that name would contain the information the Skald needed to know which story to recite. Thus, this long list of names was created:

Aldaföðr: Father of Men
Aldagautr: God of Men
Aldingautr:the Ancient God
Alfaðir, Alföðr: All-Father
Angan Friggjar: Delight of Frigg
Arnhöfði: Eagle-headed One
Asagrim: Grim Lord
Ascaric: Spear-King (Frankish)
Atriði, Atriðr: Attacking Rider
Auðun: Wealth Friend
Bági gulfs: Enemy of the Wolf
Baldrsfaðir: Father of Balder
Báleygr: Blazing Eye
Biflindi: Shield Shaker
Bileygr: Feeble Eye (possibly One Eye)
Björn: Bear
Blindi, Blindr: Blind One
Bölverkr: Bale-worker
Böðgæðir: Battle Enhancer
Bragi: Chieftain
Bruni, Brunn: Brown One
Burr Bors: Son of Bor
Darraðr, Dorruðr: Spearman
Draugadróttin: Lord of the dead
Ein sköpuðr galdra: Sole Creator of Magical Songs
Ennibrattr: One with a Straight Forehead
Eyluðr: Ever-Booming
Faðmbyggvir Friggjar: Dweller in Frigga’s Embrace
Frumverr Friggjar.: First Husband of Frigga
Faðir glades:Father of Magical Songs
Farmaguð, Farmatýr: Cargo God
Farmoguðr: Journey-Empowerer
Farmr arma Gunnlaðar: Burden of Gunnlöð’s Arms
Farmr galga: Gallows’ Burden
Fengr: Snatcher
Fimbultýr: Mighty God
Fimbulþulr: Mighty Poet
Fjölnir: Very-Wise or One Who Conceals
Fjölsviðr, Fjölsvinnr.: Much Wise
Foldardróttinn: Lord of the Earth
Forni: Ancient One
Fornölvir: Ancient Oelvir
Frariðr: One Who Fares Forth
Fundinn: The Found
Furor: Fury
Gagnráðr: God of Gainful Counsel
Galdraföðr: Father of Galdr
Gallow’s Lord
Gangleri: Wanderer
Gangráðr: Journey Advisor
Gapthrosnir: One in a Gaping Frenzy
Gauti, Gautr: God
Gausus: God (Langobardic)
Geiguðr: Dangler
Geirloðnir: Spear Inviter
Geirtýr: Spear God
Geirvaldr: Spear Master
Geirölnir: Spear Charger
Gestr: Guest
Gestumblindi: The Blind Guest
Ginnarr: Deceiver
Gizurr: Riddler
Glapsviðr: Seducer
Goði hrafnblóts: Goði (priest) of the Raven-offering
Godjaðarr: God- Protector
Göllnir, Gollor, Gollungr: Yeller
Göndlir: Wand Bearer
Gramr Hliðskjalfar: King of Hliðskjalf
Grímnir, Grímr: The Masked One or The Hooded One
Grímr: Masked or Grim
Gunnar: Warrior
Gunnblindi: Battle Blinder
Guodan: Master of Fury (Langobardic)
Guodan, Gudan: Master of Fury (Westphalian)
Hagvirkr: Skillful Worker
Hangaguð: Hanged God
Hangi: Hanged One
Haptabeiðir: Ruler of Gods
Haptaguð: Fetter God
Haptasnytrir: Teacher of Gods
Haptsönir: Fetter  Loosener
Hár: High One
Hárbarðr: Grey Beard
Hárr.: One Eyed
Hávi: High One
Helblindi: Host Blinder
Helmet-capped Educator
Hengikeptr: Hang Jaw
Herföðr, Herjaföðr: Host Father
Hergautr: Host Gautr
Herjan, Herran: Lord
Herteitr: Glad in Battle, possibly also Gladness of soldiers
Hertyr: Host God
Hildolfr: Battle Wolf
Hjaldrgoð: God of battle
Hjaldrgegnir: Engager of Battle
Hjálmberi: Helm Bearer
Hjarrandi: Screamer
Hlefreyr: Famous Lord or Mound Lord
Hild’s Noise Maker (hild = battle)
Hnikarr, Hnikuð: Thruster
Hoarr: One Eyed
Honger – Hunger
Hotter: Hatter
Hovi: High One
Hrafnfreistuðr: Raven-tester
Hrafnáss: Raven God
Hrammi: Fetterer or Ripper
Hrani: Blusterer
Hrjotr: Roarer
Hroptatýr: Lord of Gods, God of Gods, or Tumult God
Hroptr: The Maligned One or The Hidden One, or Tumult
Hrossharsgrani: Horse-hair Mustache
Hvatmoðr: Whet Courage
Hveðrungr: Roarer
Itreker: Splendid Ruler
Jafnhár: Just As High
Jalfaðr: Yellow-brown Back
Jálg, Jálkr: Gelding
Jarngrimr: Iron Grim
Jolfr: Horse-wolf or Bear
Jölföðr: Yule-father
Jölnir: Yule Father
Jormundr: Mighty One
Karl: Old Man
Kjalarr: Nourisher
Langbarðr: Long Beard
Loðungr: Shaggy Cloak Wearer
Lord of the Wild Hunt , Wilde Jaeger
Niðr Bors: Son of Borr
Njotr: User or Enjoyer
Óðinn: Frenzied One
Óðr: Frenzy, Inspiration, Breath
Ofnir: Inciter
Olgir: Protector or Hawk
Ómi: One Whose Voice Resounds
Óski: Wish Bringer or Fulfiller of Desire
Ouvin: Master of Fury (Faroese)
Rauðgrani: Red Moustache
Reiðartyr: Wagon God
Rognir: Chief
Runatyr: God of Runes
Runni vagina: Mover of Constellations
Sanngetall: Truth Getter or He Who Guesses Right
Sannr, Saðr, Sath: Truth or The Truthful
Siðgrani: drooping mustache
Siðhottr: Broad Brim, Deep Hood, or Slouch Hat
Siðskeggr: Long Beard  or Broad Beard
Sigðir: Victory Bringer
Sigföðr: Father of Victory
Siggautr: Victory God
Sigmundr: Victory Protection
Sigrhofundr: Victory Author
Sigrúnnr: Victory Tree
Sigthror: Victory Successful
Sigtryggr: Victory Sure
Sigtýr: Victory God
Skilving, Skilfing: Trembler (a reference to seidhr or to battle fury?)
Skollvaldr: Treachery Ruler
Sonr Bestlu: Son of Bestla
Spjalli Gauta: Friend of the Goths
Sváfnir: Luller to Sleep (or Dreams), or Closer
Sveigðir: Reed Bringer
Svipall: Fleeting or Changeable
Sviðrir: Wise One
Sviðurr: Wise One
Svolnir: Sweller
Thekkr: Welcome One
Thrasarr: Quarreler or Raging, Furious
Thriði: Third
Thriggi.: Triple
Thrór: Burgeoning or Inciter to Strife
Throttr: Strength
Thrundr, Þund : Sweller
Thunnr, Þuðr: Lean or Pale
Tveggi: Double
Tviblindi: Twice Blind
Unnr, Uðr: Beloved, Lover
Váði vitnis: Foe of the Wolf
Váfoðr, Vafuðr: Dangler
Váfuðr: Wayfarer
Váfuðr Gungnis: Swinger of Gungnir
Vakr: Vigilant
Valdr gala: Ruler of Gallows
Valdr vagnbrautar: Ruler of Heaven (I’m not 100% convinced of this translation)
Valföðr: Father of the Slain
Valgautr: God of the Slain”
Valkjosandi: Chooser of the Slain
Valtamr, Valtam: Slain Tamer or Warrior
Valtýr: Slain God
Valthognir: Slain Receiver
Vegtamr: Waytamer
Veratýr: God of Being
Viðrir: Stormer
Viðfraegr: Wide-famed
Viðrimnir: Contrary Screamer
Viðurr: Killer
Vingnir: Swinger
Vinr Lopts: Friend of Loptr
Vinr Lóðurs: Friend of Lóðurr
Vinr Míms: Friend of Mímir
Vinr stalla: Friend of Altars
Vodans: Master of Fury (Gothic)
Voefuðr: Dangler
Völsi: Ever Ready Phallus
Völundr rómu: Smith of Battle
Vut: Master of Fury (Allemanic, Burgundian)
Weda: Master of Fury (Frisian)
Wild Huntsman, Wilde Jaeger (German)
Wôdan: Master of Fury (Old High German)
Woden: Master of Fury (Anglo-Saxon)
*Wôðanaz: Master of Fury (proto-Germanic)
Wolf: Wolf (German)
Wuotan/Wuodan: Master of Fury (Langobardic, Old High German)
Wunsch: Wish (German)
Yggr: Terrible One
Yrungr: Stormy
LIST SOURCE 1

Odin’s latest incarnation of course is Santa Claus, meaning Giver of Gifts in the language of children. (I’m joking…or am I?)

I am currently hosting a giveaway for a paperback copy of my second novel, the oath of the father. CLICK HERE to enter for a chance to win!

3 Often-Ignored Truths About the Study of the Vikings

When reading online articles about the Vikings, it’s easy to get suspicious about the veracity of an author’s sources. The pressure to publish–and publish frequently–means taking a quantity over quality approach to writing about history. Although not immune to errors, I have personally begun to see a great many articles circulating in social media circles that are highly suspect. Most notable among these was the claim by one author that half of all Viking warriors were female. While a romantic thought, it is not accurate. The study sited by the article was grossly misinterpreted to fit into a carefully molded and wishful idealism of who the Vikings really were. In truth, Viking Age Scandinavians travelled and settled far away lands, but like the settlers of the New England colony, for example, the presence of women did not mean that half of New England’s militia were female. That is why I feel it is important to communicate to my readership the reality that is the study of Vikings in academia. There is no clear-cut narrative, and everything from how they built their ships to how they prayed to their gods is a big maybe.

Nearly every “fact” about the Vikings is debatable.

1,000 years separate us from the last of the Vikings, and that distance means we have completely lost touch with who they were. Despite efforts to reconstruct their culture and belief systems, academics are mostly in the dark about the bigger picture of Viking Age Scandinavian paganism and society. As with everything else, there are those out there in the webisphere who will claim to know otherwise, but the reality is that the Vikings’ culture was obliterated and assimilated by Christianity long ago. They left no written record, and the documents we do have are post-Viking age writings by Christian clerics whose veracity in their assertions is certainly worth suspicion. The last 20 years of study on the Viking Age have produced a wealth of new finds whose discoveries have shattered old paradigms and rewritten history, but have at the same time complicated the field. Therein lies the caveat to the study of Vikings: we have lofty clues about who they were with no definitive answers.

Archeological finds have complicated the field.

One might think digging up clues in an investigation might help to piece together a more accurate picture of the Vikings, but this is certainly not the case. As an example, we have the Osberg ship whose burial artifacts raise more questions than they answer. The woman buried with the ship, and her companion who is assumed to have been her slave (but not for certain), also raise questions. Some theorize she was buried because she was a person associated with magic, while others think she may have been royalty. Her post-mortem condition further complicates things as she suffered from physical deformities and, according to a recent genetic study, had a propensity to grow hair where women typically do not. Were the physical deformities valued? Did they hold significance in the community? (for a full synopsis on the Osberg burial and the questions it raises, read Robert Ferguson’s Vikings) All of these finds have done little to help us accurately reconstruct Viking Age society in Norway. Although this may seem frustrating to the average history buff, the fact that the field is further complicated by these mysteries is an exciting prospect for an archeologist or historian. It is an exciting time to be an academic in the field of Viking history!

Ultimately, we know very little for sure.

To illustrate how little we know about the Vikings, historians prior to the year 1900 didn’t even know for sure if the infamous dragon-headed prows of legend had ever actually existed. In fact, until the discoveries of the Gokstad and Osberg ships in the early 1900’s, historians were not even certain of the shape of the ships. Other than the Gotland Picture Stones, historians had very little to go on. Certainly we now know more than we did 100 years ago, but what we knew back then set an incredibly low bar. Thus, one of the most important things to remember about the study of the Vikings is that we know very little, and everything we see published either in books or on the internet is but one interpretation of the clues, subject to debate and re-evaluation and to be labeled a big, fat MAYBE.

On a final note, I am hosting a giveaway for my second book in paperback form. There will be three winners, ENTER NOW to see you will be one of them!

3 Facts About Viking Saunas to Use at Dinner Parties

If you enjoy having interesting pieces of trivia to share at family gatherings during the holidays, or just to have on hand at dinner parties with friends or colleagues, you will want to hold on to these three facts about the use of saunas during the Viking Age.

Sauna Fact #1: Saunas were also dwellings (at first).

Among their many other claims to fame, the Finns are probably most proud of having invented the sauna. The first saunas are thought to have doubled up as the primary dwellings of early Finns, and they began turning their houses into saunas by heating stones in the fireplace for extended periods of time and pouring water over these stones to create steam. The temperature in the room is thought to have risen enough for the Finns to take off their clothes. What happens after that is well known history.

Sauna Fact #2: Saunas were a common feature on Viking Age Scandinavian Farms.

The Vikings are known for many things, but cleanliness does not usually top the list. Interestingly, the people we refer to today as the Vikings were in fact extremely personal hygiene oriented. Recent revisions to history have demonstrated that cleanliness was a cultural must among the pre-Christian Scandinavians. Saunas were readily adopted from Finland and became a common feature of the farmstead. Like their Finnish neighbors, they used heated rocks to create steam in small washrooms and bathe at least once per week if not more. The Vikings also made use of hot springs to bathe in winter where available.

Sauna Fact #3: Vikings loved their saunas so much, they built them where they went.

It seems obvious that Scandinavians who left home would take with them a desire to remain clean in their new colonies, but until recently building saunas abroad was not a verifiable practice. Evidence of Viking saunas abroad have turned up in archeological digs in several countries in recent times, supporting the idea that saunas were a cherished cultural phenom. Most impressive among the finds is evidence that colonists in Greenland and Newfoundland built saunas, leaving behind traditional bathing platforms and an array of scorched stones.

Further reading:

Dubois, Thomas. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999

Nordskog, Hautala. The Opposite of Cold-The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition. University of Minnesota Press, 2010.