We all think of Vikings as warlike people, but most of their time was spent working the land and building and repairing homes, ships, and farming implements. Everyday Viking dress reflected that and was practical and hard-wearing rather than elaborate or battle-related. The Scandinavian climate is harsh. Long cold winters and mild, sometimes rainy summers mean that any clothing has to keep out the cold and damp. As a result, Old Norse people favored layers of wool, linen, animal skins, and furs to keep themselves warm and dry. So What Did The Vikings Wear? Vikings were no different from othe ..read more

Looking for the perfect name? There are hundreds of unique names of the Norse gods, Viking warriors, elves, gnomes, and dwarfs in the books of Norse mythology. Gods like Thor, Loki, Odin, and Frida need no introduction, but lesser-known names of the old Icelandic people are quite beautiful, and all hold special meanings. Whether you need a Norse name for a tabletop RPG, a pet name, or a random Viking name baby name, we have you covered. What Is A Norse Name Generator? A Norse name generator scours the hundreds of Norse names found within Norse mythology to find good Viking names and a brief ..read more

We have seen many examples of Norse legendary characters in the Marvel comics and films, such as Thor, Loki, Odin, Frigg, and even Thor’s goats. In some cases, the movie events tie in with the legends. However, they are many examples of the films bending the truth a little, and others where they bear no resemblance whatsoever to the ancient myths. Here, we discover just what is accurate and what has been introduced to make the movie and comic book narratives flow a little more seamlessly. Are The Norse Related Events In The Marvel Movies Based on Viking Mythology? The answer is yes; some are ..read more

The TV series characters Ragnar Lothbrok, Ivar the Boneless, Floki and Bjorn Ironside all existed, however, there are a number of historical inaccuracies as well. The phenomenal success of the History Channel TV show Vikings, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Thor’s impact in the Marvel Universe has provoked huge interest in Norse mythology. One of the first things fans search for is whether the characters they see onscreen are, in fact, real people. They also ask how closely the show reflects what actually happened all those hundreds of years ago. Vikings’ first airing was on the Hist ..read more

Gná, the 13th Ásynjur goddess listed in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, is the goddess of fullness. Her duties as a handmaiden include running errands and delivering messages and prayers to Frigg on her trusty horse Hófvarpnir. Snorri Sturluson describes the handmaidens just as powerful as the Æsir gods, yet there are few references to them in surviving Nordic texts. These Norse goddesses show up very little within the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda but sometimes appear on protection runes. Frigg’s Handmaidens Frigg’s handmaidens are also referred to as Ásynjur goddesses. In Old Norse myths and s ..read more

Loki was the son of Farbauti and Laufey and birthed six children. However, his playful antics were nothing compared to his six children. Loki was the father (and, in one case, the mother) of six children that played an influential role in the lives of the Gods, as well as Ragnarök. Loki’s Six Children Loki’s six children played a significant role in Norse mythology, but not all were evil. While some were so powerful that they felled even the most mightily Æsir gods, others were used for good (like Sleipnir). Jörmungandr Jörmungandr, aka the Midgard Serpent, is one of the most powerful beings ..read more

Norse Paganism and Christianity are often at odds. Pagans are polytheistic (they worship many gods), while Christians are monotheistic (they worship just one god). When Christianity landed in the Nordic lands of Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Scandinavia, and Norway, the two religions struggled to live harmoniously. As Christian beliefs took hold amongst the Germanic people, Norse mythology began to fade away. Let’s look at the obvious differences between the Christian faith and Norse Paganism and Christianity’s effect during the Viking age. What is the Difference Between Norse paganism and Chris ..read more

A drengr was an Old Norse masculine noun meaning “a gallant or chivalrous man.” Calling a person “drengr” was the highest compliment you could pay them in the Viking age. It would mean the person had a kind of reckless courage but with a good sense of fair play. To be a drengr was such an important feature of Norse society that the sagas constantly mentioned it, and it is often found inscribed on rune stones next to the bodies of Vikings. Drengr Meaning And Etymology The word “drengr” comes from the Proto-Germanic drangijaz, which means “man” or “servant” and “staff” or “stake.” It is a cogn ..read more