#THE SAGA OF ERIK THE VIKING

[retrocgads]

UK 1985

[gbhbl]

Album Review: Brothers of Metal - Fimbulvinter (AFM Records)

Swedish Vikings, Brothers of Metal will release their new album, Fimbulvinter, on 1st November, through AFM Records. Brothers of Metal are a rising phenomenon on the international metal scene delivering catchy songs that pay homage to both heavy metal and the Norse gods. Their first two album releases, Prophecy Of Ragnarök in 2017 and Emblas Saga in 2020, earned the band an outstanding…

[loki-was-framed]

For the sensible people who don't get it, “Eiríkr inn rauði” is "Erik the Red" in Old Norse.

For the one person who got it and thought it was funny: nice.

[broomsick]

Hi! I’m an agnostic with an interest in learning more about Norse polytheism, and I have a question about the way that the sagas and myths are interpreted.

Are the sagas (and other Norse myths) viewed as having actually happened at some point, or are they viewed more as symbolic/metaphorical, like a fable or an allegory?

Hi there! Thank you for the ask! This a topic I very much enjoy discussing, and I'll be glad to give you my thoughts on the matter.

Before I can properly explain what the sagas are, I'll determine what they aren't. They aren't to be confused with myths, such as the ones that make up nordic mythology. They are not part of that mythology for a plethora of reasons. While mythology pertains to deities we know have been worshipped as such at some point in time, the sagas are stories of human beings. More often than not, they mean to tell historical events, which represents a major difference with the myths. A saga often recounts the history of a particular dynasty, or family, and a lot of the characters who appear in them are either: 1. folk heroes, such as Wayland the Smith, who appears in the Þiðreks saga, or Sigurðr Sigmundsson, who appears in the Völsunga saga; Or 2. famous, historically attested figures, such as Erik the Red, whose story is told in the Eiríks saga rauða, or Harald Fairhair, who appears in Snorri's Haralds saga hárfagra.

This is another parrticularity which differentiates a myth and saga: the latter often brings to life real life historical figures, or even attested events. Still, these stories are steeped in folklore. They mix magic and history, and the line quickly blurs between reality and fiction. And considering that many of the sagas' authors remain unknown to this day (that is the case for the Icelanders' sagas), there is a limit to how much we can trust their writings. In fact, there is very little historical fact to be found in the sagas. However, some of the events they describe seem to hold some amout of truth! For example, it's speculated that the viking remains found in Dorset could have been the bodies of captured men who appear in the Jómsvíkinga saga. And Eirik the Red did in fact sail from Norway to Greenland and North America, making him and his crew the first Europpeans to land in the Americas. And when it comes to the stories of famous Scandinavian dynasties, the sagas serve to explain, using both fact and fiction, how this or that famous king has earned a throne.

Now, what makes these stories interesting to us as pagans? Well, as is often the case, the answer varies from one practionner to the next. To read the sagas is not a necessary part of the nordic pagan path. But to me, it helps to get to know the faith a little better. It allows us to better understand the cultural and historical context behind certain beliefs ad practices. They often showcase the very last accounts of ancient festivals, rituals, or famous temples. They are a tool of choice for many scholars, who, of course, are still forced to try and tell truth from fiction. But they're a fun read overall, and I highly recommend looking into them!

As for the myths, by which we mean the stories which compose what's called norse mythology, they are generally viewed as metaphors. They're a way for us to see our Gods come to life, and to find out some of their most prominent characteristics. The amount of credit you choose to put into mythology is entirely up to you, but I can confidently say that most pagans don't take them at face value. They're a fun way to help us imagine what the Gods might be like! For example, most agree that Týr is brave, Freyja, headstrong, and Frigg, caring. These are examples of details we can try to figure out if we read between the lines of these myths. What's most important to keep in mind, however, is the fact that many of these myths were heavily influenced by their authors. For example, Snorri, famously a Christian priest and Icelandic politician, would manipulate certain stories to better serve his political goals. It's widely accepted for example, that elements of the myths such as Angrboða and some other such lovers of the Gods were most likely invented during the 12th century, era during which a lot of the myths we know today were being compiled by priests. These changes often served to fill in the gaps left by a tradition of exclusively transmitting folklore orally. We can only speculate as to how much of the myths were truly part of pre-Christian oral tradition, which makes it even more relevant to exercise skepticism around mythology.

[facts-i-just-made-up]

I haven't been in my home country of Norway for a while. Need some facts about it to remain sane please

Norway is a tropical island nation off the coast of Paraguay. Founded in 1914 by Tenzing Norge, the isle of Norway was quickly overrun by invaders from the neighboring Viking nation of Scandinavia.

Viking Norway lasted from 1915 to 1971, and the battles and treaties between various Viking leaders are recorded as a "Saga" by historian Brian K. Vaughan. Events in the Saga include the discovery of the Americas by Leif Erikson, the conquest of Terra Cimmeria by Erik Leifson, the recording of developmental psychology by Erik Erikson, and the invention of the Harmonica by Leif Leifson.

In 1971, Christianity was introduced to Norway by St. Olaf of Arendelle. Olaf was opposed by the Pagan leader King Cnut. That's C-N-U-T, read more carefully. Cnut was able to hold Olaf back for several years with his magical power of controlling the tides, but eventually, St. Olaf was able to land and convert the nation to Christianity, which resulted in the manufacture of numerous churches, which in turn provided firewood for numerous heavy metal singers like Paul Waaktaar-Savoy.

Today in 2011, Norway is a prospering nation with the strongest economy in the world, owing to their main export of Whale-Lard. Norwegian Whale-Lard is an important ingredient in McDonald's fries, Apple's iPhone A16 processors, and the elixir that keeps Jimmy Carter alive.

Norway is also shaped like a soup ladle.

[glitterytorturedpoet]

the review: vikings valhalla s3

NGL I had high hopes for the series finale. Largely because it's understood that we're finally closing the door on the Vikings universe. For a long time during hiatus I had been unsure where the story would go. With the release of the trailer, I had been even more lost but naively I assumed we were only getting a glimpse at early episodes so I didn't really freak out. Sitting down to the first episode it was evident we would be spending some time in Constantinople, which along with the fast pace of episodes surprised me. IMO writers spent way too much time in the far western world, just so Harald could play hookie. When he and the storyline finally did climax I honestly walked away feeling as though he deserved the unfortunate turn of events because only a fool would behave the way he did. Suffice to say I had a really hard time believing his character would take such a far left path. It was an absolutely ridiculous way to conclude an epic character. In the end I thought Harald turned out to mirror his great grandfather Harald Finehair. An even more ridiculous notion as I seriously doubt Harald Sigurdsson portrayed by the ever gorgeous Leo Sutter could ever have trouble finding a woman to belong to. What's more, Leif's storyline - which is always placed in the shadows - was painfully unnoticeable. Most of his scenes were irrelevant and meaningless serving no other point than to say he was interested in the same land that Freydis, and Bjorn were. Which leads me to my next comment. Freydis by far had the best storyline throughout the season. I enjoyed my return to Jomsburg which in many ways felt like the Kattegat we knew in Vikings. She had a great opponent and every scene was full of purpose, intention and action. My only criticism was that she wasn't able to get formal closure for the pain she did suffer. Nor did we see her finally reunite with her tribe and kin. I was also incredibly disappointed by the surprise arrival of her father. Erik the Red, a legendary beserker that had been greatly teased in earlier seasons. When we finally meet him in season 3, I was incredibly unimpressed by his design and stature. As far as opposing fathers go, I think Canute's father Jarl Forkbeard takes the cake. I had assumed Erik would have such a presence but he more closely fell in the ranks of the insane Kjetill. And a watered down version at that. As an audience member I have to say I never felt afraid of him which I think was a blemish to his character. Harekr was far more effective in season 2 and I'm not sure that was the intention. Moving on to the heirs of Canute: the second best storyline of the show. I was really disappointed this storyline didn't get more airtime. I would've preferred to spend more time exploring Canute's heirs than Harald and Leif's ridiculous saga in Constantinople and Greece. The focus I think would've felt more true to the show, but that's another argument i suppose. My only criticism with this storyline was not seeing the end of Earl Godwin. The character that's served as Valhalla's Little Finger [game of thrones ref]. I have been longing to see his head on a plate since season 1, and i was bummed it didn't happen in season 2. That it didn't occur in season 3 absolutely infuriated me. But it was a calculated decision that i think the writers were right about. At least he'll live another day to fight with Emma.

overall: 6/10 Just not what it should've been.

[apenitentialprayer]

The Lack of Privacy in Pre-Modern Europe

11th Century Iceland

Was this scene typical of the [Icelandic] sagas? Love scenes there are in plenty — enough that historian Jenny Jochens needed a dozen pages of her book, Women in Old Norse Society, to explain how a woman became pregnant. First the man "placed her on his lap . . . and talked with her so all could see it," talk that was visible with kisses and caresses. Then he might stretch out with his head in her lap and let her pick lice out of his hair. (Another sure sign of love is a woman offering to sew a man's wide shirtsleeves tight around his wrists, a daily task before buttons were common.) After a bit he might take her by the hand and lead her to a more private spot [...] For married couples such scenes take place in the crowded skáli, the main room of the long house, where the whole household slept on the wide benches that lined the walls on either side of the longfire and could listen in while spouses who were at odds "settled the matter between them as though nothing had happened." High-class couples like Gudrid and Karlsefni might have plank walls and a door separating their sleeping space from that of their farmhands and family, but for most couples, the only privacy in a longhouse was provided by the dark.

- Nancy Marie Brown (The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman, pages 59, 60). Bolded emphases added.

16th Century Germany

Luther's family occupied a narrow dark house with a few small and low rooms, badly lighted and badly aired, in which parents and children were huddled together; it is also probable that all or most of the family, that is, of both sexes, slept together, naked, in one broad alcove.

Paul J. Rieter (Martin Luthers Umwelt, Charakter und Psychose, page 362), trans. Erik Erikson

17th Century France

Moreover, the Daphin's sexual education was not merely verbal. At night the child would often be taken into the beds of his waiting women — beds which they shared (without nightdresses or pajamas) either with other women or their husbands. [... A] seventeenth century palace was totally without privacy. Architects had not yet invented the corridor. To get from one part of the building to another, one simply walked through a succession of other people's rooms, in which literally anything might be going on. [...] Less fortunate in this respect than his or her inferiors, a royal personage was never permitted to be alone. If one's blood were blue, one was born in a crowd, one died in a crowd, one even relieved nature in a crowd and on occasion had to make love in a crowd. And the nature of the circumambient architecture was such that one could scarcely avoid others being born, dying, relieving nature and making love.

- Aldous Huxley (The Devils of Loudun, page 12). Bolded emphases added.

19th Century Denmark

It's true that male artists and intellectuals, often from relatively wealthy families, would seek out each other's company and friendship during their youth and early adulthood. Men of the lower social classes, on the other hand, were forced to do so right from childhood. In the early part of the century, a man's attitude toward and relationship with other men was not burdened by the anxiety about touching that exists among many men today. Fear, envy, and a sense of competition were not the only emotions at play among men [of this time]; security, intimacy, and love were also present, nourished in particular by the more or less compulsory sharing of beds in those days. Around 1800 the two sexes were strictly separated in terms of their work and free time. [...] Whether a boy was an only child, like Hans Christian Andersen, or grew up with a swarm of siblings, he would be accustomed to sharing a bed with other males. "Farm hand with farm hand, and farm hand with boy" was the rule rather than the exception.

- Jens Andersen (Hans Christian Andersen: A New Life, page 157), trans. Tiina Nunnally). Bolded emphases added.

[michellesmusing]

The Adventures of Goran and GoranTwo: A Social Media Saga

In a cozy café tucked away on a quiet street, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Goran Visnjic, renowned for his captivating performances on both screen and stage, sat alone at a corner table, his gaze fixated on his phone. The notifications from Instagram danced like fireflies in the dim light, but one particular post caught his attention—a vibrant collection of screencaps featuring none other than himself as Erik The Red from Vikings Valhalla. The moderators of Goran Visnjic Daily, a fan account managed by two spirited women named Michelle and Alejandria, had outdone themselves this time.

"Wow," he murmured, a smile creeping across his face as he scrolled through the images. The artistry, the colors, and the raw energy captured in each frame spoke to his soul. He felt a familiar flutter of pride, almost as if he were viewing a masterpiece on display.

But then, the thought struck him: he had to save these screencaps. Yes, had to. He had always loved capturing moments, adding a personal touch to his digital life. Yet, when it came to technology, he often found himself floundering in the deep end of the pool, gasping for air.

“GoranTwo!” he exclaimed, half-enthusiastically and half-desperately, as he fished his phone from the warm, inviting space of his pocket. "I need your help again, my friend!”

GoranTwo, a tech-savvy wizard of sorts, was accustomed to Goran Visnjic’s half-baked tech endeavors. They’d been friends for years, forged in the fires of shared experiences, from auditions to tutus of life’s eccentricities. But this? This was a new level.

“You won’t believe how amazing these posts look!” he declared, his excitement bubbling over. “I just need to save them, you know, for memories!” There was a pause on the other end of the line; he could almost hear GoranTwo rolling his eyes in amusement.

“Alright, let’s walk through this,” GoranTwo replied, his voice calm, almost mechanical, yet filled with that familiar warmth. “First, open the post and make sure you’ve paused the video. Can you do that?”

“Pause the video… Yes, I can do that!” Goran assured him, his fingers working like an amateur pianist on a challenging piece. He fiddled with the screen until the moving images finally froze in place, allowing him to drink in the details.

“Perfect! Now, do you see those two buttons at the bottom? One’s a little square, and the other is a triangle?”

“Wait, I think I just pressed the triangle. Is that bad?” Panic tinged his voice as he imagined scrolling through an endless feed of irrelevant memes.

“No, no, carry on. Just click the square next,” GoranTwo instructed, patiently guiding his friend through the jungle of Instagram features.

Goran Visnjic followed each step carefully, but his clumsiness came back to haunt him. “Wait, I think I made a mistake!” He sounded like a toddler who had accidentally spilled juice over a prized rug. “The screen went black. Did I break something?”

“Just breathe, Goran,” GoranTwo chuckled. “That’s just your screen timeout. Swipe it back up.”

Goran obeyed, and the images reappeared. However, as excitement washed over him, he accidentally tapped the screencap button several times in rapid succession. The app began glitching, and his heart dropped; he feared the worst.

“Uh, GoranTwo? I think I… I think I broke it! I’m seeing a spinning wheel… and some weird message about too many requests?”

“Holy smokes! Goran, you’ve got to stop! You’ve frozen your Instagram account!”

“Frozen? In what sense?” He felt panic rising like a bubble in a carbonated drink.

“Like… You can’t post or save anything at the moment. You’ve hit some sort of limit,” GoranTwo explained, trying to keep his tone light despite the evident distress behind the message.

“Can I just send you a screenshot? I’m getting dizzy here!”

With a few clumsy taps, he attempted to send the screenshot, but another error message popped up. The technology gods were not smiling at him today. He felt like a caveman trying to figure out fire.

“Goran, this is all happening because you’re trying too hard at once. Just focus. Take a deep breath,” GoranTwo advised.

“Okay, okay! One deep breath… or maybe ten,” he replied. “I can’t believe I’ve done this. How will I explain it to Michelle and Alejandria? They’ll think I’m a total idiot!”

“Relax, buddy. It’s tech; it happens to the best of us. Remember when I couldn’t figure out how to stream our performance last year? Look, just hang tight. I will reach out to Michelle and Alejandria and find a way to unlock your account.”

As GoranTwo worked behind the scenes, Goran leaned back in his chair, a mix of embarrassment and admiration washing over him. He could only imagine what Michelle and Alejandria would say, probably rolling in laughter.

Minutes later, his phone buzzed. It was a message from GoranTwo. “Good news! Michelle & Alejandria are on board. They’ll help you restore your account. Just apologize for the fright!”

With a sigh of relief, Goran shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face. "Maybe I should stick to acting…" he muttered. But then, with a mischievous grin, he added, “Or maybe a career in tech support?”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, turning the café into a warm haven, Goran knew that for every technological blunder, there was a story to share, a laugh to be had, and friendships to deepen.

After all, the world of fame came with its quirks, and navigating through it—especially with a “GoranTwo” beside him—made every mishap a little more bearable.

And with that thought, he raised his cup of coffee, savoring the bittersweet taste of friendship and the adventures still to come.

@accio-baqat I can't stop laughing hahah!

[bananafleshgirl]

So. You seem to know quite a bit about Norse magical traditions, and I'm wondering your opinion on something. On the seidr wiki, I came across the mention of seidr being a practice of 'shamanic trembling' and autohypnosis via hyperventilation. While I think this definitely fits the scene from Fargo, I saw other sources saying they don't put stock in the trembling/seething hypothesis. What do you think? I know mostly about low magic (i.e. immediately understood the sin eating scene, did not know wtf to think of the goat ritual), so I'm a bit 🙃🤷‍♀️

Historically speaking, there is very little knowledge about actual historical practice, anything you can find will fill in the gaps if you are currently practicing it or make a minimally close representation of what would happen during the act. The reality is that literally no one does it, no one knows how it was practiced or what it was for, we have about 2 sentences in the Erik the Red saga that are incredibly vague and that's what we should do, any seidr you see now will be entirely manufactured by whoever is preaching it. no one knows the "real" seidr, it is entirely guesswork and varies greatly from person to person. I recommend you check out The Viking Way and Children of Ash and Elm, both by Neil Price, they are robust books, but they are good starting points to pick up on the few vague suggestions that have survived, from there, using these details you can create your own modern interpretation of seidr... Unfortunately this is all that is known, the information I have was taken from sources like this, vague and not very exact, the issue of gender is well addressed because it was something seen as feminine but odin practiced it, so the from there came several elaborations, etc.

The ancient pagan meaning of “animal sacrifice” was to prepare dinner. It is a way of honoring the animal that dies so that we can eat and live. This is the only type of animal sacrifice that any Wiccan tradition teaches. Goats have been raised and then sacrificed as human food for thousands of years. I'm not sure what Ole did in that scene, but it reminded me a lot of rites that were done by some warrior tribes in the mountains who had the custom of “bleeding” a new generation of soldiers by cutting a goat and using its blood to mark the young men, on certain festive occasions. The goat then becomes part of the party, which makes sense since Ole is apparently preparing for combat, he didn't ingest any part of the goat, I believe that perhaps Ole was preparing for combat, especially considering some things he says in Latin that seem to be from the Latin Vulgate Bible: "Cumque portaverit hircus omnes iniquitates eorum in terram solitariam, et dimissus fuerit in desert". [Omnes iniquitates] filiorum Israhel, et universa delicta atque peccat[a eorum...] The first sentence is Leviticus 16:22: "And the goat will bear all their iniquities into a land not inhabited; and he will release the goat into the wilderness." It's about the sacrificial goat of Yom Kippur that absorbs the sins of penitents and absolves them by proxy. The next phrase, which the series distorts a little (and is also somewhat omitted), is merely providing an explanatory phrase for the immediately preceding verse: "[... All the iniquities] of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins..." (in the show this is distorted to something like: With all the chivalry of those who were in solidarity with him (repeated twice ). He marched into the wilderness of Israel and everything was conquered.)

I'm not really sure, but here's my two cents.

[goranvisnjicdaily]

Goran Višnjić appeared in an unrecognizable edition in the last season of the Netflix series " Vikings: Valhalla"

Goran Višnjić appeared in an unrecognizable edition in the last season of the Netflix series " Vikings: Valhalla"

Our famous actor joined the cast of the well-known historical series, which will be shown on July 11, the day after the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, where he will play in the play "Equinocija".

In addition to the fact that we will be able to see our famous actor Goran Višnjić this summer after a long time at the Dubrovnik Summer Games in the play "Equinocija", the series "Vikings: Valhalla" will arrive on Netflix next week, in which he plays Erik the Red, the father of Leif Eriksson and Freydis Eriksdotter.

Višnjić is an actor reinforcement in the series whose first season was shown in 2022, and this season was also announced as the last of this historical saga.

"This is going to be fun. I can't wait. Didn't you love the first season of Vikings? It's great," Višnjić wrote on his social networks back in 2022 when he learned that he would be starring in the series, and these days he boasted of scenes from the series in which he appears unrecognizable, like a real long-haired and long-bearded Viking.

The plot of the last season is set in England, 100 years after the events of the first part of the series, and deals with the tensions between the descendants of the Vikings and the native English. Our celebrated mask master Ana Bulajić Črček also worked on the series , and part of the series was filmed in Dubrovnik.

These days, Goran Višnjić is staying in his native Šibenik, and in a few days he will go to Dubrovnik, where the last rehearsals for Vojnović's "Equinocija" will continue, directed by Krešimir Dolenčić , which will be played at Posat, the newest festival location. In Equinox, Goran will play Nika Marinović, a rich returnee from America, and his partner will be Zrinka Cvitešić , who plays Jele, his youthful love. Thus, for the first time, two local actors with enviable foreign careers will unite their acting forces at the Dubrovnik Summer Games. The play will be in the repertoire from July 27 to 31, after which both Zrinka and Goran go on a well-deserved vacation with their partners and families, and they recently talked about their plans in an interview with Gloria . "I have a vacation with the kids for the whole eighth month, of course, unless something new comes along. You know that our acting work is often unpredictable," Višnjić said.

Source 👉 HERE

I knew Erik the Red was the father of Freydis Eriksdotter. I really can't wait for "Vikings: Valhalla" next week to air on Netflix. Stay tuned for screencaps of the show next week!

Have a good week end everyone :)

[liberty1776]

Werenskiold also did many fine illustrations of Viking Sagas.

[retrocgads]

UK 1985

[common-misconceptions-daily]

Christopher Columbus was not the first European to visit the Americas:[286] Leif Erikson, and possibly other Vikings before him, explored Vinland, which is presumably both Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as far as northeastern New Brunswick. Ruins at L'Anse aux Meadows prove that at least one Norse settlement was built in Newfoundland, confirming a story in the Saga of Erik the Red. Further, Columbus never reached mainland North America, only mainland South America (1498–1500) and various American islands.

[stuartbramhall]

Viking and Native American Explorers.

Episode 7 Viking and Native American Explorers The Middle Ages Around the World Dr Joyce E Salisbury Film Review The Viking visits to North America are recorded in two Norse sagas: the Saga of Greenland and the Saga of the New World. Much of the detail contained in these works ha been confirmed by archeological evidence In 982 AD (during the 800-13000 AD warming period), Erik the Red established…

[nordic-explorer]

Sources

• Adam of Bremen’s chronicle on the History of the Hamburg Archbishops

https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1000Vinland.asp

https://vikingraiders.yolasite.com/resources/Ohthere-dual.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/place/Vinland#ref226397

https://www.worldhistory.org/Saga/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leif-Erikson

https://go-gale-com.eznvcc.vccs.edu/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&searchType=ts&userGroupName=viva2_nvcc&inPS=true&contentSegment=&prodId=WHIC&docId=GALE|CBXLPI736227324&it=r

Youtube source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOqUZnc6eLI

Vinland

Berger, Miriam. "Researchers date earliest known Viking settlement in North America to 1021." Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale In Context: World History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A679726497/WHIC?u=viva2_nvcc&sid=bookmark-WHIC&xid=eb731e5b. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.

Groeneveld, E. (2018, September 10). Vinland. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Vinland/

Wallace, B. (2023, July 7). Vinland. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Vinland

Erik the Red and Leif Erikson

Wallace, B. (2023, August 5). Erik the Red. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erik-the-Red

Anonymous, "The Saga of Erik the Red", J. Sephton, Icelandic Saga Database, Sveinbjorn Thordarson (ed.), URL =

Greenland

Groeneveld, E. (2018, April 03). Viking Age Greenland. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1208/viking-age-greenland/

Anonymous, "The Saga of Erik the Red", J. Sephton, Icelandic Saga Database, Sveinbjorn Thordarson (ed.), URL =

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/erik-the-red/

Kornei, K. (2021, October 30). Vikings Were in the Americas Exactly 1,000 Years Ago. International New York Times, NA. https://link-gale-com.eznvcc.vccs.edu/apps/doc/A680616907/WHIC?u=viva2_nvcc&sid=bookmark-WHIC&xid=4c6ec176

[chaya-mga2022mi5014]

FATHER : Collecting research to build the name, attributes / traits, history and setting (back story)

CHARACTER 1 : Father (Homeowner)

For this, I decided to look into the actual lives of male Vikings and Viking fathers to collect research and to take inspiration from. As most historical figures I found had similar stories and was described to have very similar attributes, I tried to look for ones that stand out and seemed more interesting, and below are what I found. 

1. Name: "Ragnar Lodbrok" (Shaggy-Breeches) 

Ragnar is known to have had three sons: Halbdan, Inwaer (Ivar the Boneless), and Hubba (Ubbe).

Attributes/Traits:

Fierce warrior and leader

Known for his long, shaggy breeches, which earned him the nickname "Lodbrok" (Shaggy-Breeches)

He is also for his many wives and children, including the famous Viking warrior, Bjorn Ironside

Cunning and ambitious

History:

According to legend, Ragnar was a legendary Viking ruler and warrior, who lived in the 9th century.

He is said to have been a great leader and a fierce fighter, who led many successful raids on England and France.

He is also said to have been captured and killed by King Aella of Northumbria, who threw him into a pit of snakes as punishment for his raids on England. 

Setting:

Ragnar's story takes place in Scandinavia and England during the 9th century. During this time, the Vikings were known for their seafaring and raiding, and were feared for their fierce warrior culture. The setting of Ragnar's story includes both the rugged and wild landscapes of Scandinavia and the more civilized and orderly societies of England and France.  

(sources: www.historic-uk.com, www.worldhistory.org) 

2. Name: "Erik the Red"

Attributes/Traits:

Brave and adventurous explorer

Known for his red hair and beard, which is where he got his nickname, "Erik the Red".

Known for his leadership skills and his ability to establish a settlement in Greenland despite the harsh living conditions.

He is also known for his strong sense of determination and his willingness to take risks and explore new territories.

History:

Erik the Red was a Norwegian Viking explorer, who is most famous for being the first European to discover and settle in Greenland.

He was born in Norway but was exiled from the country for manslaughter. He then settled in Iceland and later discovered Greenland in 985.

He led a successful colony in Greenland and became a respected leader among the settlers.

Setting:

Erik the Red's story takes place in Norway, Iceland and Greenland during the 10th century. During this time, the Vikings were known for their seafaring and exploring, and were interested in new territories and trade opportunities. The setting of Erik's story includes the rugged and cold landscapes of Greenland, the relatively more settled Iceland and the more civilized society of Norway.

3. Name: "Halli the Fool"

Attributes/Traits:

Halli is known for his foolishness and lack of common sense.

He is also known for his clumsiness and tendency to make mistakes.

Despite his shortcomings, Halli was well-liked by his fellow Vikings for his jovial and good-natured personality.

History:

Halli was a Viking warrior who lived during the 10th century.

He is mentioned in the Norse sagas, where he is portrayed as a bit of a buffoon and a source of comic relief.

He is said to have been a member of the herd, a group of warriors who served a chieftain, and accompanied him on various raids and battles.

Setting:

The research found to be about Halli is extremely low but Halli's story takes place during the Viking Age, in various locations throughout the Viking world. He is said to have participated in raids in England and Scotland, as well as battles against other Viking groups. 

4. Name: “Egil Skallagrímsson”

Attributes/Traits:

Egil was known to be fiercely independent and headstrong.

He had a fierce temper and was quick to anger, but also had a strong sense of loyalty to his friends and family.

He was a skilled warrior and feared berserker on the battlefield.

Despite his reputation as a fierce warrior, he was also known for his poetry and his love of skaldic verse.

He was also known for his drunkenness and wild behavior. 

History:

Egil Skallagrímsson was a 10th century Icelandic warrior and skald (poet).

He was the son of Skalla-Grímr, a powerful chieftain in 10th-century Iceland.

He was also known for his poetry and his love of skaldic verse. He composed poetry to honor his friends and to mock his enemies.

He was also known for his drunkenness and wild behavior, and was said to have committed many deeds which were considered foolish.

(source: https://www.sagadb.org/egils_saga.en, “Egil Skallagrimsson and the Viking Ideal” by Christina von Nolcken, from the University of Chicago)  

5. Name: Sweyn Forkbeard

Attributes/Traits:

Sweyn was known for his imposing figure and physical strength, but also for his love of practical jokes and pranks.

He was also known for his fondness for drinks and hearty laughter.

Sweyn was a powerful warrior and leader, but also had a reputation for being something of a jester among his men. 

(source: https://www.historic-uk.com)

. . .

That concludes my research on male Vikings and Viking fathers I did in order to create my own character who will be a Viking father of two. You will surely be able to see inspiration taken from these attributes and history when I’m designing my own character.