Norse Mythology and The Vikings

Hi guys, it's Bryan here ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ

Couple weeks back, I randomly bumped into a song called Drown (Sang by Milet) on YouTube. It was so good that I looped the song for days. Later, I realized that it was the outro music for anime Vinland Sage. So I watched the anime that is basically about a boy joining a group of Viking raiders to avenge his father who was killed by the leader of these raiders. The anime was really fun, but more importantly, the way Vikings was portrayed in the show made me interested in the Viking cultures and its Norse mythology. In this blog post, I want to share with you some of the reasons that drew my interest to Norse mythology. 

My understanding of Norse mythology is based on a radio program that I listened to over the summer. It may or may not be accurate; plus the fact that Norse mythology is not very systematical, as it is comprised of many little stories told by many different people. So please read for fun, don't take it too seriously.

If, after reading this blog, you became interested in Norse mythology like I did, you can read books like The Children of Odin by Padraic Colum and The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion by Danial McCoy.

Yellow - Married; Pink - Affair
Red - Blood brother; White - Children

Difference with modern culture

I began knowing the Norse mythology from the Avengers movie. As I gained more understanding of
the Norse mythology, I was surprised to learn that Loki is not the brother of Thor, but rather the brother of Odin; and Loki is not the brother of Hel, but rather the father of Hel, Fenrir, and the world serpent. (See family tree on the right)

Loki is one of the iconic characters of Norse mythology. He is neither just or evil. He sometimes help the gods, and he sometimes tricks them. Before Ragnarok, the final battle of gods, Loki turned against the gods, killed Baldr (the god of light), and created monsters like the world serpent, Fenrir, and Hel (god of death). 

Loki is also a shape-shifter, which means he can turn into any human or even any creatures... So one day, when he was trying to trick a giant, he turned into a beautiful mare and lured away the giant's male horse, and... that's why there is a horse in his family tree.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Valhalla

Vikings don't really care about virtues or goodness; they care more about living with money and fames and dying with honor. And Valhalla is a great representation of this spirit. Valhalla is the sacred hall that Odin built to train soldiers for the final battle of gods --- Ragnarok. It was said that half of the warriors that died in the battlefield, will be lead by the Valkyries to live in Valhalla. There, they will train and fight every daytime, and at night, their wounds will heal and they will enjoy foods and wines. Unlike other culture, which says people ascend to a place of virtue and peace after their death, Vikings ascend to another battle arena. And the ones who could go to Valhalla was not the kindest human, but the man who fought the hardest and died the most honorably. Considering how harsh Viking's land (Denmark, Norway, and even Iceland) are, it make sense for the Vikings to value power and honor. 

Human-like features of the Gods

The gods in Norse mythology are not almighty, nor are they immortal. These mortal gods are subject to their final fate --- Ragnarok, meaning "the Twilight of the Gods". 

Gods in Norse mythology also have human-like personalities. They are gold-seeking; they steal; they wage wars; and they frequently interfere with human affairs. In many ways, the greed of these gods lead to the destruction of themselves in the form of Ragnarok. 

Ragnarok is a very interesting story in Norse mythology. It is not just a huge battle, but a series of events that symbolize the gradual corruption of gods. If you have a chance to read it, you will be able to feel the downfall of Asgard (god's world) and the increasing greed of the gods. 

But for me, I think Ragnarok reflects the Viking lifestyle, which they were not bound by virtues, and they were trying to enjoy life before it ends unexpectedly. Because even gods can die...

*Spoiler Alert!*

In the ending of Norse mythology, many gods, including Odin himself, died during Ragnarok, and the world was submerged in the water. Eventually, the world resurfaced, and the two human survivors rebuilt human civilization. 

Vikings in PNW

Some say that Norse explorer Leif Eriksson landed in North America 500 years before Columbus. When he first found North America, he named the place "Vinland". Scandinavian culture has profound influence in the Pacific Northwest region. And the closest place that you can enjoy Viking culture is Poulsbo. You can take a look at my previous blog post about Poulsbo to learn about the town. 

Poulsbo used to host Viking fest every year to celebrate Scandinavian culture. unfortunately, the event this year is cancelled due to COVID. But in the future, you should pay a visit to the fest, so you can drink and feast like a Viking!

Stay Healthy and Stay Strong, drengr! ("powerful and brave warrior" in old norse)

Bryan Yuan

11/13/2020