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Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in vikings

Posted by on in Paths Blogs

Heathens were known for high grooming standards, in comparison to other European peoples. They even had a day of the week set aside for ritual bathing, Laugrdagr, which later became Saturday. How much this custom was influenced by Rome and Byzantium is an open question, but the question that intrigues me right now is: what did they use for fragrances? Or did they not use them?

My new fascination with perfumes and my lifelong study of heathen history intersect here. I didn't recall ever seeing any mention of what perfumes the ancient heathens made or wore, either in the Viking Age or before. But I thought that possibly it was because I was not seeking that information when I read about those times.

When Germanic mercenaries served the Emperor of Byzantium, they lived among his courtiers in Constantinople, and were seen at his palace enough for historical accounts of their doings to have been written by Emperors and Imperial courtiers. They were effectively a mercenary royal guard, not front line troops. They would surely have had access to the same grooming and luxury items as other senior servants and hired courtiers.
 
The court of the Byzantine Empire, also called the Eastern Roman Empire, had access to an amazing variety of luxury goods. They had perfumes from Cypress, Egypt, and India. We don't know if the Germanic people at the Byzantine court used them or not. 
 
The later Viking obsession with wearing silk may have started with an association between being a successful mercenary and wearing Byzantine luxuries. By the Viking Age, cloth was the major export of the northern countries. Yet, wearing cloth of obvious foreign make was a status item.
 
And of course the Vikings raided all over Europe and traded much farther. Silk Road type items appeared in the far north. I'm familiar with the cloth and jewelry finds, because I studied that intentionally. 
 
Were there perfumes found? Either of foreign manufacture or local? No, it appears that none have been found. They did have ritualized bathing and could have used soap or locally sourced materials, possibly even fragrant herbs, but if they did, we don't know what it was. Since grooming objects such as combs are common finds, it seems likely that if they did regularly use something for bathing that needed to be manufactured and stored in containers, some would have been found.
 
Perhaps they were minimalist about their ritual bathing. They may have used local materials that dissolved such as salt or clay, but it's possible they used nothing at all. The goal of a ritual bath is to be both physically and spiritually clean. They may have considered adding things to be bath to be counter to the goal of becoming as pure and clean as possible. 
 
It's an interesting question. Like so many other questions, it is something we can only speculate about. The written materials we have on historical heathenry was largely about the concerns of the writers' patrons, who were kings. So we have tales about great deeds of arms. Stories about adventures, and conquering heroes. The small details of everyday life like bathing were things no one bothered to record because everyone knew. 
 
I have one final thought on this subject. One of the great attractions in the capitol of Iceland is a natural hot springs which feeds a large pool. It was undoubtedly one of the things that attracted people to settle there. When supplied with such a wonderful natural hot bath, perhaps historical heathens felt they did not need to add anything to the experience. Just go right in the way it came from nature. Using perfumes or bath products may have seemed unnecessary when supplied with such perfection.
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  • Erin Lale
    Erin Lale says #
    Steven, there is a sauna tradition across northern Europe, from Norway to Russia, centering on Finland, which may have been its or
  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch says #
    Erin, can you think of any references to the sauna/sweat-bath in the Norse lore? I've always thought it a circumpolar tradition ge

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Vikings, Runes, and a Fern

The Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) is a bit unusual as most ferns go. The first time I saw a row of them at the edge of the meadow, from a distance I thought they looked like a line of aliens coming out of the woods. On closer inspection, I saw that they were very weird, indeed.
      As it matures, this fern develops into a vase shape that reaches three to four feet tall and has fertile and sterile fronds. In the early spring, the upright fertile fronds appear first with a section near the top of the plant with brown spore-producing leaflets. After releasing the spores, these leaflets fall away leaving a gap along the stem. The sterile fronds sprout up around the fertile fronds and create the plant’s graceful shape.
      As usual, I wanted to find out more about this plant I’d never seen before. The species name honors Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694 – 1773) — standard stuff — but the genus proved to be far more interesting and a little obscure. Osmunda is in the Osmundaceae botanical family, which is also known as the Royal Fern family. It was so named because the fertile leaflets, which usually appear at the top of the fronds gives the plant the appearance of wearing a crown. Except for the species in my field, which is interrupted and not crowned.
      The origin of the genus name is not certain, but it is said to honor someone called Osmund, Osmundus, or Asmund. One story associated with it comes from Saxon mythology and is about Osmund the Waterman of Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland. According to the legend, he hid his wife and daughter on a small island covered with these ferns to keep them safe during a Viking raid. His daughter is said to have named the fern after him.
      Although Saint Osmund of Salisbury and the Swedish archbishop of Skara, Osmundus, are often cited as potential name sources, so too is Åsmund Kåresson. The names Osmund, Osmundus, Asmund or Åsmund have a Norse/Germanic/Icelandic origin and are composed of the word Os or Ás meaning “god” and mund, “protection.” In terms of the runes, these meanings are found in the Younger Futhark symbol As, and the Anglo-Saxon Os, which are versions of the Elder Futhark Ansuz. This brings us full circle back to Åsmund Kåresson who was the earliest known rune carver in the province of Uppland, Sweden. The eleventh-century Ängby Stone is attributed to him.
      Magically, like most ferns the Interrupted Fern is associated with protection, defense, and security. Allied with the runic interpretation of Osmund, it may suggest special protection from deities. This plant’s energy is an aid for runic study and readings. In spending some time with this fern, I concluded that its interrupted feature carries a message. Life will always throw curveballs that knock us off course and there are times when we need to put things on hold. Life interrupted. However, sometimes they can provide a meaningful break, an interlude and chance to reassess things. Don’t be frustrated by an interruption, instead, find out what it means.

 

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

 

When the Viking chieftain Guthorm (“Battle Dragon”) was poised to invade England, the English king called up an ill-equipped army to counter him.

Being a pious Christian, the king also assembled a vast number of priests and monks to pray for victory. Guthorm's first move in battle was to kill every single one of them.

“Oh, the perfidious barbarians!” cried the Christians. “Massacring the defenseless men of peace!”

When told of this complaint, Guthorm grinned.

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  • Jamie
    Jamie says #
    Mr. Posch, Your tale reminds me of some of my favorite scenes from the TV show, "Vikings". I'm sorry about your loved one. "Rob

Posted by on in Paths Blogs
Asatru FAQ: Authentic Viking Tattoos?

 

A frequently asked question is: How do I get an authentic Viking tattoo? There are lots of art designs that Asatruars and other heathens wear, but if you you want something historically accurate to the Viking Age, there are a few things to keep in mind.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

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Title: Loki's Wager (Vikingverse Book Two)

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Posted by on in Paths Blogs
Heathen Visibility Project Does Halloween

I was invited to do a community booth for the Halloween Spooktacular sponsored by Haven Craft, an interfaith nonprofit organization in Las Vegas. It was on short notice, so I had to try to pull it off with just what I already had, and I decided on a Take a Photo with a Viking booth for the Heathen Visibility Project. I already had Viking garb.

I also already had a battle axe, which was not sharp. I asked the event organizer Melissa if heathens attending as Viking garb performers could have traditional weapons, and got the go-ahead on that before loading it into my truck. This axe was traded to me by its maker, Tony Mortimer-Kalama, under the Steel for Steel local custom. I posed for lots of photos holding my axe, but this is the only one taken with my own camera. Most of the other photos in which I'm posing with the axe are pictures in which children in Halloween costumes are getting their pictures taken with a Viking by their parents. Lots of kids wanted a picture, and I am wearing heathen symbols on my garb, so the booth was successful in furthering heathen visibility.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

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