Vikings were fierce warriors who originally lived in the Scandinavian regions from the 7th century to the 11th century. This period is also known as the ‘Viking Age’ as Vikings launched extensive raids on Europe’s coastal communities during this era.
In time, they became a permanent feature of many parts of northern Europe including Britain, France, and Russia. Vikings lived in the modern-day countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. They were also known as ‘The Norsemen’.
Vikings believed in many gods, a system of belief that was termed heathenism by their contemporary Christian writers. Here’s a look at the heathenism practiced by the Vikings.
Heathenism Definition ‘An adherent of a religion that does not worship the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. b. Such persons are considered as a group. 2. Heathen An adherent of a Neo-pagan religion that seeks to revive the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Germanic peoples’.
Vikings were heathens who believed in many gods, spirits, and other supernatural entities. They tried to sustain strong and healthy relationships with the gods, goddesses, spirits of the land, ancestors, and others in their communities through their holy rites and their actions.
Vikings and Heathenism
Before the advent of Christianity, heathenry was common among the Vikings. However, the Vikings eventually converted to Christianity in time, although they sustained many of their heather rituals.
From the gods who controlled fertility, climate, and rain to others who had dominion over each and every part of life such as poetry, beauty, and desires, the Norse Gods were fundamental to regular daily existence.
Viking Gods *Viking Heathenism
The Vikings worshiped many gods and goddesses to attain power, health, and fame. The main gods such as Frigg, Odin, Thor, Loki, Heimdall, and Tyr belonged to the Æsir family of gods.
According to Viking mythology, Odin was the greatest among the Viking gods and was the god of war, wisdom, and magic. Frigg, Odin’s wife, was the goddess of fertility and beauty.
Vikings had elaborate heathen rituals for various purposes and occasions. Different tools were used in the rituals such as a hammer, drinking horn, blessing bowl, and sprinkling twig. Common rituals included wedding and burial rituals, land-taking rituals, naming ceremonies, etc.
Thors Hammer *Mjollnir
Blot was the common ritual in which animals were sacrificed to the gods. Heathen rituals took place outdoors and the offerings were provided to the gods.
A symbol ritual was a drinking ceremony in which gods were toasted. Drinking horns were involved in this ceremony and mead was offered to the gods as well as the participants. Oaths and promises were made for future actions on these occasions.
Drinking Horns
Human life was a most valuable sacrifice that the Vikings could make to their gods to make them happy. According to Viking mythology, Odin, the king of gods, mostly demanded a human sacrifice.
There are a few stunning records of human sacrifice from the Viking period. It is said that the Vikings met every nine years at Lejre, a place in Zealand. This meeting took place in January and 99 people and as many horses, ducks, hens, hawks, and dogs were sacrificed to the Vikings’ gods to serve them in the kingdom of death.
Vikings strongly believed in magic. Odin was credited as the most astute magician who had taught the art to others. Seior was a form of magic that was practiced by the Vikings during the late Viking age. With the help of this magic, they tried to know their future and attempted to influence it.
To know their destiny, they also took help from magic. The god Odin and his wife Frigg were associated with magic. The males and females of Viking society who practiced magic were also the religious leaders and they helped each other to invoke their gods and spirits.
Most of the Vikings were sent to the afterlife in two ways: through cremation or in Viking ship burials. Cremation was common in the early Viking age when they burned the dead and buried the ashes. Ship burial was practiced later among the Vikings who thought boats were the best and safest way into the afterlife.
The boats played an important role in burials. Some graves were built in the shape of boats but high-ranking Vikings were actually buried along with their boats or ships which also carried all the belongings that they used in life.
When a person was dead he was wrapped in a cloth and a goodbye ceremony was held featuring songs, food, and alcohol. ‘Grave goods’ were offered to the dead as a gift by the people and were buried along with the dead. These goods included jewelry, weapons, and slaves according to the status of the dead.
The Great Heathen Army was an army of Norse warriors that landed in England in the 9th century. Its name was coined by the Christian Anglo-Saxons. The Norse warriors of this sizable army originated from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Great Heathen Army
They came under a unified command to invade England and avenge the death of Ragnar Lothbrok in 816 A.D. After invading Britain, the Vikings realized that they could attain as much wealth and land as they desired by force. So they decided to stay.
The vast Viking force was led by the sons of Ragnar Lothbroke. After a long period of eight years in England, the Great Heathen Army broke into pieces. Half the army moved northwards and attacked Scotland.
The other half moved to the south. The Vikings in the north started establishing farms and cultivating the lands. In the south, the army raided ‘King Alfred the Great and his kingdom but was ultimately defeated. In time, these Vikings permanently settled in an area designated as Danelaw.
