VARGÖLD THE COMIC

Lindisfarne is a small island off the east coast of England. The celebrated monastery there was destroyed by Vikings in 793. These warriors on a stone from the island may well be the Viking raiders.

Krauka is a Viking folk band from Denmark formed in 1999. Krauka’s music is played on instruments reconstructed after archaeological findings, but modern elements interwine, creating an intense and often wild atmosphere inspired by the sagas and the Nordic forces of nature. Here is one of their most popular songs: Óðinn.

This silver disc brooch (Viking, 10th century AD Probably found on the island of Gotland, Sweden) is elaborately decorated with Borre Style interlace and animal masks. Figures of four backward-biting animals are riveted around the high central boss, itself formed of eight long-necked animal heads.

Viking women were independent. While the men were away on expeditions, women ran households and farms. A woman could choose her own husband, and could sue for divorce if he beat her or was unfaithful. On runestones, women were praised for their good housekeeping or skill in handiwork such as embroidery. Wealthy women raised rune stones and paid for bridges to be built.

In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Sleipnir is first mentioned in chapter 15 where the enthroned figure of High says that every day the Æsir ride across the bridge Bifröst, and provides a list of the Æsir’s horses. The list begins with Sleipnir: “best is Sleipnir, he is Odin’s, he has eight legs.” In chapter 41, High quotes the Grímnismál stanza that mentions Sleipnir. In chapter 42, Sleipnir’s origins are described. Gangleri (described earlier in the book as King Gylfi in disguise) asks High who the horse Sleipnir belongs to and what there is to tell about it. High expresses surprise in Gangleri’s lack of knowledge about Sleipnir and its origin. High tells a story set “right at the beginning of the gods’ settlement, when the gods established Midgard and built Val-Hall” about an unnamed builder who has offered to build a fortification for the gods in three seasons that will keep out invaders in exchange for the goddess Freyja, the sun, and the moon. After some debate, the gods agree to this, but place a number of restrictions on the builder, including that he must complete the work within three seasons with the help of no man. The builder makes a single request; that he may have help from his stallion Svaðilfari, and due to Loki’s influence, this is allowed. The stallion Svaðilfari performs twice the deeds of strength as the builder, and hauls enormous rocks to the surprise of the gods. The builder, with Svaðilfari, makes fast progress on the wall, and three days before the deadline of summer, the builder was nearly at the entrance to the fortification. The gods convene, and figured out who was responsible, resulting in a unanimous agreement that, along with most trouble, Loki was to blame.

King Harold was probably buried in the Trinity Church in Roskilde, which he himself had begun, and which was a forerunner of today’s Roskilde Cathedral. Follow the link to know more about the King who wanted to unify the Lands of the Vikings.

In 793 - about six years after commencing raids - Vikings (probably Norwegians) invaded England.  They came first, historians believe, to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne - in Northumbria - where they raided the Lindisfarne Priory. Terrified monks escaped, taking with them two of the monastery’s most valuable treasures:  the Cross of St. Cuthbert and the foot-high, hand-painted Lindisfarne Gospels.  After the fleeing monks were shipwrecked, the Lindisfarne Gospels washed ashore (and are now in the British Library). Who were these Vikings? Why did they invade England (and Scotland, Wales and Ireland)? Keep watching this BBC documentary to discover it.

The raid on Lindisfarne took place at a fascinating period of Europe’s History. If you want to know more about the conquest of Lindisfarne, keep watching this interesting documentary

Researchers at the National Museum in Copenhagen have compiled compelling evidence that suggests the Vikings were subject to clothing trends just as we are today. Rather than the horned helmets and studded shields they have become famous for, most Vikings appear to have favoured fur collars, shell-shaped brooches and capes. They were also partial to bright colours, with patterns and bands of fabric stitched onto clothing as trends changed. Surprised?

Oval brooches, many of which are gilded, were made by a complex casting process involving the use of a wax model, clay moulds and a piece of textile which determined the thickness of the metal and often left an impression on the underside of the brooch. Finished brooches could also be used as models, and even copies then made of copies. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/o/oval_brooch.aspx

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This song is not meant to take place during the actual event of Ragnarök, but as a song that could have been sung in villages during the Viking Era to allow the tale of Ragnarök to live on to future generations.