Enter Into Nordic World

The Vikings were a ferocious and much-feared warrior culture from what is now Scandinavia. Basing a float on the Vikings offers you many different potential design angles, from their rich tapestry of myths to their fearsome and innovative ships. Whether you are designing a Viking float for a history project, a Norwegian heritage parade or a Scandinavian holiday celebration, take your design inspiration from the aspect of Viking culture that you find most compelling. norse myths

Dragon Boat

The prows of many Viking ships bore intricate carvings. Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

Craft a parade float that resembles a Viking long ship. Such ships are also called “dragon boats” because the prows were sometimes carved into intricate vertical spirals with dragon heads at the end. Cut the sides and prow of the ship from nordic mythology gods plywood or sturdy foam core boards and paint it brown or a fierce color like red. Erect a sail. Place rows of benches in the middle of the float and fill it with people dressed as Viking warriors manning the oars. Have the float people sing a Viking war song or poem set to music.

World Tree

Paint the base of the float like a globe. Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

Design a float depicting the Viking god Odin’s ordeal at Yggdrasil, the “world-tree” of Norse legend. Such a float would be particularly appropriate for a parade that is focused on highly artistic floats or on world mythology, or for a parade whose organizers would rather not glorify the gory, warlike aspects of Viking culture. Make an enormous papier-mch tree anchored in the center of the float. Decorate the tree with Norse runes and mythological symbols like ravens. Paint the body of the float like cheap NFL jerseys a globe or medieval map of the world. Station people dressed as Odin and the ravens on the float.

Battle

Stage a Viking battle atop a float. Build a model town (represented by one or two foam “huts” being engulfed by painted flames) on one end of the float. Build a rough wooden fence around the sides of the float to further suggest a town — and keep the performers from tumbling off the float by accident. Dress some of the performers as peasants or monks and dress others as Viking warriors, complete with “berserker” warriors dressed in bear skins.

Carving Runes

nordic mythology gods Norse runes are now sometimes used for fortune-telling. Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

Create a float depicting the different uses Vikings had for runes. For example, on one part of the float, station someone dressed as a Viking holy man casting a spell using runes. On another part of the float, build a tall “stone” (painted, carved foam) and show a pair of Viking warriors laughing and carving the rock with runes. (There is a famous Viking rune carving situated about 8 feet up a rock face that translates to “A tall Viking wrote this.”)

Mythology and folklore is full of multi-headed canines, from Greek

Cerberus, who guards the gates of the underworld, to Fenrir, the Norse son of Loki. Some of these famous canines had one head, others three. But only a few had two heads.

Orthrus

Orthrus, sometimes known as Othros, Orthos or Orthus, was the pet of the Typhon and Echidna, two of the most fearsome monsters in Greek mythology. His brother was

Cerberus and his sister the Chimera. He had the tail of a serpent and two heads and guarded the cattle of Geryon, the three-bodied giant. Hercules killed

Orthrus with one swing of his club.

Cerberus

Cerberus is typically depicted as having three heads, nordic mythology gods but sometimes with just two. He guarded the entrance to the underworld, Hades. He was the most fearsome of all canine characters in Greek mythology; however, in at least two instances he was portrayed as having weaknesses — for honey cakes and for Orpheus’ sweet music.

Other Two-Headed Canines

The constellation Canis Major was norse myths often considered to be two-headed, becuse the star Sirius (the dog star) pointed downward. The Maori people have a legendary figure named Kopuwai, a dog-headed reptilian humanoid who lived with two-headed dogs near the Matau River.

Other Canines

Although not two-headed, other canine monsters populated the stories of myth and legend worldwide. Garm and Fenrir figure prominently in Norse stories, especially eschatological stories. Barghest was an English dog, a monstrous black animal who preyed on nordic mythology solitary travelers. The Cadejo was a similar Spanish dog, again black, with red eyes and goat’s hooves who also ate travelers. Other common traditions include Hellhounds, Wargs, the Finnish Surma, Egyptian Set, Inuit Amarok, nordic mythology Native American Waheela and South American Teju Jagua. Dog monsters appear in the myths and legends of almost every culture.

To write a mythology story, we must first know exactly what mythology is. It is a misconception that a mythology is a group of myths, but that is typically called a mythography. Mythology is easily classified as natural events explained by norse myths supernatural scenarios (i.e. Atlas holding up the earth, or Zeus throwing down lightning bolts nordic mythology gods from the heavens).

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1)Find a natural disaster, phenomenon or event that interests you. For this article I am going to use a tornado.

2)Research the event that you have chosen. The more you know, the more believable, and therefore more enjoyable, the story will be. I know how tornadoes form due to cold and warm conflicting air currents, but for this article those details are moot.

3)Keep accurate notes on everything that you find. The details will come in handy later.

4)Write down keywords and phrases that you find in your research. These will help in the authenticity of the story, or may aid you in naming your gods or heroes.

5)Now, design the story line. Ask your self, what if? In my example: Mother Nature had twin boys named Westernus and Easternus. They were given control of the Eastern and Western winds. They had hated each other from birth and were constantly arguing. Tornadoes are created from the arguments these two brothers have. I know this is simple and not nordic mythology very exciting, but it shows how easy to formulate the story baseline can be.

6)Now, write the story. Explain more of the boy’s pasts. Describe the ruin they cause. Explain why the other gods cannot interfere with the twins’ ranting.

Tips & Warnings

Read often. Write every day. Each day try to learn a new word.

Write don’t edit. Edit nordic mythology gods your work later. Create your work now. Don’t let others discourage your writing. Take constructive criticism well.

Nuts and nut trees have played an important role in human history as a source of high-quality norse myths protein and fat. While most such foods are animal-based and highly perishable, nuts could be stored for extended periods in their shells and still remain edible. It was inevitable that a food so spectacularly useful would find its way into nordic mythology the mythology of many cultures.

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts hold a significant place in Celtic mythology, where the hazel tree was considered the tree of knowledge. A major theme in Celtic mythology involves hazelnuts falling into a sacred pool, where they are eaten by salmon who then become vessels of wisdom. In some versions the salmon crack the nuts open, making the wisdom available to humans. In other versions, a single salmon of knowledge ate the nuts, and legendary hero Fionn Mac Cumhail, or “Finn McCool,” accidentally received the salmon’s norse myths wisdom. Hazelwood also holds a leading position in English and Celtic folklore.

Acorns

Acorns are little consumed in the modern day, but were a historically important nordic mythology food resource. Most varieties are high in tannins, which must be soaked out before eating. They are symbolic of fertility and growth in many European cultures.

Acorns also symbolize patience, because they are produced only on mature trees and oaks are a slowly maturing species. In Norse mythology, Thor once took shelter from a violent storm under an oak tree, and this gave rise to a belief that acorns deterred lightning. In consequence, acorns became a popular decorative motif in the Nordic countries.

Walnuts

Walnuts have been a valued food resource for thousands of years. In ancient Greek mythology they were associated with Zeus, and their scientific name comes from the corresponding Latin, which associates them with Jupiter. It was said that when Zeus/Jupiter spent time on earth, it was walnuts he ate. A second tradition has Dionysius fall in love with a human woman, who subsequently dies. The grief-stricken deity turned her into a walnut tree, to keep something of her alive. A variant of this myth identifies the dead lover as a Titan, rather than a human.

Non-European Myths

The fatty candlenut is associated in Hawaii with Kamapua’a, a hog-man demigod associated with fertility, and indirectly with Lono, the agriculture god. The candlenut tree is symbolic of enlightenment and peace. In the Yoruba creation epic, the deity Otabala planted a palm nut, which grew the first tree. In Indian mythology, the ancient king Trishanku wanted to ascend into heaven with the gods, so the sage Vishwamitra created the coconut tree to hold him up.

About 21 million Americans suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th, which is also known as Black Friday. Many people believe this is nordic mythology the day of bad luck and fear being put into harms way. So what in our history has happened to put this fear into peoples mind?

In common cultural references the number 12 nordic mythology gods occurs several times – months in a year, sighns of the zodiac, labors of Hercules, tribes of Israel, gods of Olympus, and the apostles of Jesus Christ, and people believe 13 is irregular. Based on the Canterbury Tales, Friday was considered unlucky and was a bad day to begin a new journey or project. According to norse myths the Christian sculpture, Jesus was crucified on a Friday. In the 13th century King Philip arrested the Knights Templar in France on Friday the 13th. According to Norse mythology (Scandinavian Prehistory), Frigga – the goddess of love- was banished and believed to be a witch. The myth says every Friday Frigga would call 11 more witches to a mountaintop to plot evil for those below. The 13th guest – The Devil – would then be called. In the Roman times it was believed witches would gather in a group of twelve and then call on the Devil to make 13!

In Christian cheap NFL jerseys scripture, at the Last Supper there were 13 diners, following this was when Jesus was killed. Many myths claim when 13 people dine together, something bad will happen to one of them. Natural disasters that happened on Black Friday include: 2004 – hurricane Charley, 2006 – unexpected snow storm in Buffalo, 1972 – Andes flight disaster, 1773- large ship disappearance. Also happening on a Friday the 13th was the arrest of Al Capone and the death of Tupac Shakur. More than 80% of buildings do not have a 13th floor, hotels and hospitals won’t have a room 13, and in Italy some house numbers skip 13 and instead add 12 1/2- 12, 12 1/2, 14.

For those of you out there that fear Friday the 13th here’s something to comfort you…. the next one will be August 2010. Enjoy!

A fjord, which is sometimes alternatively spelled fiord, is an over-deepened valley that has been carved out by a glacier. The sides of a fjord are extremely steep, and a fjord nordic mythology extends below sea level, which is why it’s filled with salt water. Natural harbors and ports for ship makers all across Scandinavia, fjords figure prominently into the myth and legend of that part of the world.

Vikings

One of the modern myths that can be connected to fjords is the word viking. Often viewed as brutal, savage raiders, the vikings were the men who travelled the seas in longships. Often they were farmers and traders as often as they were warriors, but rare was the occasion that the recorders of history saw that face. The name viking means “men of the bays” in Norwegian. The association is that the vikings were all men that came from fjords, and it was their life and experience on the bays that led them out to explore the oceans and the world.

The Volsungs

One of the great, epic sagas of Scandinavia, The Saga of the Volsungs, has several scenes that take place in fjords. One of the most infamous scenes involves Sigmund, the father of the main character, allowing a ferryman to take his son Sigurd’s body across to another side of a fjord. This is a symbolic passage, as the water in a fjord can be seen as a gateway between two worlds, represented by the steep walls where no passage exists.

Beowulf

In the story of

Beowulf, arguably one of the greatest heroes of Norse myth, the lair of Grendel is nordic mythology gods found beneath a fjord. In a great show of bravery,

Beowulf must swim down into the fjord to find the entrance to the monster’s cave and slay its mother, a wicked troll who intends on finishing the mayhem her son had begun.

Ymir

The creation story of the world in Norse mythology also features the creation of fjords, along with the rest of the world. The All-Father Odin, and his two brothers, slew the first frost giant

Ymir. From

Ymir’s brains they made the clouds, from his skull the dome of the world, from his bones the mountains and rocks, and from cheap NFL jerseys his blood the rivers, seas, and fjords. Since a fjord is formed by a glacier, the modern explanation could show a very apt metaphor in the cheap NFL jerseys myth of creation.

Fafnir

In Germanic versions of Siegfried the Dragonslayer, the dragon

Fafnir was killed as it went to drink from a fjord. Siegfried, or Sigurd in the original, Norse version, dug two pits near the path that led to the fjord. He crouched in one with a spear, and stabbed the ancient dragon

Fafnir as it came by, pouring the corrosive blood from the wound into the second hole. Afterwards, he ate the dragons heart, and supposedly became all but immune to physical harm.

Fotolia.com”> Latin tattoos are increasingly popular among body art enthusiasts. Latin Inscription in the Desert image by MrsH from Fotolia.com

Latin is the basis for all of the Romance languages that are heard around the world today. This dead language can be found in the root words of these commonly spoken tongues–Italian, French and Spanish–and has become an increasingly popular way of immortalizing a person’s favorite sentiment in body art. However, before going out to get a tattoo in Latin, there are some considerations you should take to heart so that you don’t come to regret your decision at a later time.

Translation Warnings

Make sure that you get nordic mythology gods the translation correct. This may sound commonplace, but there are scores of Latin tattoos that are improperly translated or are grammatically garbled. It doesn’t work to simply run your proposed text through an online translator. For something this important, find a scholar who will translate it correctly for you. Also, know that an exact translation from English to Latin is nearly impossible due to different language origins. Some connotative meaning may be lost, so it is important that your intent is maintained in translation, further necessitating a human translator.

Latin Cross

Although not technically in the Latin nordic mythology language, the cross of Christianity is traditionally known as the Latin cross. It is considered a symbol of good luck by many cultures. Religiously, it represents Christianity, the hammer of Thor in Norse mythology, or as representative of the four elements. It can embellished nordic mythology gods to provide context to your personal meaning for it.

In Memory

Latin is commonly used in tattoo form to remember those that have passed on. The phrase to use in this instance is “in memoriam,” followed by the person’s name.

Latin Phrases

There are a plethora of common Latin phrases that can be used for tattoos. “Ad idem” means “of the same mind.” “Fortes et liber” means “strong and free.” For those looking toward tomorrow, “mihi cura futuri” nordic mythology gods means “my concern is the future.” For fashionistas, “vestis virum facit” is the traditional version of the phrase “the clothes make the man.” Whatever you want, a Latin saying can probably found. An exhaustive collection of Latin phrases is included in the Resources below.

Common Mistakes

One final word on two common Latin mistakes. The first, the phrase, “nolite te bastardes carborundorum, ” which loosely translates as “don’t let the bastards grind you down” is incorrect because “carborundorum” is not a Latin word. Lastly, the classic prayer from Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction” is often translated into Latin incorrectly. Take special care to make sure you stay out of the ignominious company.

In 1939, the nordic mythology gods Russian engineer Semypnov Davidovich Kirlian from Krasnodar on the Kuban noticed that discharges appeared between the body of a patient and the electrodes in the high-frequency range of an apparatus for electro-therapeutic treatment. Kirlian was eager to know whether this state which was visible to the eye could also be photographed. He and his wife, Valentina, undertook the difficult job of developing these photographs.

Kirlian photograph, which is used everywhere today, exhibits the so-called Kirlian effect. In high-frequency alternating current fields which are harmless to people, animals, and plants, bodies acquire a luminescence that can be photographed but is not caused by high temperature. It is also known as “cold luminescence.”

As a passing example of the phenomenon which Kirlian photography can make visible, it should be mentioned that a fresh flower with many blossoms and the same flower with some blossoms cut off. In the place where the blossoms had been their outline still showed up in a photograph nordic mythology taken seconds after the cut was made and they were no longer there.

Countless exposures have been taken all over the world using the Kirlian effect. They show radiations around a man’s body that is not visible to the naked eye.

For example, there was a photo taken after a hand was amputated. The outlines of the amputated hand appear on the photographic plate.

And, most remarkable of all, a man lay down on a sofa, then stood up and went away. A photo taken just afterward showed the outlines of the man lying on the sofa. Here an unknown force obviously causes a physical phenomenon.

When the technique is developed further, mankind will have a brand new principle, for at the moment the photographed aura- or whatever it is- varies considerably in quality and clarity.

I am always amazed to observe how formerly unintelligible passages from myths turn out to be realities. People used to just talk about the aura that surrounds certain people. Now we know it exists! It can be photographed.

The way that the Kirlian effect works has been explained in cheap NFL jerseys principle. It is not denied by physicists that the body “radiates” to a greater or lesser degree. Kirlian discovered norse myths how to photograph these radiations.

But how do we answer the phenomenal question of how a no longer present object (cut blossoms, amputated hand, man who has left the room) continues to radiate for a brief period. ie., can still be “active” in it’s former position?

When all is said and done, scholars claim that bodies are the cause of the radiations. Could it be the other way around?

Brightest of Blessings,
Lory

History can be a very enjoyable subject for children. They begin to nordic mythology gods make connections between past and modern times and understand why many things are the way that they are today. This is particularly true for the Vikings, a group of Scandinavians who made their way to Europe in the year 700 AD. Children can be taught about Viking history in a few different ways.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need
Norse Legends and Fairy Tales
Modeling Materials (Clay or Construction Paper)
Slideshow

Suggest Edits

1)Read Norse myths and fairy tales to the children. This will help them to understand Viking culture and beliefs through stories about gods and mythical creatures nordic mythology that represent both their religious and personal values. A popular tale is that of Thor, the god of thunder.

2)Have kids act out a play depicting the daily life of the Vikings. You can help them to write their own plays in groups, or you can give them one to work from, such as the one found at Teaching Ideas: The Vikings: Families and Feuds, listed below.

3)Have children create a model of a Viking scene. This can be an invasion, showcasing the boats heading towards Europe. It may also feature daily life, showcasing settled Vikings working as farmers and traders. Assign each child a different part norse myths of the model, like boats, buildings, and people. They can use clay or construction paper. In the end all pieces will be put together to form one large scene. The class can then take turns telling their own parts of the story according to what they contributed.

4)Create a sideshow showcasing a timeline of Viking activity. Place related pictures throughout, such as cheap NFL jerseys items that they traded, longboats, and Viking attire. Many children learn well visually, so viewing a timeline with visual aids will help to cement the concepts.

I’m fascinated by mythology, not surprisingly for a fantasy artist. One of my favorite nordic mythology stories is from Norse mythology. Odin sacrifices himself on the world tree Yggdrasil in order to learn the secret of the runes.

Odin’s Sacrifice on Yggdrasil Poem of Odin’s Runesong

From the Elder Edda translated by Benjamin Thorpe (thanks to Project Gutenberg)

I know that I hung, on a wind-rocked tree, nine whole nights, with a spear wounded, and to Odin offered, myself to myself; on that tree, of which no one knows from what root it springs.

Bread no one gave me, nor a horn of drink, downward I peered, to runes applied myself, wailing learnt them, then fell down thence.

Potent songs nine from the famed son I learned of Bolthorn, Bestla’s sire, and a draught obtained of the precious mead, drawn from Odhrrir.

Then I began to bear fruit, and to know many things, to grow and well thrive: word by word I sought out words, fact by fact I sought out facts.

Runes thou wilt find, and explained characters, very large characters, very potent characters, which the great speaker depicted, and the high powers formed, and the powers’ prince graved:

Odin among the sir, but among the Alfar, Dain, and Dvalin for the dwarfs, Asvid for the Jotuns: some I myself graved.

Knowest thou how to grave them? knowest thou how to expound them? knowest thou how to depict them? knowest thou how to prove them? knowest thou how to pray? knowest thou how to offer? knowest thou how to send? knowest thou how to consume?

Click here to read the full poem.

Odin’s Runesong One of a Kind Mixed-Media Sculpture

It took 9 months of hard work to finish this sculpture (which in a way makes it my baby). Odin’s Runesong is based off Norse Mythology and the poem from the Elder Edda which tells of how Odin hung for 9 days and nights on the world tree Yggdrasil to learn the secret of the runes. My take on this is as a resurrection suspension with the branches of the tree piercing Odin’s chest.

Total heights of the sculpture is 26 inches (66cm) and at it’s widest point it is 16 inches (41cm), Odin would stand 12(30.5cm) inches tall if her were standing upright. Odin is sculpted primarily of polymer clay over wire armatures, the base also has a layer of plaster over it to add texture, and the norse myths leaves are made of cold porcelain (a cornstarch based air dry clay).

This sculpture won the Honorable Mention Award at the Norway Sidewalk Art Show in Norway, Maine, July 12th, 2008.

Clicking the picture will take you to Odin’s Runesong page on my website which has norse myths the full sized photos.

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