#Nordic warriors vs nordic spearman series#
#Nordic warriors vs nordic spearman free#

Vikings who died outside of battle: For those who die in a “normal” way outside of a battle or at sea, they rest in Helheim over the watchful eye of the goddess Hel.

As such, those who die at sea find their afterlife below the depths with the giantess called Ran.

Sailors who died at sea: Viking life centered around seafaring.

Warriors who died in battle: The greatest warriors who died on the battlefield go to either Folkvangr or Valhalla, depending on the god that chooses them.

Since this is confusing to decipher, here’s a simple way to look at the organization of the afterlife based on how someone lived or died in Viking society: These were also usually the greatest fallen heroes, lending to Valhalla’s notoriety. Next, Odin, the god of war and wisdom, makes his choice for his infamous Valhalla. Freya chose the greatest who fell in battle, typically the choicest warriors. The first god to pick is Freya, the goddess of fertility and magic. The gods and goddesses were the ones who determine an individual’s fate in the afterlife. Living a life of honor and respect was important in Viking society, and this was thought to affect one’s destination in the realms after death. In Norse mythology, only the soul continues to the afterlife. What Determines Someone’s Fate in the Afterlife? Some of the Viking’s artwork and myths center around these unique fragments of oneself. Only the Hugr continues after death, but all of these parts of the soul play a large role in one’s legacy. It was also passed on through families or good fortune. This was seen as a quality formed by one’s personality.

Hamingja: Finally, this refers to someone’s inherent success.

For instance, a wise person has an owl or a warrior has a wolf. Each person has their own familiar spirit unique to their personality.

Fylgja: This is similar to the concept of a spirit animal or totem.

This continues after death and onto the afterlife.

Hugr: The Hugr is someone’s personality.

Hamr: This is one’s physical appearance, and it could shape-shift after death.

According to some legends, parts of the soul are born into a new body, usually a newborn relative. Not all of these parts go on to the afterlife. The soul was fragmented into many parts that made up a single person in Norse mythology.

#Nordic warriors vs nordic spearman free#

» MORE: Everything you need to settle your loved one's estate with our free post loss checklist. The main difference between this belief of the afterlife and other ancient cultures is that the Norse had many different afterlives depending on how someone lived their life. While it might sound similar to the western concept of Hell, it was not the same place.Īs you can see, the Norse afterlife was a complex place. This is a world beneath the ground, and it’s ruled by a goddess named Hel. The majority of deceased Vikings were thought to go to Helheim. For those who died at sea, they would reside in the underwater afterlife belonging to Ran, a giantess in Norse mythology. This term translates to “field of warriors,” but there isn’t any clear indication of what this place was like.įreya is the goddess of fertility and magic, and her land also welcomed some of the most famous warriors. The goddess Freya also had her own hall for the dead known as Folkvang. However, Valhalla isn’t the only plane of the afterlife that the Norse called upon in their writings. The god Odin was associated with death and wisdom, and he is the one who chooses who lives in Valhalla in the afterlife. This translates to “the hall of the fallen,” and it’s where the god Odin resides. The most famous spiritual world was Valhalla. For the Vikings, there were many other worlds where the dead were thought to end up. If you look closely at death in different cultures, you’ll start to recognize different names for the afterlife.

However, there are some patterns in Norse literature and records that help us piece together what the Viking afterlife was supposed to be like. They made a name for themselves by sailing across Europe, trading and raiding local villages.Īccording to the Vikings, there were never any set-in-stone doctrines about what happens when someone dies. The Vikings were the people who lived in Scandinavia from the 8th century through the 11th century. Christian Influence in the Viking Afterlife.What Determines Someone’s Fate in the Afterlife?.The images of funeral pyre and boats set ablaze paint quite the picture, but the reality of the Norse belief system goes further than this.

#Nordic warriors vs nordic spearman series#

With popular TV series depicting Viking beliefs about the afterlife, more people than ever are gaining interest in what happens when a Viking dies in ancient times.