On the last Tuesday of every January, the honorable jarls up in Shetland celebrate the end of the yule season by setting everything on fire. It’s called Up Helly Aa and not only is it a glorious homage to Viking glory, but it’s also the biggest fire festival in Europe. […]
Viking Tower in Newport, Rhode Island
New update to the Boston-area Viking Monument page. This one just happens to be an old stone tower. Back in the day folks thought Vikings erected it. Vikings definitely erected a very many things, especially when they got a little too excited with the pillaging and there happened to be […]
The Realistic Old Norse Art of Howard David Johnson
Here’s a badass image of Beowulf standing in front of Heorot, fantasizing about all the various ways in which he might brutally slay Grendel. This little bit of artistic glory comes courtesy of Howard David Johnson, a contemporary artist specializing in mixed media who often chooses historical epics and myths […]
Barley Wine Fit for Valhalla
Thereupon stood the enemy host. It was a fine day with blue sky overhead. Then the two forces joined in battle and fought fiercely, nor was there need to goad them on. Much shouting followed, and a furious blowing of trumpets. As dawn approached, Andhrimnir Barley Wine Ale said: “It […]
Loki in the Buff
Check out this crazy painting by Mårten Eskil Winge of Loki’s punishment for being a dick (and while we’re on that topic, let me just say I approve of Winge’s decision to obstruct Loki’s dong with his thigh; good call there): Winge is actually more famous for this painting he […]
Seducer of Haunting Swedish Wave Maidens
Back in the 1800s this Swedish guy Nils Blommér got really good at painting images from Norse mythology and folklore, like the one above, which features a näcken (Swedish for neck, which in turn is apparently the English term for a male nixie) surrounded by the daughters of Aegir. I […]
Thor Goes Fishing at Mariatorget
See that? Thor’s holding his mighty hammer up above his bushy red head, getting ready to bring it crashing downwards into the Midgård Serpent’s gnarly skull, since that’s simply what Thor does when he goes fishing with giants. But alas, he isn’t perfect, and he lets this catch get away. […]
Bengtsson’s Long Ships Finally Reaches Vinlandic Shores
The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson is amazing and I get all excited each and every time I pick it up. It’s a solid adventure story worthy of being read even by people who don’t get all knocked off kilter when it comes to Vikings. Michael Chabon thinks so, […]
Medieval Magical Mystery Tour
Roll up, roll up, roll up for the medieval magical mystery tour! The medieval magical mystery tour’s Vikings are dying to take you and everything that you hold dear away… So I just had a chance to see this quirky, little animated movie with a neat visual style called The […]
Viking Booze Burial Mound
Hail and skål! A substantial update to the Viking Brews and Booze directory has been made, and just in time for Friday night and Midsommar, no less. Besides the two new sub-directories of Fruity Booze (wines and ciders) and the Viking Booze Burial Mound (which celebrates the Einherjar of Viking […]
Hammer of the North
Bang your head to the sound of the Hammer of the North with Grand Magus! These Stockholm guys have a traditional type of metal sound, so that should comfort those of you who are batty and don’t much care for the death metal growl (you know who you are!). Their […]
Hans Gude and His Viking Ships
Back in the 1800s when he was still alive, Hans Gude had a fetish for painting the Norwegian landscape. And one time he even gratified himself with Vikings, as shown above. The painting’s now hanging out at the Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo.
Hollywood Sucks the Balls of Unoriginality
I’ve been thinking this for a while now and finally got irate enough to sit myself down and vent, because Hollywood really sucks hard. Hard like the sharply inhaling gusts of Njord hard. Not that this is really anything new, but it seems to me that the powers-that-be in Hollywood […]
Norse Marauders Wreak Mayhem
Here’s a badass painting of Norsemen conducting some intensive slaughter in Ireland by artist Tom Lovell: Good Tom apparently dealt mostly with cowboys, but when he decided to take on the Vikings, he did so with all the glory of a stark raving mad berserker, only he was armed with […]
Gothic Metal at Millesgården
Behold Katatonia’s The Longest Year music video! It features eerie images of Carl Milles’ sculptures from Millesgården, located on the island of Lidingö, just outside of Stockholm. If you pay close attention, you’ll even notice a replica of his Poseidon, which resides in Gothenburg. And as we all know (or […]