Human Affairs
Brothers Sworn in Blood
“Then they drew blood and let it drip down on to the soil beneath the turf strip and stirred it together – the soil and the blood.” […]
13th Century AD
Medieval Mentality
Odin’s Wives
“Earth is his daughter and his wife, and with her he had his first-born son, Asa-Thor, who is endowed with strength and valour, and therefore quelleth he everything that hath life.” […]
Viking
Bold Action Saves the Day
““There’s little we can do,” replied Sigmundur. “The only chance is to row straight at them and get them to drop their sail, and as our ship comes alongside theirs, you both draw your swords and try to cut the rope-lines on their gunnels so they can’t raise the sail again, and I’ll try to do what I can.”” […]
Human Affairs
A Temple to the Old Gods
“A sacrificial bowl was placed on the plat form and in it a sacrificial twig – like a priest’s aspergillum – which was used to sprinkle blood from the blow.” […]
Medieval Mentality
Death of the Great Frost Father
“The cow supported herself by licking the stones that were covered with salt and hoar frost. The first day that she licked these stones there sprang from them, towards evening, the hairs of a man, the second day a head, and on the third an entire man, who was endowed with beauty, agility and power.” […]
Viking
Raider versus Raider on the Open Sea
“Simundur jumped onto the dragon-warship, and a large group of men followed after him. Sigmundur quickly became the death of one defender, then another, and corpses soon littered the decks beneath them.” […]
Viking
The Mild-Mannered Berserker
“n the hayfield at Mavahlid a hand was found where the fight had taken place. It was shown to Thorarin, and he saw that it was the hand of a woman. He asked where Aud was, and was told that she was lying in her bed. He went in to see her and asked whether she was wounded.” […]
Greek and Roman
The Poison Kiss
“Do not touch her, for if you do, you will certainly perish. She has been nurtured upon the most deleterious food, which I will prove to you immediately. Here is a malefactor, who is already condemned to death. He shall be united to her, and you will soon see the truth of what I advance.” […]
Medieval Mentality
The Origins of Northern Life
“We are far from believing him to have been a god, for he was wicked as are all of his race, whom we call Frost-giants.” […]
Supernatural
The First and Eldest God
“All that are righteous shall dwell with him in the place called Gimli, or Vingolf; but the wicked shall go to Hel, and thence to Niflhel, which is below, in the ninth world.” […]