Rituals, Medicines and Gods
Rituals
The Vikings deep belief in their Norse Gods affected all their activities. They made sacrifices to them for the Gods’ goodwill.
The Vikings had seereses, made human sacrifices, practised Runic magic and used “magic” objects. When they converted to Christianity they did not completely abandon their Gods. Some that they still worshipped were Odin and Thor. |
Medicine
There is not a great deal of recorded information about the
Viking medicine, but the Vikings believed that the Gods were mainly responsible
for illness and were consulted for cures.
During these times superstition was very common and not a lot was known about the human body. Magical remedies and charms were consulted with holy days and events on the solar and luna calendar. One of the Viking first aid methods for an arrow in the gut 1. Cover the victim with a cloak to keep him warm and comfortable 2. Give him this special meal: mix porridge oats with onions and herbs feed to patient forcibly if necessary 3. Wait till the food is digested 4. Smell the open wound if it smells of onions the intestines are pierced and the patient will die (now go on to step 5) if not then patch him up 5. Contact Odin the father of all gods, and prepare the Viking for Valhalla ( Viking heaven) |
Gods
Odin the Chief god
Frigga Mother goddess Njord god of the sea and father of the twins Frey and Freya Freya Goddess of fertility and also the god of beauty, love and death. She was Frey’s twin sister Frey Goddess of fertility and summer Thor god of thunder Tyr god of war The Vikings used the Runes to consult the Gods before going on a voyage. This was called "casting" the Runes. |