Viking Spirituality

Spirituality, in historical terms, is something quite difficult to assess. That being said, I do not expect to touch on everything nor to be the only interpretation that is out there. This lesson will also be a little sparse on detailed information. Instead, it will focus more on giving a general impression of spirituality during the Viking Age. If you would like more detail on any of the information provided below, feel free to send me an ask (there is plenty I could elaborate on).

I will cover the following topics:

1. Organization
2. Religious Sites and Practices
3. The Afterlife and Burials
4. Ancestor Veneration
5. The Viking Soul
6. Sorcery and Magic

Organization

Spirituality in Viking Age Scandinavia was diverse and varied from place-to-place. Customs and beliefs were loose traditions, but they were strongly integrated into daily life. In fact, it would be impossible to separate daily life from these customs and beliefs. This is partially why it is a challenge to focus on such a topic historically, since most of the material is embedded within other contexts. Also, there was no priestly class in society – no group of people solely in charge of religious affairs. Viking spirituality was very individualistic and formed around families and communities. No one was in charge of it and I honestly doubt anyone tried to tell others they were wrong. It was a way of life, and that path could have many different branches to it.

Religious Sites and Practices

There were few to no structures that were built specifically for religious purposes (at least none that have lasted or left an impression in our current archaeological record). However, there are famous “sites”, such as Uppsala, which have been written about. Still, it is most likely that halls served as religious sites for feasting and celebration on a community scale. The closest thing that pre-christian, medieval Scandinavians had were sacred enclosures called vé (temple, sanctuary). Though, do not be fooled by our words used to describe a holy place, because vé were open air enclosures used for rituals and offerings to the gods. Fires and sacrifices took place here, which would need open air to ensure the smoke has a place to escape.

In other words, religious practices took place in nature. Their holy sites were already created by the world itself, so they found no need to make their own sites on top of it. They celebrated and honored the gods at these open air enclosures with a cultic festival known as a blót (sacrifice, sacrificial feast). These rituals were often small and personal. By this I mean that they were mostly done among a single household, kin, or even just a few local neighbors. However, they could also be done on larger scales, as would be done in local halls.

Sacred groves were quite common among many Germanic pagans. After all, trees and nature have a special place in such a religion (Yggdrasil). These groves, at least for the Vikings, were often associated with sacrifices for Odin. It is known that Odin hung and sacrificed himself in order to gain the knowledge of runes, and so many rituals formed surrounding this practice of hanging men in trees for Odin. The Tollund man is an example of a possible sacrifice done in this manner. As “barbaric” as such a practice might be seen as, many victims to human sacrifice were possibly criminals being punished as well. It is not so different than capital punishment today, if one must relate the practice to today’s standards.

The Afterlife and Burials

During this time, there was a popular belief that the items one was buried with would transfer with them into the afterlife. The most wealthy people in Viking Age Scandinavia would be placed onto a ship to be burned (or buried) after their death, along with their many goods, slaves, and livestock. Sacrifices would take place to allow slaves and horses to partake in the journey as well. Ibn Fadlan’s eye-witness account (a traveller from Arabia) gives some insight into this practice, though it is not necessarily a positive one. He describes a female slave being sacrificed so that she may be serve her master in the afterlife.

Warriors would expect themselves to reach Valhalla, so they would be readied for battle and surrounded by their weapons and other gear. The Gotland stones depict the passage to Valhalla. There is also an account where Erik the Red, quite an interesting character, is welcomed to Valhalla. This transition to the afterlife was definitely the most honorable for men. Women could attain an equally honorable death if they died during childbirth. It was seen as very honorable to die by bring the world a new life. If this happened, they went to Frigg’s hall. Also, there are not many sources that say many women went to Valhalla from dying in battle, but I would not exactly rule it out either.

I will be spending more time of ship burials during a later lesson, but one of the most famous burials of this type is the Oseburg ship burial, which was for two women. I will discuss this burial in more detail during the lessons about women in the Viking Age. However, an interesting tapestry was found in this burial, which I have discussed before (Post – it is a bit old now. My standards have changed on the quality of my posts, but it may still be interesting). Some say is depicts a procession of sacrificial offerings to Freyja. Here is an image of this tapestry:

Ancestor Veneration

Another important aspect to note regarding the afterlife was Ancestor Veneration. This is a religious practice based on the belief that deceased kin still have a continued existence and that these spirits would look after the family and even take an interest in the affairs of the world. 

It was very important to make sure that the dead were kept happy, or else they would cause trouble or hardship for the community. After all, graves were generally located near farms and villages, so this could become quite a problem if the dead were not in good spirits. Also, keep in mind that Álfar (elves) are actually the spirits of their ancestors (Dísir for females), and they can be quite vicious when upset. These spirits possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living, so it is no laughing matter.

The Viking Soul

I personally find this part to be quite interesting, though I cannot remember the primary source that accompanies it. Anyway, the Viking soul consisted of two parts: hamr (shell) and hugr (essence). There are also accompanying spirits known as hamingja (luck) andfylgja (follower). The sagas also make note of animal spirits that appear to people and foretell certain things that might happen to them, such as a wounded bear signifying death in combat. It was this belief in the soul that helped contribute to the Viking’s enhanced courage, for this is what enabled them to go to Valhalla after their death. However, Ragnarök will still end all things of this world, including these sounds that live on, in order to bring the next rebirth.

Sorcery and Magic

There is plenty to be said about this topic, but, as with everything else, I will be keeping it brief. Magic in the Viking Age was a part of the community. It was not something always done privately, but rather done in interaction with others in some form. There were many possible uses for magic, but it was usually used aggressively or sexually (mainly for love charms). Though, it was also used for healing and guidance. Völva were individuals with special abilities in the realm of magic. They were typically women. In fact, magic was generally regarded as a feminine realm, because it was not a path that could gain “honor” like physical action could. This should not be seen as a negative factor though. Even Odin uses magic and even magic that is regarded as “feminine-only”. that in itself attests for the complicated nature of magic in the Viking Age.

Key Terms

1. Vé – an open air enclosure for ritualistic practices
2. Blot – a sacrifice or sacrificial feast
3. The Tollund man – a bog body that provides evidence for possible human sacrifice.
4. Ibn Fadlan – a traveller from Arabia who provided an account of a female slave being sacrificed for a ship burial.
5. The Gotland stones – depict mythological scenes and the passage to Valhalla.
6. Oseburg ship burial – a famous ship burial for two women.
7. Ancestor Veneration – worshipping and pleasing the spirits of deceased ancestors, who still had a presence in the world.
8. Hamr – the shell (outer soul).
9. Hugr – the essences (inner soul, the soul itself).
10. Hamingja –the spirit of luck accompanying the soul.
11. Fylgja – the follower spirit that accompanies the soul.
12. Ragnarök – the end of times that brings forth a new rebirth of the world.
13. Völva – women skilled in the arts of magic and sorcery. 

Conclusion

As I said before beginning this lesson, there is quite a bit of story that could still be told when it comes to Viking Spirituality. I aim to keep these crash course lessons short, since some of you are only casual learners, so I kept things brief. Other things would still require me to do some research to answer, but I know quite a few primary source materials that I can use in discussion if asked about the material. So, I hope this lesson was interesting and enjoyable. If you have anything you are still curious about, let it be known.

Next week’s lesson: Runes

---

Sources

1. Jennifer Dukes-Knight, “Spirituality.” Lecture, Viking History, University of South Florida, 2015.
2. Tapestry Image: Drawing of the tapestry done at the time of the excavation of the Oseberg ship, of which has been dated to around 834 CE.
3. Angus A. Somerville and R. Andrew McDonald, ed. The Viking Age: A Reader, Second Edition (Readings in Medieval Civilizations and Cultures). (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014).