From:	Gabriel Smith <UN041025@******.BITNET>
Subject:	Re: Viking
Date:	Tue, 5 Oct 1993 15:10:51 -0400

I lost who originaly posted this (sorry), but anyway....

'Well to put it in short format
' Use Vikings and More Vikings for Norway and Iceland myth. Yes read all

Correct, though mainly Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were the Viking Realms.

'about the exploits of Thor and his evil half-brother Loki. See Tyr (?) loose
'his hand to wolf (fenris). Go hunt to midgard serpent. Eat some golden
'apples.

Don't forget the dark side of the mythology. Odin for example was God of
the gallows along with war and knowledge. It was considered normal to hang
men from tall trees to win his favor.

'But most importantly - Rape, loot, pillage and burn. - its what vikings do
' Yes this is a stereotype - but hey the music to it is fun.

True, but the main goal of the Vikings was money and land. (Not much good
farming on the coasts of Norway at the time.) They were the best traders of
there time in that area, and they built very good ships. They had trade routes
from Baghdad to Dublin. They simply went with whatever was easier, if you
were weak they took what you had, strong they traded. But cutting the Blood
Eagle in a few hapless priests was still considered good sport, so sometimes

sterotypes are not that far off.

' Please someone correct me if I am wrong about Vikings in Norway and
'Iceland - but I really doubt I am wrong.

Your not.
Smith

"King reddend sword, Came raven a horde. Bright lifeblood outpoured As shafts
flew abroad. Scots' scourge bade feed Trollwife's wolfsteed, Hel trod with
her feet The eagles' nightmeat- Bright fame he gat, Eirik from that. Eirik
o'er sea Paid the wolves'fee."
Egill Skallagrimsson.