ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

The origin of the triskelion? A prehistoric sea creature called the Tribachidium, with a uniquely triradial symmetrical body, left these distinct fossils in the Dniester River basin; the lands of the Yamnaya Culture. The fossil’s cup-shaped form is reflected in how triskelion was used to decorate Celtic hanging bowls, and represent Óðrerir, Boðn and Són, the vessels from which Odin drank the mead of poetry. Sacred geometry, reflected in nature. ࿋

Iron Age helmet mounts found in Hjørring, Denmark, in the form of stylized animal heads, one with its paws gripping its muzzle. 𐘾

“In mail-coat stands the son of Sigmund, A half-day old; now day is here; His eyes flash sharp as the heroes' are, He is friend of the wolves; full glad are we.” ~Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, Bellows Painting: Siegfried and Fafnir by Ferdinand Leeke, 1859-1925. 𐘾 “Stendr í brynju burr Sigmundar dægrs eins gamall, nú er dagr kominn; hvessir augu sem hildingar, sá er varga vinr, vit skulum teitir.”

An unusual plate brooch from Viborg, Denmark. The head features pointed ears; it appears to be a composite image of two sacred animals, a wolf and a raven. 𐘾

A Viking Age zoomorphic mount found in Slagelse, Denmark, perhaps a crest for a helmet. 𐘾

New Valkyrie pendants and brooches unearthed in Esbjerg, Denmark. 𐘾

Ancient Germanic immigration law… Under Clovis’s Salic Law, if one wanted to settle in a village, he required the approval of every resident. Only once he made it through a year with no objections did he become a resident. One objection, and he’d be given ten days to leave, or face the Þing. Had he ignored the objection, he’d be fined, and have any earnings from the region confiscated. The law also contained a hefty penalty for marrying a foreigner, one who hadn’t earned residency. We should use this again.  𐘾

An unusual Viking Age ear spoon with a figure of a bard holding a lyre; Bragi? Looks like a cloak with a trefoil brooch at the chest as well. Recently unearthed in Jammerbugt, Denmark. 𐘾

Valkyrie motifs often utilized the nine-square grid motif; in the Færeyinga Saga, Þrandr performs a ritual using a grid of nine squares on the floor to summon the dead from the underworld; this motif appears to represents this liminality. Perhaps the Valkyries were the ones Þrandr invoked, to carry messages from the otherworld. 𐘾

A small Viking Age Petersen type M1 broad axe, found in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, 10-11th Century. It was beautifully preserved in river clay, and still has a decent edge on it. 

Sagnamaðr’s kitchen ep.3: traditional Irish stew. Originally, this was a peasant dish built around three ingredients; potatoes, onions and lamb. Layer the pot; put sliced potatoes on the bottom, onions in the middle, and the meat on top; ideally, get your meat bone-in, fat-on. This makes the denser ingredients cook evenly, and the starch from the potatoes thickens the broth. For seasoning, use salt and pepper, and some fresh herbs; thyme and rosemary were popular, wild thyme being native to Ireland, and rosemary and parsley were introduced to Britain by the Romans. Then, the secret ingredient is time. Let it simmer for at least an hour or two, really let the simple flavours meld. Garnish with parsley; I like to use the parley stems in the broth. Irish cuisine was built around the cauldron, because up until recently, many Irish maintained a pastoralist lifestyle, called booleying, making this a truly ancient dish. Before the arrival of the potato, turnips were used. Enjoy Northern European cuisine! 𐘾

“Paganism will never be relevant ag-”

Viking Age spear pendants found in Slagelse, Lejre, and Varde, Denmark; representations of Gungnir. ᚸ

“Megi mér svo Freyr og Njörður og hinn almáttki Áss duga, sem ég mun sök þessa sækja, en dæmast í goðagremi ef ég lýg.” “So help me Freyr and Njörðr and the almighty Áss, as I shall pursue this suit, and may I be judged by the wrath of the gods if I lie.” ~Úlfljótslög ring oath The term goðagremi, wrath of the Gods, appears in the sagas as a consequence for breaking an oath or violating a sacred truce, inviting a curse upon oneself or another, if your case be just. In Egils saga, Egill invokes goðagremi upon anyone who occupies his disputed land, before singing a verse invoking Odin, Freyr and Njörðr (also confirming Odin is indeed the “Almattki Áss), and raising a níðstöng. “legg ek við lögbrot landsréttar ok griðarof ok goðagremi”; I pronounce you to have broken the laws of the land, broken the truce, and incurred the wrath of the Gods. 𐘾

Migration Period spearheads were often affixed to their handle with two large bronze rivets, shaped like eyes, below the blade, giving the spear the appearance of a raven. Adds a new layer to “feeding the ravens”, a recurring kenning for battle. ᚬ

A small Viking Age scabbard chape with a coiled serpent design, found in North Ormsby, Lincolnshire, and a nearly identical example found in Viborg, Denmark, 10-11th Century. Fitting, as swords were often referred to as serpents in skaldic poetry; ex. undlinnr (wound-serpent), dolglinnr (battle-serpent), hrælinnr (corpse-serpent), linnr poll sára (serpent of the pools of wounds), frán sóknar (attack-serpent). 𐘾

An Iron Age wooden sword from Ballykilmurray, Ireland, found in a peat bog. Possibly a toy, weaver’s sword, or a training sword. The pommel shape is very similar to that of the Brigantean sword found in Asby Scar. ࿋

One of the earliest images of Odin? One of the Bronze Age petroglyphs at Tanum depicts a tall central figure with a horned headdress, sword scabbard and a massive spear, with a wolf and bird at His feet, surrounded by other figures with horned headdresses and weapons; the Koryos and/or Einherjar. 𐘾

A silvered bronze Viking Age sword pommel, found in Northamptonshire, 9-10th Century, and a similar example from the National Museum of Denmark. Each side ends in zoomorphic terminals, looks like dragons or perhaps stylized boars. 𐘾

Last night’s Kornskurðarmánuður blót. Incense, wine and grain were offered to Óðinn at my home shrine. …looks like a face in the smoke there. Góðan Kornskurðarmánuður! Bledsian Ƿēodmōnaþ! 𐃏