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The Viking Art Collection - Tales from the Vikings Karin’s collection is inspired by the history, legends and the times of the Vikings. The Giants Eyes – artist comments Fascinated by Viking mythology, my painting shows where the gods killed the giants and threw their eyes into the sky to make stars! Frigga, The Goddess of Housework – artist comments My painting shows Frigga - the goddess of domesticity and the wife of King of the Gods Odin. I think Frigga is a bit of an angel!
She was permitted to sit with Odin on his chair - Hildskiaff which is a great throne where you can see everything going on in all the worlds.
Frigga is the Queen of the Gods/First Lady of the Goddesses. Goddess of Fertility - hence eggs in the washing basket - Happiness, Domesticity and Maternity.
Frigga wears a bunch of keys around her waist which is a symbol of being a good housewife. When the men left for expeditions there would be ‘a change of key’ ceremony. The keys symbolised authority over the land and house for women when the husband was away.
At that time, women could own property and divorce their husbands.
The Viking gods gave us the names of the week and Frigga gave us the name for Fridays. This is a coincidence for me as I do my housework on Fridays!
Frigga is not a consistently obedient spouse! Early on she enjoyed adulterous affairs with Odin’s brothers.
Frigga’s hall is called Fensair. She spends much of her time spinning golden thread or brightly coloured clouds.
In my painting, Frigga is a combination of a hard working women - the shopping list in Norwegian and Runes, bucket of water, map and colander on her head. Also, a symbol of femininity - pink boots, nail polish, cleavage and skirt.
Frigga has Falcon skin that she can wear so she can fly around the nine worlds. Viking Love – artist comments Some Viking-age images are so interesting - and it really inspired me. It is both a symbolic and religious image.
A common motif of a man and woman facing and embracing each other in a love scene. It was found under posts in houses and in some cases the post that supported the high seat of the King or Chieftain’s Hall and other centres of power. It may also symbolise the connection between family and the mythical gods.
The couple in the plaques have been connected with the Eddic Pamsal about the love of the god Freyr for the giant maiden Geror and attempt to win her by presents, threats and then magic.
On the script in the woman’s hand it says Magic runes for a women on how to handle Viking man! Viking meets Indian – artist comments
The sagas of the Norse tell of Bjorni Herjolfsson, a Viking who was blown off course while travelling between Iceland and Greenland in AD986.
His reports of Markland – a heavily wooded coastline, were an irresistible lure to the timber needs Norse.
Leif Eriksson, or Leif the Lucky followed Herjolfsson’s route and became the first Norse to land in Vinland (Wine Land) around 1001. This strange name may have come from giant huckleberries Leif thought were grapes.
The sagas describe the settlement of Vinland by at least three Norse expeditions as well as trade and conflict with the people they called skraelings. Skraelings were probably Beothuck Indians and the first American Indians to meet Europeans.
The Norse describe the natives as obsessed with the colour red which matches the Beothucks who decorated themselves extensively with red ocre. The British later named them Red Indians.
The Vikings didn’t stay very long in Vinland. The Beothucks and the second wave of European colonists never even learned to communicate with each other before the Beothuck people were wiped out completely.
In this painting Leif the Lucky sets foot in Vinland. He wants to shake hands but the Indian is having none of it! He shows his coup stick and spear. He is yelling and dancing a warrior dance. On his skirt are traditional Indian images of hunting Buffalo. The feathers on his head symbolise he killed two enemies and took one scalp.
The birds above tell the Indian tale of the Crow Chief which explains why crows are black. The Crow Chief
All crows had dazzling white feathers and were wicked!
The Crow Chief did not like the Sioux Indians. He told all the crows to perch on the backs of the buffalo and told them not to let the Indians hunt them. He warned the buffalo when the Sioux Indians came near.
One day a Young Indian dressed as a buffalo mixes with the other buffalo. When the Crow Chief comes to warn the buffalo away the Indian catches him.
The Sioux were very angry with the Crow Chief. You are a bad bird, you have tried to break the sacred link between man and buffalo, the Chief told the crow. He tied up his legs with a rope and threw the white crow in the fire.
All his white feathers singed black as night. The rope burned and the wicked crow soared up and out of the fire crowing loudly.
From that day on all crows have been black as a reminder to stay away from buffalo and men.
Odin, The Eye in The Sky
The pre-christian religion was similar to other Germanic tribes. They worshipped a number of Gods including Odin, the God of War and King of the Norse Gods.
Viking warriors believed that if they died heroically they would be called to live with Odin in Valhalla, Death in battle was considered the most heroic death.
So much did this afterlife appeal to the Vikings that warriors who didn’t get killed in battle fell on their own spears so they could go to Valhalla.
The Valkyries, a band of warrior maidens served Odin as choosers of slain warriors who were taken to live at Valhalla.
There the warriors would spend their days fighting and nights feasting until ragnarok, the day of the final world battle. The old gods would then perish and a new reign of peace and love would be instituted.
Odin has two wolves and two black ravens. Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory) flew around the world daily to gather news of events. Ravens were also found on the battlefield.
Odin’s greatest treasure was his eight-legged horse Sleipnir, his spear Gungnir and his ring Draupner. Odin was also the God of Wisdom, Poetry and Magic. He sacrificed an eye for the privilege of drinking from the fountain of wisdom.
Odin didn’t eat food, he only drank wine. He could change shape at will and often flew through the air in the form of an eagle. He spoke in poetry.
Vikings believed that swords had magic. To break the magic the swords were bent in half.
Odin sits in his throne, Hlidskjalf, looking down watching what is going on. His wife, Frigga Queen of the Gods) is also allowed to sit on the throne.
In my painting Odin is sitting drinking wine with Frigga who is having a break from housework. They look in dismay and disbelief at the chaos people create down on Earth.
People killing each other, global warming, poverty, drought, war, hatred and so it goes on and on.
The Woman with Nine Heads having a Cup of Tea
Karin’s inspiration came from Viking mythology about the grandmother of Tyr.
Artists comments
I have been unable to find out if Tyr’s grandmother had nine or nine hundred heads and why she had so many heads.
Information and comments gratefully received!
The House of 540 Doors
Karin’s inspiration for the House of 540 Doors came from a hall with 540 doors through which 800 heroes could walk. The roof was made of shields.
Artist comments
My painting shows The House of 540 Doors ruled by Odin, the King of the Norse Gods.
Heindrun the Goat is standing on top of Valhalla.
Ssehrimnir the Boar was slaughtered and eaten at dinner time but was born again in the morning to be slaughtered again at night for the next meal!
Heimdall announces Ragnarok with his trumpet/horn. He also welcomes warriors to Valhalla. The horn is symbolic of the point of no return when events have gained an unstoppable climax.
Heroes arrived in Valhalla on Odin’s eight legged horse Sleipnir.
Death to the Vikings only meant a journey to another world. The dead were buried in order to gain immediate access to Valhalla.
Chosen warriors went to Odin’s heavenly hall of Valhalla to fight by day and feast by night. In Valhalla the slain warriors put on their armour each day and went into the courtyard to fight by day and feast by night. In Valhalla, the slain warriors put on their armour each day and went into the courtyard to fight one another. At dinner all those who had fallen rose again and their wounds were healed to sit together through the evening, feasting and drinking and no-one ever had a hangover!
They drank from the skulls of their enemies. Odin selected those who were to die in battle.
So much did this life appeal to the Vikings that warriors who didn’t get killed in battle would fall on their own spears in order to go to Valhalla!
Servants and maidens at Valhalla were called Valkyries.
They were beautiful young women whose favours were available but they remained everlasting virgins.
Valkyries rode their wolves across the battlefields plucking the dead from the ground and taking them to Valhalla.
Valkyries had wings. Brunhild the Valkyrie rode through the air in brilliant armour and directed the battles.
Meet The Gods: Njord, the God of the Sea
Karin’s inspiration for Meet The Gods was inspired by Njord, God of:
Fertile land along the coast
Seamanship and sailing
Fertility
Rain and storm
Fire
Lover of Peace
Njord was responsible for the sea near the shore, the wind of the sea as well as fishing and trade. Njord is the God of Spring and he loved the sound of the sea, seals and seagulls.
The Asir regretfully killed Skadi’s father, Weland-Thjai, who inflicted the Ice Age on the world.
She put on her skis and skied all the way to Valhalla. The Gods agreed that they would repay her in some way.
She would be able to choose any male as her husband, but she was only allowed to look at the feet. She looked long at all of the male feet and she chose the cleanest pair, thinking that they belonged to Baldur.
She chose Njord, whose feet were washed clean by the sea. Although they loved each other, their marriage wasn’t the best.
Skadi lived in a land of winter, but Njord didn’t like being woken by the wolves and he couldn’t sleep because it was so cold.
Skadi couldn’t take living in a spring forest, being woken up early by the birds. She thought it was a little too warm.
They decided to live a time in each place which worked for a while but then they parted.
Meet The Gods: Freya
Karin’s inspiration for Meet The Gods was inspired by Freya, Goddess of:
Love
Cats
The Moon
Magic
Sexuality
Battle
Pleasure
Artist comments
My painting shows Freya, daughter of the God of the Sea Njord. She concerned herself with sex and all that goes with it!
She was also fond of cats, who were considered sexual creatures. Cats also symbolised the twin qualities of their mistress, fecundity and ferocity!
Like cats, Freya could be affectionate and loving, but fierce when aroused
Cats were considered to be Skogkatt (Norwegian Forrest Cat) which was a wild breed native to the North.
This breed is known for strong bones and muscular forms. This type of cat is described in the Norse myths as being so heavy that not even Thor could lift them off the ground.
They are big, long legged with large ruffs and tuffs at the top of their ears. They like water and there are many stories of swimming forest cats who catch their own fish in lakes and rivers.
Kittens were given to new brides as an essential part of setting up a new household because they were associated with Freya.
Freya always wore a brilliant jewel studded collar, Brisingamen, crafted by four dwarves symbolising her authority over the fiery aspect of sexuality. Each dwarf wanted to spend one night with Freya as payment for the work.
Freya was considered the most beautiful and desired of all white armed women.
She was also Goddess of a Horse Cult which practiced magic said to transform women into horses so that they could indulge in wanton sexual escapades. The mare is associated with night, with unbridled sexuality and dangerous magical power. To ‘ride the night mare’ is to have bad dreams!
The other animal owned by Freya is a golden, bristled boar called Hildisvini. It is a battle swine. Battle helmets with images of boards have been found in England and Scandinavia. The boar is a symbol of a savage and cunning nature.
Freya, the giver of life, was equally connected with the realms of the dead. She often led parties of Valkyries down to fetch the dead warriors from battlefields and bringing them back to her hall so that they could enjoy all the benefits of the afterlife.
Freya received the heroic dead and shared them with Odin.
Half go to his hall and half remain with Freya.
Freya also owned potential magical things like a falcon skin which she pulled over her shoulders allowing her to fly or for a useful disguise.
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