TODAY'S WORD IS: AKIMBO (adjective) Pronounced: ê-'kim-bo Meaning: With hands on hips and elbows out. This adjective is somewhat unusual in two respects: First, it does not precede its noun; rather, it follows it. Second, it is almost solely used in the expression "with arms akimbo." This word stems from around the 15th century, "in kenebowe," probably from Old Norse "i keng boginn," meaning, "bent in a curve."
Viking Clothing
Vikings were responsible for clothing themselves. A rich Viking may have had fine iron helmets and weaponry but a poor Viking had to make do with leather armor which did not offer much protection.
Viking Weapons
Axe: The most common of Viking weaponry.
Arrows: Wooden shaft riveted into a socket. Used for hunting as well as in battle.
Shield: A large round wooden piece with a metal center called a boss or stud. Sometimes shields were ornately painted, most however were decorated simply as shields tended to rot frequently.
Spears: Used as thrusting weapons
Sword: a strong sword was the most prized possession of a Viking warrior. Generally they were double-edged.
Viking Warships
Viking ships had a high prow in order to keep the ship from plunging
nose-first into the water in stormy weather. It also had a pronounced
keel which was useful when sailing the large vessel. The sternpost was
nearly the same as the prow also built very high.
The look of the ship varied greatly depending of course on the time period
and the origin of the vessel. Some anchors were made in the traditional
steel while some anchors on Icelandic ships were constructed of wood and
stone.
The Viking ships were powered by oar. Rows of benches lined the body of
the boat where the warriors would sit and row across the sea. A scary
beast such as a dragon was often carved onto the ships prow in attempt
to scare their enemies. Sail could power the warship, often the sails
were dyed blood red to inspire fear. Shields were placed on a shield rack
on either side of the ship.
Berserkir- warriors who wore bearskin cloaks and worked themselves into a frenzy. This is where the term Berserk comes from.
Valhalla- essentially Viking Heaven. A Viking must die on the battlefield in order to enter Valhalla.
Valkyrie-Warrior women who search the battlefields for dead warriors and carry them to Valhalla.
Odin, Thor and Frey- The chief Gods of the Vikings. It was believed that Odin regularly held a great feast welcoming fallen warriors into Valhalla.
Famous Vikings
Erik the Red- in 984 Erik the Red explored Greenland and encouraged many Icelanders to settle there. Although the island is covered with glaciers and mountains, Erik the Red called it 'Greenland' hoping it would entice more settlers.
Leif the Lucky- The son of Erik
the Red. The first European to set foot on North America, purely by accident
when his ship went off course. He landed somewhere near Newfoundland,
Canada and called it 'Vinland"
Viking Burial
Vikings were buried with all their personal belongings, as it was believed
that they would need them in the afterworld. Often Horses, pigs, and servants
were killed as well so they would travel to the afterworld with the dead
Viking. Sometimes the deceased Vikings wife or lover was burned along
with his body. All of the Vikings belongings and servants were put on
a ship; the ship was then covered with earth or set on fire. The funeral
of the Viking varied quite a lot and much of the procedure remains a mystery.
In modern times some of the ships that had been buried under the earth
were exhumed and found to be completely intact!
Viking Poem
Havamal
Cattle die, kindred die,
every man is mortal;
But I know one thing
That never dies,
The glory of the
Great dead.
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