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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rok-runestone-new-interpretation-ancient-text-sheds-light-viking-culture-1558036 Rök runestone: New interpretation of ancient text sheds light on Viking culture A new interpretation of the text engraved on one of the world's most famous runestone - the Rök runestone – offers another vision of Viking civilisation. The ancient monument was erected in the late 800s in the Swedish province of Östergötland. The multiple rune symbols inscribed all over its surface have never ceased to puzzle archaeologists and linguists ever since. Though the words on the stone are not in themselves difficult to understand, the message behind them has led to intense debates between scholars for many years. In the International Journal of Runic Studies, Scandinavian language specialists have published a novel interpretation of the text which challenges traditional perceptions of Viking values.... Now, the study's authors say the text is actually a combination of sophisticated riddles which refer to the monument itself and can be understood as a description of the runestone. "The old idea that the Rök Runestone mentions the Gothic emperor Theodoric is based on a minor reading error and a major portion of nationalistic wishful thinking... " says lead author Per Holmberg. "The riddles on the front of the stone have to do with the daylight that we need to be able to read the runes, and on the back are riddles that probably have to do with the carving of the runes." Read the entire article at the link at top of page

Dawn's grey fingers stretched across the sky, and flakes of snow drifted on the breeze about Asgard. Seen by Loki alone, Freyja left the shelter of her hall, Sessrumnir, her cats sleeping peacefully by the hearth, her chariot standing idle outside. She stole out on foot into the cold grey morning for the bridge Bifrost. The Sly One was bemused by this untoward behaviour. Wrapping his cloak closely around him he followed, not caring where her path would lead him. The goddess hardly walked, but seemed to float across the deeply frosted earth across a resting Asgard, hips asway as she went over the rainbow bridge that shivered and swayed around her, and under her feet. The deep, crisp snow crunched lightly beneath her as she made her way across Midgard, the rising sun gleaming, dazzling on the frost. She dreamed of gold, lusted after the brightness as she crossed the bare, open land with Loki hastening after her. Freyja forded a twisting stream that had been stilled by ice, the hoar frost hanging on the air as she passed a great glacier. Criss-crossed by deep, cruel cuts the glacier loomed dark in the gathering twilight that heralded the end of another winter's day. She came by and by to great, smoothed boulders that littered the bottom of a cliff. A narrow path led downward, cold-teared eyes showed her the way to the dwarves' forge, tearful now at the sight of a shower of gold before her. The way narrowed between damp rocks until she came to a great, dank cavern. Here she stood still, the sound of dripping water all that broke the silence. A gill burbled in the darkness as she stood, listening. Far-off the tapping of hammer on metal brought a flutter to her heart. She felt her heart hammering within her to the time of the hammering ahead. Deep yearned filled her, to see the fine work of the dwarves. Freyja strolled warily into and through the cavern, squeezed through an even narrower gap between cold, arching rock walls until she stepped into the heat of the forge where she came upon Alfrigg, Dvalin, Berling and Grerr. Freyja was dazzled by the bright, dancing light of the flames until her eyes became used to it. When she saw what the dwarves had been busy with, her breath left her. She gasped at the sight of a choker of bright gold, smooth-wrought folds and fine shapes, patterns like a golden river in which the light of the forge danced and writhed. Nothing had she seen as beautiful, or wished to own before as much as this treasure. The dwarves stared at Freyja, shimmering in the hot light. Where her cloak fell around her bare shoulders gold brooches and finery on her dress gleamed, the light playing on the shapes. They were smitten by her beauty. Freyja smiled on Alfrigg and his friends, telling them, 'I would buy that necklace from you'. They looked at one another, three shook heads and the fourth answered curtly, 'It is not for sale'. Freyja snapped back, 'I want it!' They grimaced and she told them again, 'I want it. Silver and gold will be yours - a fair outlay, and more', Freyja's voice rose and she neared the workbench where it rested. 'Other rewards will be forthcoming in payment'. 'We have silver enough', one dwarf told her. 'And gold we have, too', another added. Greyja gazed at the treasure she yearned. A hunger rose deep within her, painful and sharp it struck. Alfrigg, Dvalin, Berling and Grerr huddled together, deep in debate, whispered hoarsely. At last they nodded and Freyja asked, on edge, 'What is your price?' 'The necklace belongs to each of us', one of them told her. 'Each of us should have the same payment', the second leered up at her. 'There is only one price we can agree on', the third put in, 'that would please us'. Alfrigg pointed up at her. 'You are the price'. She reddened, and not just because of the heat in the workshop. Her ample bosom heaved and her breaths came short. 'If you lie with each of us for one night, and only then, will we part with it and you will then feel its coolness around your smooth neck'. Freyja looked at them, each ugly, hairy upturned-snout face in turn. She took in their fat bellies overhanging their belts, beady, dark eyes shining, bright from the flames. Her longing for for the necklace overcame her distaste. After all, this would cost her only four nights, and after that the necklace would be hers... forever! The light from the forge danced around the walls of the cave and the dwarves' eyes took in the goddesses' beauty. Shamelessly she nodded, 'Very well, I am yours these next four nights'. The four days and nights went quickly enough for Freyja. She kept her part of the bargain and the dwarves kept theirs. They handed it to her, putting it around her throat and fastening it. She hastened away, out of the cavern and back across the frosted plain of Midgard, her 'shadow' following. She hurried across Bifrost and entered Sessrumnir cloaked in darkness. Under her cloak the Brisingamen necklace caressed the line of her smooth, fair throat. The Sly One headed straight for Vallaskjalf, where he found the Allfather on his high seat, in the darkness, but for one or two torches sputtering in the cold breeze as Loki came up to 'One-Eye' through a side door. On either of Odin's shoulders sat Huginn and Muninn, his ravens and at his feet sat his two wolves. 'What now?' demanded the Father of Battle at Loki's intrusion. The Sly One smirked. 'I see the twisted look you wear,' the Allfather growled. 'Ah! I would warrant you saw nothing of hers?' Loki grinned evilly. 'Hers?! Who do you speak of?' 'You missed it all! Could you not see from Hlidskjalf?' 'See? See what?' Odin snarled, tired of Loki's word-play. 'Where could you have been, Allfather, when the goddess you lust after slept night after night with four ugly dwarves?' 'That is enough from you!' Odin snapped. Loki pressed on, twisting his words like daggers into the Allfather's tortured soul. He delighted in telling of the goddess selling her womanhood for the Brisingamen necklace. Despite himself, Odin could only sit listening as Loki wound his tale, leaving nothing unspoken. 'Get the necklace', the Allfather hissed through teeth set when Loki was done with telling of Freyja's shamelessness. Loki's cold smile and mute head-shaking angered Odin. He growled at the Sly One, 'Nothing you ever do is ever worthy! You would have us all snapping at one another's throats. You will get to her throat and bring me the choker!' Odin's face twisted in anger as he threatened Loki, 'Until you get it do not show yourself here!' Loki looked up from where he knelt at the Terrible One, his face grimly masked in cold anger. His wits left him and he fled in terror, howling like a wolf in pain. That very night the Sly One stole across the crisp, moonlit snowy field toward Sessrumnir. He boldly came to the door, a plan taking shape in his thoughts. Drawing his cloak tightly about him Loki shivered. A sudden wind whipped up the snow, whipping his cheeks. The gnawing cold crept into his heart, through his blood and he shivered fitfully. He thought of Thor's wife Sif, locked in her bedchamber. He thought of her forged golden tresses, his own lips drilled with an awl by Thor for his evil trick of shearing Sif's real tresses. He scowled at the thought and looked again at the door. Muttering magic words, and with shaking his head the Shape Changer turned himself into a fly. He searched for a gap above and below the great door. Neither between plaster and wood, nor between wall and turf roof was there a gap big enough even for a fly to get through. Finally, despairing of ever entering the hall the Shape Changer found a tight hole below the eaves, through which he wriggled and writhed, and was at last free to roam within Sessrumnir. Making sure the maids were sound asleep he flew to Freyja's bedside - but she still wore the necklace around her throat! The clasp was out of sight or reach under her chin. Loki changed shape again, to become a flea, and amused himself crawling about her breasts. He sat there, gathered strength and bit the pale skin at her throat. Freyja jerked, moaned and turned onto her side and settled down, still deep in her slumbers, dreaming. He clasp was there for him, as he meant it to be. Sure she was sound asleep, Loki took his own form, looked around and deftly unclasped the necklace. He drew the Brisingamen necklace from her throat. He was in his element! There was no thief in the Nine Worlds as nimble and crafty as the Sly One. Deftly and without a sound he made for the hall door, slowly slid back the great bolts, turned the lock and stole into the crisp, cold frosty night. Freyja awoke with a start later that morning, felt around her throat, then behind her neck. She looked around her bed closet. She rose and looked at the door to Sessrumnir. The bolts had been drawn back and there was no sign of the door having been forced. This could only have been Loki's doing, but even he would not have risked the Allfather's terrible wrath in his undertaking. It had to have been taken with Odin's sanction. Yet she could not know how her secret had been found out, her greed and guilt become known to him. Freyja hastened to Vallaskjalf to accost Odin, 'Where is my necklace?' she demanded. 'You have cheapened yourself with any part in the theft!' Odin scowled at her. Even though a goddess, she was of the Vanir, in Asgard only through the grace of her beauty. 'Who are you to speak of cheapening? You have brought shame on us here. Through sheer greed you sold yourself to the dwarves for a trinket!' 'Where is my necklace?' Freyja demanded again, voice rising with annoyance - and also fear. She screeched at Odin in fury, wept torrents of gold. 'You will never see it again', the Allfather told her, 'unless you submit yourself to one condition. Only one thing will make me happy'. Freyja stared at Odin. Whatever it was that entered her throughts made her bite her tongue. 'You shall stir hatred, bring war between two kings in Midgard, set them at one another's throats. They must meet in battle, each king with the retinues of a score of vassal kings', the Father of Battles stared grimly at Freyja in her misery. 'You will use the charms you have to give new life to the war dead. Once each warrior is cut down and bathed in blood he must stand again, as though unharmed. and fight once more'. Freyja gaped at the Allfather, but he was adamant, 'They are the conditions I have set you. Whether or not they are against it, they should slash one another to ribbons'. Freyja shook her head - then nodded, 'Very well then, give me back my necklace'. 'As and when', the Allfather told her, and looked away as her eyes brimmed with golden tears. She was like a child when she did not get her own way. She left to do his bidding. Freyja, goddess of the Vanir, huntress, warrior maiden, sister to Frey. One of the vainer goddesses, she would risk all to own the Brisingamen necklace - including to indulge the dwarves' desires for her. Loki followed in order to blackmail he. *** Thus begins the tale of Freyja and the Brisingamen Necklace http://hubpages.com/literature/VIKING-Freyja-Craves-The-Brisingamen-Necklace

Just then, the Wave Swine [Erik's ship] came around a spit of land and there before them was the town of Budardal [modern Budardalur, Iceland] with its squat turf hovels that looked more like earthen mounds than dwellings. Two wooden piers thrust out into the fjord and several knarrs and other smaller fishing vessels were tied up to them. As they drew near, a young man who was unloading a basket of fish from his Feraering looked up and seeing them, he stood staring. Eyjolf recognized the man as his cousin and cried out to him. That’s when a smile spread across the young fisherman’s face and he waved. He then set his basket down and ran into the village. By the time their knarr drew alongside the pier, many had gathered to greet Erik and his men. There was much back slapping and arm grasping, joyful shouting and hearty laughter. It was as if Erik was a hero welcomed home. And for Leif and his brothers who were for so long without their father, so long relegated to the shadows, this was glorious and they basked in the brightness of their father’s presence and fame. Several men tried to persuade Erik and his men to join them for a drink at the ale house just off the beach. Eyiolf and Helgi accepted the invitation but Erik begged off. He had whale meat to get home and a wife to greet. There was more back slapping and laughter and then everyone dispersed and went about their business. Erik secured a horse for Leif and sent him home to bring news of his arrival and to fetch Tyrker and his men and a cart to carry their haul. The large red bearded Norseman hoisted Leif into the saddle and slapped the rump of the horse which startled it into a good trot. The tow-headed youth kicked the horse into a gallop.... Leif and Thorvald [sons of Erik] sat with Tyrker in the loaded down cart. It was a good day. The sun was shining, the men were singing a bawdy drinking song and his father was with them once again, riding his horse before them, leading the way home. As they neared the small lake that bordered Haukadal, a bird-call sounded to their right. It came from behind a rocky outcropping, and from that very place a group of twelve men emerged, each astride an Icelandic horse. The leader dismounted, took up his shield and held his axe aloft, “Erik Thorvaldsson, I have come to give you a proper welcome! But this shall be the closest you come to your dear home. Tonight this bloody patch of ground shall be your bed .” The one who challenged them was none other than Thorgest, the father of Illugi whom Erik killed when he went to reclaim what was his. Thorgest had come to avenge his son. “Go home, Thorgest! I would not spill your blood today. I have served out my exile, so let this be done.” “It will not be done until I take your life from you, as you took my son from me.” With that Thorgest shouted and started down the slope toward Erik and his men. Erik leapt off his horse and called out to Tyrker who threw to him first his shield and then his Dane Axe. Armed and bristling for a fight, the red haired giant of a man roared in defiance. Tyrker hissed at Leif and Thorvald, “Hide under the cart.” Without looking back at them, he grabbed a spear and leaping to the ground, sprinted to Erik’s side. The two thralls riding in the back of the cart also joined their master. Thorsteinn [Erik's eldest son], taking his place beside his father made five. Leif wanted to fight alongside his father, but he did as Tyrker told him and he grabbed his younger brother and ducked beneath the cart as the battle began. Thorsteinn was the first to act. As the enemy ran toward them he lofted his spear and felled one man in the midst of his battle-cry. Moments later, the two forces collided. Leif could hear the clash of iron, the rending of flesh and the roaring of men. Blood began to flow under the cart as men died. As a whole, Erik’s men were outnumbered and ill-equipped. But it was a dangerous thing to underestimate Erik the Red. Each swing of his mighty Dane Axe was a mortal blow. Those who came at him he swept away like annoying midges and soon a trail of dead men lay behind him as he strode toward Thorgest. Tyrker with spear in hand, dispatched three warriors himself and was in a deadly grappling match with a fourth. The other combatants had stopped fighting to watch Erik and Thorgest duel. Thorgest banged his axe against his shield in defiance, laughing like a madman. “It shall be your blood soaked corpse people will recall whenever they hear the name Erik the Red.” He rushed at Erik with his shield to knock him off his feet. Erik sidestepped him and as he did, he swung his Dane Axe down in what would have been a killing blow, but Thorgest quickly threw his shield over his head to block it. A great cracking sound split the air. The shield quivered and Thorgest was knocked to his knees. Erik swung at the shield again and this time it broke it in two, shattering the arm beneath. Thorgest’s cry of pain and rage was cut short when Erik swiftly lifted his axe one final time and dropped the blade down on Thorgest’s head. With their leader lying lifeless on the field, Thorgest’s two remaining men turned to flee. They were dropped with spears in their backs. One of those spears was thrown by Thorsteinn, the other by Tyrker. From: Leif Eriksson - Part One: Early Life, by Andrew Boynton, http://skrawl.com/skrawls/2524-Leif-Eriksson-Part-One-Early-Life/read/5

This website is about the 1962 archeological find near Skuldelev, Denmark, of five Viking-era ship sunk as "block ships" Several of these ship remains have been used as a basis for replicas. The Museum site is in Danish, but can be reasonably translated with Google Translate. http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/ There is also a Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skuldelev_ships

Erik’s original crew of ten had now dwindled to seven, but there were still enough help to butcher and divide up the whale meat. A quarter of the minke meat went to Erik and his sons, half was split between the crew, and on Erik’s insistence, the rest was left for the landvaettir, spirits the Norse believed inhabited and roamed the land. The West Fjords was the territory of the Great Bull and the meat was Erik’s tribute to it. By midday the meat was packed and stowed onboard and the Wave Swine set sail for Budardal. Erik sat in the prow of the knarr and gathered his boys into his massive arms. Over the swishing sound of the oars as they dipped and glided through the calm waters, and the cry of seagulls circling overhead, Erik told his sons all about the land he had discovered in the west. “I first saw land after two days of sailing west of Iceland. The sea along the coast was completely frozen, so we sailed south and west for another day to skirt the ice on the western side of the cape I named Hvarfsgnupr. A short distance north of there, we traveled up a fjord, and made landfall on a steep, rocky beach. I named it Brattahlid, Steep Slope, and claimed it for my own. “These three years away from you, I spent them all exploring this new land. It is many times larger than Iceland, though not all of it is useful— the interior is covered by a great ice sheet. From Brattahlid we sailed two days north along the coast and came to a place I called Nordseta. Longer than the length of Iceland this region was, and abounding with game. There are creatures there that are known here, like reindeer and seal, but there are many I had never seen before; sea beasts with teeth the size of langsaxs, whales with one great horn, massive and shaggy oxen, and bears with fur as white as snow. The sea is full of fish, and the strand is strewn with driftwood. We reaped Nordseta’s bounty for three days yet it was as if we had never been there, so plentiful is that land. “On our fourth morning in Nordseta, we were approached by men dressed in furs. They were shorter than us, but stouter. In all of our travels, we had never encountered men in this land, so we had assumed it was uninhabited. We were wrong. These men seemed friendly at first and were fascinated with our iron weapons, for they used weapons made only of bone. Though we could not understand their words, they made known to us that they wished to trade for our superior iron weapons. We of course declined. They left that evening, and we made camp. “Before dawn, we were attacked by ten of the natives, who hid their faces behind driftwood masks. They rushed on our camp with their bone weapons. Their war-cry was like nothing I had ever heard, shrill whooping cries, more like beasts than men. For this, we called them Skraelings, or screechers. “Mind you, if we knew they were coming to do battle, we would have slaughtered them. But they came while we slept, and taking us by surprise, they killed Thorbjorn and Styr, and Gunnar later died of his wounds. Once roused, we killed five of them on the spot, and the rest fled. After building a pyre for our brothers on the beach and watching the flames take them, we left Nordseta that morning, and sailed once again to the uninhabited south.” From: Leif Eriksson - Part One: Early Life, by Andrew Boynton, http://skrawl.com/skrawls/2524-Leif-Eriksson-Part-One-Early-Life/read/5

come on valhalians !!! Let`s see them

Ancient chessmen, unearthed in 1831 on the shore of the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland, may very well be the work of an Icelandic female carver, The Economist reports. This is the conclusion of Nancy Marie Brown, an American expert in the Viking Age, whose book was just published. Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made them is published by St. Martin’s Press. The chessmen are considered the greatest treasure of medieval game pieces ever found. The first person to set forth the theory that the pieces might be the work of an Icelandic woman carver, Margrét the Adroit (“hin oddhaga”), was Guðmundur G. Þórarinsson, an engineer and former chairman of the Icelandic Chess Federation. He introduced his theory in 2010 at an international symposium on the Lewis chessmen. He suggested that Bishop Páll Jónsson of Skálholt commissioned the 92 walrus ivory pieces from Margrét in the 13th century. Margret was, at the time, the most skilled carver in the country. Read full aricle here: http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/09/02/icelandic-woman-likely-carved-lewis-chessmen

Place names of banished Vikings who have been 'dishonourable' and brought shame to themselves & the shield they hold! Here they shall be held by our Goddess Hel until they are released by our SA's.

Place here any non-Viking themed tournaments that members may be interested in!

This is the place to post Viking Themed tournaments for all members to join! If you have a idea, let any of the SA/Admins know and we'll arrange it.

Who cancelled the Valhalla match vs 300 Spartans? The Spartans held a slight registration advantage when I went to bed last night. Today I wake up to see: Team Match Cancelled The team match "Vikings v Sparta" has been cancelled by 300 Spartans Click here to issue a new challenge! White: VALHALLABlack: 300 SpartansDays per Move: 3 days What happened to - "This is a team for chessplayers who are comitted to win and participate in team matches and live up to the glory of ancient Spartan warriors." ?? Running away is unbecoming of any warrior. Therefore, 300 Spartans must necessarily be "black-listed" for cowardice.

Hi Warriors From VALHALLA! Hi Every Viking Warrior should know a little about how to play the Scandinavian defense against E4. Its a opening with some good gambits as well. Be free to comment this opening. And even how to meet the opening. Here is the first Video of the opening. I`ll add some spicy gambit lines as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyvqnNvUi4 Discover what the Isle of Lewis chessmen can tell us about the development of chess as both a game and an art form. Introduction by exhibition curator Barbara Drake Boehm, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, MMA. Presented with the exhibition The Game of Kings: Medieval Ivory Chessmen from the Isle of Lewis.Learn more about the exhibition: http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/.The Art and Evolution of ChessDylan Loeb McClain, New York Times chess columnistExplore how the rules and pieces evolved from the Middle Ages onward, and learn how chess sets have often been a medium for artistic and even political expression.Made for Laughs: How Comic Are the Lewis Chessmen? James Robinson, senior curator, Late Medieval Collections, Department of Prehistory and Europe, The British MuseumFrom the very moment of their discovery in 1831, the Lewis chessmen were compared with "pigmy sprites" or "elves." Their enigmatic charm has been employed subsequently in art, literature, and film—most famously in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. But how funny were the Lewis chessmen originally intended to be? Assess their comedic character in the context of production, patronage, and attitudes to humor in the twelfth century.Before TV and Computers: Playing Games in the Middle AgesCharles T. Little, curator, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, MMAChess is one of many games still played today that arose from courtly culture during the Middle Ages. Examine more closely great works of art in the Museum's medieval collection by placing the Lewis chessmen within a larger context of forms of entertainment—some allegorical and symbolic, others physical.

am very interested in the study and watch of games where traps were being set for opponents and its actual applicability in rather equal postions or not so eaqual so am gonna post few positions in some games of mine and would like every one who has such games or positions to post them or if you have a curiosity to discuss such situations that can arise from some openings or random middle games end games ; go ahead and comment so we could all learn & improve !!