ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

@sagnamadr

Musings on Indo-European and Germanic paganism and history. And artifacts.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ (English)

Welcome to the ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ Telegram channel! Are you fascinated by Indo-European and Germanic paganism and history? Do you find yourself intrigued by ancient artifacts and their significance? If so, this is the perfect channel for you!
Led by the enigmatic username 'sagnamadr', this channel is a treasure trove of musings, discussions, and insights into the rich heritage of the Indo-European and Germanic cultures. From the origins of ancient myths and legends to the symbolism of various artifacts, you will find a wealth of knowledge waiting for you here.

Who is 'Sagnamaðr Stark'? The title itself hints at a knowledgeable and wise individual, known for his deep understanding of sagas and stories of the past. 'Sagnamaðr' translates to 'The Storyteller' in Old Norse, indicating that this channel is a place where stories from the past are brought to life once again. 'Stark' further adds an element of strength and power to this storyteller, suggesting that the knowledge shared here is not only captivating but also impactful.

What is it? The ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ channel is a hub for those who seek to explore and understand the ancient roots of Indo-European and Germanic cultures. Whether you are a history buff, a mythology enthusiast, or simply curious about the past, this channel offers something for everyone. Dive deep into discussions about pagan rituals, historical events, and the significance of ancient artifacts, all presented in a thought-provoking and engaging manner.

Join 'sagnamadr' on a journey through time and space, where the echoes of the past reverberate through the present. Uncover the hidden meanings behind ancient symbols, unravel the mysteries of long-forgotten myths, and discover the interconnectedness of cultures that span centuries. The ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ channel invites you to explore, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the ancient and the mysterious. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Indo-European and Germanic paganism and history!

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Jan, 02:00

Another example of Japan’s based animism…
The Japanese Wolf is officially extinct, and a cryptid. A while ago, I met a gentleman from Hokkaido who believes them to be alive and well, and he said that people in his mountain hometown claim to have seen them-but they never tell outsiders when they do, because they don’t want them to be harassed by researchers or tourists.
Nature and animals would never be afforded that level of respect and consideration in an Abrahamic or secular society, but in an animistic society, they can be.
ᛉ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Jan, 22:39

“Eikthyrnir is the hart who stands by Heerfather's hall And the branches of Lærath he bites; From his horns a stream into Hvergelmir drops, Thence all the rivers run.”
~Grímnismál 26, Bellows
ᛘ
“Eikþyrnir heitir hjörtr, er stendr höllu á
ok bítr af Læraðs limum;
en af hans hornum drýpr í Hvergelmi,
þaðan eigu vötn öll vega.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Jan, 12:11

A bronze escutcheon from an Anglo Saxon hanging bowl with a swastika design, found in East Hertfordshire, 7-8th Century.

Many hanging bowls feature Celtic-style decoration, and similar hanging bowls were found in Ireland, and in Viking sites in Norway. The Anglo Saxons may have enlisted Celtic craftsmen…or taken them as war trophies.

Bede’s Ecclesiastical History may reveal what they were used for;
“The king cared so much for the good of the people that, in various places where he had noticed clear springs near the highway, he caused stakes to be set up and bronze drinking bowls to be hung on them for the refreshment of travellers. No one dared to lay hands on them except for their proper purpose because they feared the king greatly nor did they wish to, because they loved him dearly.”

This could explain why so many hanging bowls were found in royal burials, including Sutton Hoo; a physical symbol of the king’s sacred hospitality. After all, stanza 4 of the Hávamál says one should give a guest water. ᛚ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Jan, 02:03

One often hears that the horrific forced conversions of our ancestors “civilized” Europe.
Yet, look at Japan; the vast majority of Japanese follow a polytheistic, animistic folk religion very similar to our own, and Japan remains a highly functional society. Japan is another prime example of a polytheistic society, and had our ancestors never been converted, chances are our nations would look similar. ᛉ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Jan, 20:34

An early Anglo Saxon battle axe with copper inlays and gilding, from Howletts, Kent, 6th Century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Jan, 01:50

In Livonia in 1692, a man named Thiess was arrested on suspicion of being a werewolf. He confessed, but claimed he used this ability to travel to hell and fight the Devil and his witches; likely a remnant of the prominent beliefs in wolves as sacred animals of the Gods and psychopomps.
Thiess called himself a hound of God, and in Baltic paganism, wolves were known as Dievas Sunīši (dogs of God). He wasn’t charged with being a werewolf-but he was charged with trying to turn people away from Christianity. He may have been a pagan shaman or priest of sorts.
Painting Jēkabs Bīne, 1932. 𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Jan, 20:05

Gold and silver Mramorac type belts, made by the Thracian Triballi tribe, 6-5th Century BC. It features the same form of the swastika used on Andronovo pottery, and later Anglo Saxon burial urns at Spong Hill. This form was known as the Fern Flower among the Slavs.
Photos by ArcheoSerbia.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Jan, 02:03

Odin takes the form of an eagle and a snake in the Gylfaginning, a falcon in the Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks, and in the Hrafnagaldr Óðins, a Iðunn takes the form of a wolf.
We have several artifacts depicting animals with only one eye; depicting Odin as a shape shifter, or hamramr.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Jan, 23:21

Another such example…

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Jan, 23:21

In the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason, Thor creates storms by blowing through his beard.
When Raud the Strong found himself outnumbered against Olaf’s ships, he called out to Thor; “‘raise thou against them thy beard's voice.’ Then went they out, and Thor blew hard into his beard, and raised his beard's voice. Immediately there came ill-weather against the king so strong, that he might not hold out at sea.”
The terms used for wind in the Saga are skeggrödd and skeggraust; beard-voice. The famous Eyrarland Thor statue is thought to depict Thor blowing through his beard.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Jan, 22:05

“And when they came north off Dumbshaf a man came over from the shore and entered service with them on the trip. He was named Rauðgrani. One-eyed was he. He had a blue-flecked, cowled cloak studded down to the middle of his legs. Jóstein the priest wasn't keen on him, for Rauðgrani spoke of heathendom and old lore with Gestr’s men, and said it best to worship by sacrifice for one's good luck. And one day when Rauðgrani was urging them to heathenism, the priest, all wrathful, suddenly grasped a crucifix and placed it on the head of Rauðgrani. He plunged overboard, but never came up afterwards. They realized then that he had been Óðinn. Gestr only regarded the priest coolly.”
~Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss

It’s interesting how several Sagas about the big bad king who converted everyone don’t outright deny the existence of the Gods.

Painting by Carl Emil Doepler, 1889. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Jan, 04:25

The Hercules constellation is very swastika-like, and may account for several variations.
Reza Assasi proposed that the Swastika was based on the rotation of Draco around the North Star. Polaris became the North Star in the 6th Century AD. Thuban, aka Alpha Draconis, would have been the North Star from the 39-17th Century BC; and Draco and Ursa Major and Minor would have still been orbiting it. 卐

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Jan, 22:48

The Åby petroglyphs in Sotenäs, Sweden. The ships are flanked by a sun cross and a spiral swastika; this may very well represent day and night, and more evidence for the swastika representing the cycles of the stars. ⴲ 卍

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Jan, 20:30

Two of the heads have what look more like jaws than beaks; this may be a Frankish image of Freki and Geri and Huginn and Muninn. A very Odinic artifact. ᚨ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Jan, 20:30

Frankish belt plate, 7th century, copper, a zoomorphic fylfot comprised of raptor heads. Photo by Matt Bunker at the collection of the National Archaeological museum, France.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Jan, 04:44

There are many theories as to what the gripping beast motif could depict. I have a theory of my own; it may have been a reflection of the animistic worldview, in which spirit moves through all things, and the lines between humans, animals and spirits, and our world and the otherworld, weren’t as rigid, and were permeable. The animal in the motif is both somewhat familiar and surrealistic, with the body impossibly twisted back on itself, and some eastern examples feature a bearded face. Four more animal heads appear on the frame.

It was likely an apotropaic charm; similarly to Thor’s hammer amulets, these have been found in varying degrees of quality, from simple cast bronze to highly detailed silver and gold, showing people from all backgrounds considered it important enough to have.

Photographer Ru Smith proposed that it depicts Loki bound. A tendril binds the figure’s limbs to the frame, and in the Gylfaginning, the Gods drilled holes in the stones they bound Loki to, which could account for the round frame. While an image of Loki on its own wouldn’t be an apotropaic charm, an image of Loki bound may have been, as a symbol of evil contained.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Jan, 04:42

A lovely Viking Age gripping beast pendant, found in Lincolnshire, 9-10th Century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

16 Jan, 22:00

The belief in Odin’s single eye likely originated in Proto-Indo European religion, similar beliefs appear in related religions.
Shiva’s third eye represents esoteric insight, which Odin sacrificed His eye for, as well as fire, and one of Odin’s epithets is Báleygr; flaming eye.
The Baltic god Velinas was also described as a one-eyed, shape shifting trickster, and a keeper of the dead.
Painting by Nataša Ilinčić.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

16 Jan, 02:03

Good Yule to all. I had a rather late celebration because of time constraints. My equipment for worship has also been limited as a result of my recent move across the country. Just remember that you can worship and keep our Holy Tides with the bare minimum.
I gave three cans of beer and a scented candle this year for Yule.
Even if what you have is less than this the Gods accept all offerings with a pious heart with love.
May the Gods bless you all.

Hail to the Yule Father

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

16 Jan, 01:04

Another example of a Borre 1b chape from Hull, Humberside, and an incomplete example from Tupholme, Lincolnshire. Couldn’t find a better picture of the first one, but the damaged right eye stands out. This rare pattern may have been locally produced in Danish England, although another was reportedly found in Iceland.
I personally think these were likely locally produced; back then, making bronze wasn’t as precise of a process as it is today, and the mixture of metals could vary. The fact that each example has a similar pale brownish green patina indicates they’re made of a similar alloy; possibly even made in the same workshop. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Jan, 20:42

A rare Viking Age scabbard chape, Borre style 1b, with an image of Odin.
The way the head entwines with the frame is very similar to other patterns depicting Odin hanging on Yggdrasil. The furrows on the figure’s sides make Him appear emaciated, after hanging nine nights on Yggdrasil.
On one side, the right eye is removed. On the other, while the eyes are still asymmetrical, perhaps it’s intended to depict Odin before and after He sacrificed His eye. A wolf head appears at His feet.
The overall style of the figure is also quite similar to Alemannic depictions of Wuotan, with the knotted hair more in line with Scandinavian Borre-style art. The face appears as though it could be wearing an ocular helmet.
Found in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, 9-10th Century. This is one of four examples of this type I know of. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Jan, 03:30

The Gylfaginning contains an important tenet of the Heathen worldview; the animistic belief that all things are ensouled.

Frigg receives oaths that Baldr won’t be harmed by “fire and water, iron and all kinds of metal, stones, the earth, trees, diseases, the animals, the birds, poison, snakes”, implying that all of these things had the sentience and agency to do so.

She believed mistletoe to be too young to swear an oath, and later on, “people and animals and the earth and the stones and trees and every metal” weep upon hearing of Baldr’s death.

Painting: Frigg takes an oath of all things by Mikhail Fiodorov.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Jan, 00:58

On the full moon of Afterra-Géola I fained the mighty Géol Fader, Thunor and the heavenly queen Frig. Offerings of Beer, Wine,fruits, honey bread, tobacco and cannabis were given. Despite it being-30 l successfully completed the right and my offerings were accepted. Wes pu Hal Woden and the eternal Gods. 🌲

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

12 Jan, 02:36

The Argonautica mentions a simple offering of water and barley to Apollo, when it was all Jason’s crew had to spare.
While these things are easier to get today, offerings of water and grain makes one think of our ancestors; in the times when one had to find a safe water source, or grow one’s own barley, the offering would carry significant weight.
ᛚ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

11 Jan, 22:43

A Viking Age gilt bronze brooch with a Jellinge-style wolf, found in York, 9-11th Century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

11 Jan, 02:30

Celtic Warriors Consult a Priestess by Augustus Dieffenbacher, 1858-1940. 𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

11 Jan, 02:28

Why sacrifice in the 21st Century? Was discussing with some friends earlier…

Of course, there’s nothing you can give the Gods that they don’t already have. For everything you offer, wealthier Heathens and larger kindreds can offer tenfold, and for every horn of mead you pour, Odin Himself has an endless supply of mead with Heiðrún. And of course, most of us will never be able to match what our ancestors were able to offer.

But oddly enough, Hávamál 146 advises not to overdo your sacrifices;
“Better no prayer than too big an offering,
By thy getting measure thy gift;
Better is none than too big a sacrifice.”

In his book To the Cynic Heracleios, Julian the Apostate wrote;
“Are you not aware that all offerings whether great or small that are brought to the gods with piety have equal value, whereas without piety, I will not say hecatombs, but, by the gods, even the Olympian sacrifice of a thousand oxen is merely empty expenditure and nothing else?”

There’s a similar message in the Bhagavad Gita;
“He who offers to Me with devotion and a pure heart
A leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, that offering of devotion I accept from him.”

The way any Heathen should see it is, the quantity of your offering isn’t as important as the devotion with which you offer it. This is attested in the Edda, and reflected in other Indo-European religions. It’s a gifting cycle. You never expect something for nothing, and if you’re asking the Gods for something, it should be something that’s important enough that you’re willing to part with something of value.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Jan, 19:01

An Alemannic zierscheibe with an image of Odin (or in Old High German, Wuotan). The right eye appears squinted shut, a tendril or serpent wraps around His neck, and the object in His hand resembles a drinking horn. The stance is similar to that of the Odin figure on the Torslunda Plates. ᚨ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Jan, 07:54

Looks somewhat like the Younger Futhark hagall (hail) rune, and Anglo Saxon gær (year) rune. ᚼ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Jan, 07:49

The Golden Calendar of the Bronze Age North European Peoples

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=83545

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Jan, 02:24

The historical basis for the ritual objects I use on a daily basis…

I use these at my shrine at home, but as I like to worship outdoors, I deliberately kept my setup small enough to be portable. Everything is based on descriptions from various sources.

Figures of Gods; countless small idols have been found, and the Hallfreðar Saga mentions a man carrying a small figure of Thor.

Copper offering bowl; the Kjalnesinga Saga mentions a hlautbolli made of copper, and and Strabo’s account of the Cimbri mentions a brass sacrificial vessel.

Candle; a simple source of fire. Fire is integral to worship, as attested by the Eyrbyggja Saga, Kjalnesinga Saga, Hákonar saga góða, Indiculus superstitionum et paganarium, and Ahmad ibn Rustah.

Incense burner; doubles as a source of fire, and a small offering. Incense was widely used by pagan Romans and Greeks.

Brass bell; the Gesta Danorum mentions bells in the Uppsala Temple.

Pouring libations, including alcohol, sacrificial blood and milk, is attested in the Hyndluljoð, Eyrbyggia Saga, Hakonar saga góða, Ynglinga Saga, and Hervarar Saga, The Life of St. Columban, History of the Normans, Guta Saga, Guta Lag, Adam of Bremen’s account, and Ahmad ibn Fadlan's Risala.

Each of these things also continue to be widely used in other Indo-European religions.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

09 Jan, 23:03

I’ve made a few additions to my compact blót kit since last year. The contents are as follows;
-Figures of Gods
-Incense and burner
-Beeswax candle
-Matches
-Vajra bell
-Copper offering bowls
-Small flask for libations
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

09 Jan, 01:00

Early Icelanders looking for a pet.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

08 Jan, 22:18

Our ancestors did indeed keep bears and wolves as pets, the Icelandic Grágás laws contained regulations around their ownership.

The laws included, if one’s house bear did damage to another’s property, the owner was to pay for any damage it did, as with any other pet. If he set his bear upon someone, he was sentenced to outlawry. If someone provoked or harmed your bear, their sentence was lesser outlawry.

By the time the Grágás laws were compiled in the 13th Century, Iceland had banned the import and ownership of wolves and brown bears…but not polar bears.

The Auðunar þáttr vestfirska relates how an Icelander named Auðun brought a polar bear cub from Greenland as a gift to Sweyn II of Denmark.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

08 Jan, 03:34

An Anglo Scandinavian disc brooch with a knotted swastika design, found in Norfolk, 9-10th Century. This was a very popular design, but this one is unique in that it’s the only example I’ve seen with gilding. With this popular Viking Age variation of the swastika, one can easily see the shape of the Big Dipper in the arms.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Jan, 22:42

“In times past, the Danes were Christians, but nevertheless continued to worship idols in their traditional manner. The Danes affirmed that Christ was a god. But they claimed that there were other, greater gods, who manifested themselves to people through even more powerful signs and prodigies.”
~Widukind of Corvey, Deeds of the Saxons
Many common folk did the bare minimum to keep their kings and their allies satisfied, and continued to worship the Gods long after their official conversion.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Jan, 01:54

The coat of arms of Irmenseul, Lower Saxony, features an interpretation of the Irminsul with a sun cross, and a replica was built on a hill nearby. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Jan, 21:24

An interesting seiðr staff from Dublin, with what looks to be two ravens perched on top.
Photos by Klaudia Karpinska.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Jan, 00:57

It’s worth noting that in many Indo-European religions, the chief god retains an association with magic, but especially divination; which is one application of seiðr. Lugh, Jupiter and Zeus all retain an association with divination, and stanza 79 of the Hávamál mentions asking the runes.

Seiðr would undoubtedly have been considered ergi because it would allow one to indirectly harm an opponent; acceptable for a woman who was at a physical disadvantage, but cowardly for a man, who would be expected to be direct in conflict.

In his book Children of Ash and Elm, woke academic Neil Price claims seiðr staffs represented a phallus, despite the fact most examples don’t look even remotely phallic, and priests and shamans in many other cultures, related and unrelated, use staffs of their own, often representing the axis mundi. For this theory, he cites “some scholars” without naming any. It has no basis in the sources or archaeology.

https://t.me/survivethejive/7826

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Jan, 22:11

Widukind of Corvey wrote the Saxons imitated their god of the sun and victory (likely Woden) with a wooden column; which may have had a face carved on it like the godpoles described by Ahmad ibn Fadlan, or it may have had an idol on top like unto Romano-Germanic Jupiter columns.
The 12th Century Kaiserchronik mentions Irminsul three times, describing it as an altar on which an image of a god stood. ᚨ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Jan, 02:48

The world’s largest living tree is currently this redwood, known as the Hyperion. The way the branches fork out at the top is reminiscent of the depiction of Irminsul on the Externsteine; it may have originally looked something like this. ᛘ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

04 Jan, 21:05

An interesting new find from Kalundborg, Denmark; a bronze pendant with three entwined faces, likely Vili, Vé and Odin.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

04 Jan, 04:36

It’s worth noting that most runic amulets and curse tablets were simply a description of what you would like to happen for yourself or your target, carved on a piece of copper or other material in runes. Never underestimate the runes.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Jan, 22:28

“Runes shalt thou find, and fateful signs, That the king of singers colored, And the mighty gods have made; Full strong the signs, full mighty the signs That the ruler of gods doth write.”
~Hávamál 143, Bellows
ᚬ
“Rúnar munt þú finna ok ráðna stafi,
mjök stóra stafi, mjök stinna stafi,
er fáði fimbulþulr ok
gerðu ginnregin
ok reist hroftr rögna.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Jan, 06:58

These are the dates (and UK times) for the full moons in 2025. I don’t use the common Strawberry moon / Sturgeon moon names etc as these are derived from American Indian culture. Instead these names are derived from Anglo-Germanic sources.

Full Moon date and time

13 January (10.27pm) First moon, Winter moon
12 February (1.53pm) Sol moon, Horning
14 March (6.55am) Spring moon, Lent moon
13 April (1.22am) Easter moon, Grass moon
12 May (5.56pm) Milking moon, Pasture moon
11 June (8.44am) Sailing moon, Fallow moon
10 July (9.37pm) Hay moon, Summer moon
9 August (8.55am) Weed moon, Harvest moon
7 September (7.09pm) Holy moon, Wood moon
7 October (4.48am) Winter moon, Vintage moon
5 November (1.19pm) Blood moon, Blot moon
4 December (11.14pm) Yule moon

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Jan, 06:58

Jól is officially coming up next Monday on the 13th.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Jan, 03:44

Various Iron Age gilded square-headed brooches from the Stavanger Museum. The examples on the top are particularly interesting; the example on the right depicts several faces flanked by two raptors. The example beside it depicts tiermensch; animals merging with human faces. 𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

02 Jan, 21:32

A rune stick with an interesting inscription from Narsaq, Greenland. Runologist Erik Moltke interprets the first line of the inscription as; Á sæ, sæ, sæ es Ása sát; “On the sea, the sea, the sea is the ambush (or dwelling?) of the Æsir”, and a charm for protection at sea.
The second line can be read as “bibrau(?) is the name of the maiden who sits on the blue (pond?)”, which may refer to a goddess, perhaps Frigg. Two rune sticks with very similar inscriptions have been found in Bergen, so it must have been a well known charm.
One side has the full Younger Futhark, and the other, a series of bindrunes; likely a charm of sorts.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

02 Jan, 05:36

A very small one-eyed Odin figure recently found in Norddjurs, Denmark. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

01 Jan, 22:59

The Lund 1 runestone depicts a bearded Odin mask flanked by two wolves, which appear to be carrying swords and shields.
The inscription reads;
“Þorgísl, son of Ásgeirr Björn's son, raised these stones in memory of both of his brothers Ólafr and Óttarr, good landholders.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

01 Jan, 00:25

A strange bone figure from Tunby, Sweden, with four bearded faces. Possibly depicting the four dwarves holding up the four corners of the world.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

31 Dec, 10:00

A Roman altar to Jupiter from Birdoswald along Hadrian’s Wall, with two sun crosses and a swastika. The inscription reads:
ⴲ 卐 ⴲ
“I(ovi) O(ptimo) M(aximo)
c[o]h(ors) I
Aelia
Daco[r-]
um Aug(usta)
[cui] p(raeest) Aur(elius)”
ⴲ 卐 ⴲ
“To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, the First Aelian Cohort of Dacians, styled Augusta, under the command of Aurelius.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

31 Dec, 03:03

“Better is heart than a mighty blade
For him who shall fiercely fight;
The brave man well shall fight and win,
Though dull his blade may be.”
~Fáfnismál 28, Bellows
Painting by Wouter Florusse.
ᛏ
“Fjarri þú gekkt, meðan ek á Fáfni rauðk
minn inn hvassa hjör;
afli mínu atta ek við orms megin,
meðan þú í lyngvi látt.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

30 Dec, 22:15

I’ve noticed a few things in the coverage of this new Anglo Saxon sword from Kent.
Firstly, several mainstream media outlets brazenly used the term Anglo Saxon once more, despite it being a charged term in modern academia.
Secondly, a pendant of a kind often found in women’s burials was found in the warrior’s burial, which they’re saying was likely a gift or family heirloom, as opposed to trying to claim he was some kind of gender bender, as they often do with female burials containing weapons for example.
The radical left is backing down. We’re winning.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

30 Dec, 02:50

The Anglo Saxon name for February is Solmōnaþ, meaning month of hearthcakes (similar to cookies), and Bede wrote that cakes were offered to the Gods. Milk was mentioned among offerings to the Gods by Ahmad ibn Fadlan, and is still frequently offered in Hinduism today.
It’s entirely possible that at some point, our ancestors literally left out milk and cookies for the Gods.
Painting by Joseph Martin Kronheim, 1868. 𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

29 Dec, 23:02

A Viking Age carved head from the National Museum of Copenhagen, thought to depict Odin. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

29 Dec, 02:09

The seax from Valsgärde grave 8, with an intact handle and scabbard.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

28 Dec, 22:55

“Two make a battle, the tongue slays the head; In each furry coat a fist I look for.”
~Hávamál 73, Bellows
𐃏
“Tveir ro eins herjar, tunga er höfuðs bani;
er mér í heðin hvern handar væni.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

28 Dec, 03:16

Dane axes from the National Museum of Ireland. The example on the left has an intact handle, and wouldn’t have been any longer than a sword, allowing it to be used along with a shield.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

27 Dec, 22:23

A double-faced statue in the Historisk Museum, Oslo. Possibly Odin as Tveggi. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

27 Dec, 06:55

“To his friend a man a friend shall prove,
To him and the friend of his friend;
But never a man shall friendship make
With one of his foeman's friends.”
~Hávamál 43, Bellows
Painting by Viktor Vasnetsov, 1900. 𐃏
“Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera,
þeim ok þess vin;
en óvinar síns skyli engi maðr
vinar vinr vera.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

26 Dec, 21:06

This skull belonged to a 7th Century Anglo Saxon man. My maternal grandfather had a nearly identical head shape, as do I. Save for the extremely robust Iron Age jaw, we shared the same facial features; prominent brow and chin, deep set eyes, short nose, etc.
We truly are our ancestors.
ᛟ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

26 Dec, 04:14

As a Heathen parent, what will I teach my kids about Santa…
I will teach them that Odin was syncretized with St. Nicholas of Myra in the Netherlands, who was known as an anonymous gift giver, which gave rise to the softened caricature we now know as Santa.
I’ll teach them that while there’s no jolly old man who will literally come down the chimney and leave presents, what lies beneath this caricature is absolutely real; Odin riding through the night sky with our ancestors in winter, the Álfar/Elves, in the Wütende Heer, and they will bestow the kinds of gifts that are blessings you may not immediately be able to see, and reason he’s able to visit all the children of our folk is because underneath this caricature is a God.
I’ll also teach them that leaving out milk and cookies is a modern remnant of pagan Jólablót sacrifices and leaving out offerings for the Wild Hunt in winter, and we’ll leave out an offering with a proper a blót ceremony before bed.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Dec, 21:58

The first association of Santa with elves/nissen was in various folk tales in the early 1800s. Probably not a coincidence though; elves were originally believed to be ancestral spirits, led by Odin in the Wild Hunt in the dead of winter.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Dec, 01:55

In his 1673 book Lapponia, Johannes Scheffer recorded Yule beliefs and offerings very similar to our own in Lapland.
On Christmas Eve, they’d feast, but keep a small amount of everything they ate, and on Christmas Day, put their food offerings into a birch bark vessel shaped like a ship and hang it in a large tree as an offering to the Juhlian Company (Wild Hunt), which they too believed to be wandering in the forests, mountains and air especially around Christmas.
They believed the Juhlian Company to be a ghostly procession of the ancestors, led by Thor/Horagalles, Storjunkare, and the Sun. Storjunkare is a Norwegian term which refers to stone altars, at which reindeer were often sacrificed to the Gods at Juhli (Yule).
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Dec, 21:32

In 1895, Hélène Guerber recorded an interesting belief about the Wild Hunt; if one heard the Wild Hunt and called out to it in bad faith, the Hunt would take you with it. But, if one called out to it in good faith, they’d drop a horse leg, which turned to gold when the sun rose.
In the folk tale Grimm recorded, the Wild Hunt dropped a horse leg down the carpenter’s chimney, but he must have called out to them mockingly, hence his death.
Painting by Johannes Wilhelm Cordes, 1856.
𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Dec, 01:09

The most literal translation of the first line of Hyndluljóð stanza 2, Biðjum Herjaföðr í hugum sitja, would be “I bid Heerfather to sit in our minds”, making us fearless in battle, and granting us the wisdom to attain victory, fame and riches. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Dec, 23:40

“The favor of Heerfather seek we to find, To his followers gold he gladly gives; To Hermoth gave he helm and mail-coat, And to Sigmund he gave a sword as gift.

Triumph to some, and treasure to others,
To many wisdom and skill in words, Fair winds to the sailor, to the singer his art, And a manly heart to many a hero.”

~Hyndluljóð 2-3, Bellows
These stanzas reveal the matters in which Odin’s followers often sought His intercession.
𐃏

“Biðjum Herjaföðr í hugum sitja, hann geldr ok gefr gull verðungu; gaf hann Hermóði hjalm ok brynju, en Sigmundi sverð at þiggja.

Gefr hann sigr sumum, en sumum aura, mælsku mörgum ok mannvit firum; byri gefr hann brögnum, en brag skaldum, gefr hann mannsemi mörgum rekki.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Dec, 01:38

The Hnefatafl set from Birka. I haven’t seen any other examples with the gilt bronze cap, perhaps it was made in the same workshop as the king piece from York. This example has small triquetras on the cap.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Dec, 23:00

A Viking Age gaming piece, found near York, 9-10th Century. Made of lead, with a gilt bronze cap. This would have been a king piece for a Hnefatafl set; a full bone Hnefatafl set was found in Birka, which included a king piece with an extremely similar gilt bronze cap.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Dec, 05:30

Two ornate Gothic bow brooches from the Wielbark Culture, now Poland, 3-5th Century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Dec, 23:41

Another connection between Santa and the Wild Hunt…
In many folk tales involving the Wild Hunt, the hunters call out “hoho” as they ride, and in one folk tale Grimm collected from the Harz Mountains, a carpenter said it back. The Wild Hunt dropped a horse leg down his chimney, and the man died; joining the Wild Hunt himself.
Painting by Patrick Beauclair. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Dec, 08:32

A happy and sacred Sunstede to you all. Wæs hæl! Drinc hæl!

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Dec, 04:14

A lovely Viking Age sword from the Swedish history museum, with a carved reindeer bone hilt, and copper and silver inlays. 𐃏

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Dec, 21:02

Although our ancestors only recognized two seasons, the most important days of sacrifice were at the beginning and in the middle of the traditional summer and winter; Ostara, Midsommar, Winterfylleth and Yule. The Big Dipper lines up with the four arms of the Swastika on these days.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Dec, 05:28

An interesting early Anglo Saxon bronze mount found in Taynton, Gloucestershire, 5-7th Century, possibly a depiction of Woden. Similar examples have been found in Denmark. The back is curved, which suggests it may have been attached to a staff or similar. ᚩ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Dec, 22:04

A folk tale collected by Grimm from Lower Saxony further links the Wild Hunt with the Einherjar…

In Lower Saxony, the leader of the Wild Hunt is often called Hacklenberg. In the folk tale, Hans von Hacklenberg was a woodcutter who lived in the 16th Century. One night, he dreamed of being killed by a wild boar. The next day, he was attacked by a wild boar, but eventually defeated it after a long fight. In his victory, he kicked at the dead boar hard enough that the boar’s tusk went through his boot, the wound proving fatal. In death, he continues to hunt.

In several other accounts of the Wild Hunt, a boar is the target of the spectral hunters. In another, a woodcutter joined the Wild Hunt and was away for a fortnight salting the boar’s flesh.

Both harken back to Sæhrímnir, the boar eaten by the Einherjar; and in the first one, he heralds Hacklenberg joining the Wild Hunt.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Dec, 06:33

Coins from Knossos, Crete, with a swastika on one side, and a minotaur forming a swastika with his body on the other.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Dec, 02:24

The debate always comes up this time of year…Martin Luther is credited with the invention of the Christmas tree as we know it, however, it was a continuation of many older traditions. ᛉ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Dec, 02:24

Origins of the Christmas tree.
The modern Christmas tree is an amalgamation of several possible ancient traditions, both Pagan and Christian.

One likely origin is in Ancient Rome. Wreaths made of evergreen trees and plants were made during Saturnalia. Aurelian suggested that Saturnalia should be held alongside Christmas in order to compete with the growing Christian church, but this resulted in many Saturnalia traditions being adopted by the Christians.

Similarly, in the Viking Age, Hákon the Good decreed Jól was to be held alongside Christmas in the hopes of winning Pagans over to Christianity, which led to Jól traditions being absorbed into Christmas.

In Ancient Egypt and the Near East, evergreens were associated with rebirth and reincarnation, which was easily absorbed into early Christianity, wherein it represents the rebirth of Christ. In parts of Europe, evergreen decorations were said to keep the Devil away in the Middle Ages.

Of course, the Germanic and Baltic peoples practiced tree worship. Decorating trees during Wassailing and placing offerings in the branches are likely a carryover from Pagan times. Some claim the Christmas tree is in memory of St. Boniface cutting down Þonar’s oak, but let us remember, that was an oak, and the Germanic peoples bashed St. Boniface’s head in and continued to resist Christian rule long after the oak fell. The inversion of a deciduous vs an evergreen tree may be a Christian thing. Some also claim it was originally a representation of Yggrdrasil; it’s impossible to say.

The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany and Livonia in the 16th Century, and Martin Luther is credited with its invention. Which is curious, as the Bible forbids cutting and decorating a tree (Jeremiah 10:3-4). The Bremen Guild Chronicle mentions a tree being brought inside and decorated with foods, such as apples and nuts, and the guild members’ children would eat them on Christmas Day. Afterwards, the tree was burned…perhaps a remnant of an ancient solar festival?

There’s a similar practice in Poland; during the Koliada festival, an evergreen branch is suspended from the rafters and decorated. This originated in pagan times, to bring a good harvest in the new year.

The Christmas tree itself is not an ancient tradition; it’s the result of a combination of both ancient Pagan folk traditions, and medieval Christian traditions. The mistletoe is very likely a Pagan remnant; celebrating the inevitable return of Baldr. In Ancient Rome, the mistletoe represented peace and reconciliation.
ᛉ
Goðan Jól! Glæd Geōl! Io Saturnalia! Merry Christmas!

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Dec, 00:40

Good King Wenceslas, reimagined as a pagan Jól song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwTZSpvtJPc

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Dec, 22:45

A buckle from a warrior’s burial in Borgharen, Netherlands, with a runic inscription reading “bobo”, possibly a personal name or a runic charm of sorts.
ᛒᛟᛒᛟ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Dec, 04:51

This square-headed brooch from Inderøy appears to depict Sigurd’s death and ascension to Valhalla.

On the right of the foot plate we see Sigurd, sucking Fafnir’s blood off of his thumb. Below him are several animals, likely a pack of wolves, as described in Guðrúnarkviða II.

“On the southern road thou shalt Sigurth see,
Where hear thou canst the ravens cry;
The eagles cry as food they crave,
And about thy husband wolves are howling.”

On the head plate are several backwards facing beast motifs, very similar to the Tangendorf brooch, which seems to depict a deer; Sigurd is likened to a stag earlier in the poem, when he rises to Valhalla.

“So Sigurth rose o’er Gjuki's sons
As the leek grows green above the grass,
Or the stag o'er all the beasts doth stand,
Or as glow-red gold above silver gray.”

Around the image of Sigurd, the wolves invoke Odin, and the stags, Valhalla. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Dec, 06:30

Cuts both ways.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Dec, 05:34

Beautiful Roman mosaic from Syria, with animals and Swastikas. Once again, the shape of the arms of the Swastikas follow the overall shape of the Big Dipper.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Dec, 22:16

When reading the Lokasenna, there are a few things to keep in mind;

Stanza 4 contains the epithet holl regin; gracious Gods. Similar epithets attesting to the inherent benevolence of the Gods are used throughout the Edda. The Grímnismál contains the epithet meins vani; free of fault. At no point in the Edda are there epithets suggesting the Gods are evil or ambivalent.

In Stanza 3, Loki clearly announces his intentions;
“In shall I go into Ægir's hall, For the feast I fain would see;
Bale and hatred I bring to the gods, And their mead with venom I mix.”
~Lokasenna 3, Bellows

Therefore, it can be confidently said that everything Loki says in Ægir’s hall is slanderous. Some new-agers may claim Loki “exposes” the Gods; the language of the Edda says otherwise. After all, the poem ends with Loki bound with the entrails of his son and the Gods victorious, despite his attempts to sow discord amongst them.

Painting: Ægir’s Feast by Constantin Hansen, 1804-1880. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Dec, 04:32

Painting by Natalya Bukanova. 𖣐

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Dec, 18:04

The hammer on this picture stone is long, like the hammer pendants from Gilton. A theory is that the myth of Loki sabotaging Thor’s hammer was a later addition, however; we do have depictions of Thor’s hammer with a long handle from the Viking Age.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Dec, 18:04

A silver Thor’s hammer pendant found in a boat burial in Vatnsdalur, Iceland.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Dec, 17:36

An incomplete 5-7th Century picture stone from Hangvars, Gotland, which appears to depict Thor’s battle with Jörmungandr.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Dec, 10:22

Battersea Shield

Quite fascinating details on this Iron Age, Celtic La Tène style, shield that was dredged up from the bed of the River Thames at Battersea in London in 1857.

It is bronze cover on wood with enamel accentuated decor that depicts overt swaztika.

It is theorized that this shield, having no battle damage, and being so decorative with holy or important symbolism, was a votive offering that was cast into the river for the Gods and spirits.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

05 Dec, 02:40

Another stanza from the Edda which connects the stag with ascension to Valhalla;
“So Sigurth rose o'er Gjuki's sons As the leek grows green above the grass, Or the stag o'er all the beasts doth stand, Or as glow-red gold above silver gray.”
~Guðrunarkviða hin forna 2, Bellows
ᛉ
“Svá var Sigurðr of sonum Gjúka
sem væri grænn laukr ór grasi vaxinn
eða hjörtr hábeinn of hvössum dýrum
eða gull glóðrautt af gráu silfri.”
Painting by Charles Ernest Butler, 1909. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

04 Dec, 12:15

Celtic coins with Swastikas from northeastern France and Belgium. As with a common Indian variation, they feature four circles which coincide with the seasonal position of the Little Dipper to the Big Dipper. The curvature of the arms on three examples follow the curve of the handle of the Big Dipper, and three examples show a reversed Swastika.
࿘

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

04 Dec, 02:16

An interesting remnant of the cult of Zalmoxis, in a Romanian funeral song:
“The wolf will appear in front of you. Take him as your brother, because the wolf knows the order of the forests. He will lead you by flat road towards Paradise.”
Zalmoxis was associated with wolves, and Herodotus wrote that the Thracians believes they went to Zalmoxis after death; this song is undoubtedly a pagan survival.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Dec, 22:59

Stone fragments from Hornhausen, Saxony-Anhalt. Along with the Reiterstein, there were others depicting stags, serpents, and another rider.
From Sagenheim: x.com/HeimDerSagen

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

03 Dec, 11:22

Can you ask / turn to Odin for help?
Often modern pagans, who are ill informed, think that the Gods, even Odin, are not to be turned to in times of need or to ask for help during a struggle. While we can argue that one should provide an offering out of thanks or when asking, just asking alone isn't something you are turned off from.
These ill informed pagans think that such an act is Christianly or like Abrahamics whereby you petition or beg God for help or salvation. They paint the Pagan / Ethnic Gods as blind to the folk's plight or are heart hardened to only care about those who take care of themselves with no love for humanity.
While it is true that the Gods respect and grant boons to those who work hard, make sacrifices, and are brave, the Gods are not deaf to our existence or struggle.

"Just so I Find Odin invoked in Swedish popular songs: Hielp nu, Oden Asagrim! Svenska fornsångor 1, 11. hielp mig Othin! 1, 69. To this God first and foremost the people turned when in distress; I suppose he is called Asagrim, because among the Ases he bire the name of Grîmnir?
It is therefore not without significance, that also the wanderings of Herald of gods among men, in whose novels he now and then takes up his lodging, are parallelled especially by those of Oðinn and Hœnir, in christian guise, of God and St. Peter" - Jacob Grimm Teutonic Mythology pg. 150-151.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Nov, 22:26

Beautiful silver inlaid sword from Egge, Norway, with Mammen-style decoration and two animal heads on the pommel.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Nov, 04:44

Iron Age fylfot brooches from Nordrup, Varpelev and Sengeløse, Denmark.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Nov, 20:09

Old Man’s Beard lichen (Usnea sp.) is found in temperate regions across Europe and the Americas, and has antibacterial and anti-infective properties. It can be used as a herbal tea to treat ailments of the throat, sinuses, lungs and digestive system, or crushed and applied topically for others. It has been used in traditional Native American and European medicine since Ancient Greece, where Hippocrates allegedly used it to treat a urinary tract infection.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Nov, 06:15

ᚬ
“Óss er algingautr
ok ásgarðs jöfurr,
ok valhallar vísi.”
(God) is aged Gautr
and prince of Ásgarðr
and lord of Vallhalla.
~Icelandic Rune Poem
ᚩ
“Ōs byþ ordfruma ælere spræce,
wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur
and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht.”
(God) is the source of all language,
a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,
a blessing and a joy to every knight.
~Anglo Saxon Rune Poem
Art by Lorenz Frølich, 1845.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Nov, 04:23

Beautiful Vendel Era ring sword pommel from Holmen, Karleby, Sweden. There are a few small zoomorphic masks in the knotwork, possibly ravens.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Nov, 21:54

Alemannic spear from Trossingen, Germany, 6th Century. Other spears with large bronze rivets are depicted on various Migration Period pressblechs.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Nov, 03:43

Korean totem poles, or Jangseung. These are built to keep evil spirits away from villages and shrines, and depict the various gods recognized in Korean Shamanism, often with the name of the deity painted on the front. It appears that the format of the head of a deity on a tall pole was popular across Eurasia.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Nov, 01:16

The story of Thor slaying Starkaðr Áludrengr always reminded me of the story of Parshuram’s battle with Kartavirya Arjuna. Two multiple-armed giants who took what they believed they were owed, and in doing so, invoked the wrath of an axe/hammer wielding deity.
https://t.me/hammerandvajra/3664

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Nov, 22:08

An Anglo Saxon gilt silver sword pyramid, found in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 6-7th Century. Although it’s quite a small example, the craftsmanship is exquisite, with the recesses filled in with gold, and niello inlays in the knotwork designs.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Nov, 05:18

Among the many figures carved on the keel of the Oseberg Ship was this image of a man gripping his beard, very similar to the figure of Thor from Lund; likely a small image of Thor to protect the ship from storms at sea.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Nov, 04:58

A filigreed bow brooch with a double-animal motif from Skerne, Denmark, 5-6th Century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Nov, 22:16

There’s a theory that the many depictions of Gods with pointed caps were inspired by this rare natural phenomenon known as red sprites, caused by electrical discharges in the mesosphere above thunderclouds.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

17 Nov, 04:20

Ahmad ibn Fadlan described simple godpoles among the Rus, but more heavily detailed images of the Gods are well attested elsewhere.
The Heimskringla mentions a statue of Thor made of silver and gold, with offerings being placed in its open mouth; I’ve seen similar things from India. Similarly, Vladimir the Great built a statue of Perun with a silver head and a moustache of gold.
Njáls Saga and the Færeyinga Saga describe statues of Gods wearing arm rings, as well as a linen cloak, indicating that they would’ve had more detailed arms and torsos. Unfortunately, very few originals survived.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

16 Nov, 22:02

Inside the Temple of Vitaly Sundakov, near Moscow. The idols represent Rod, Veles and Perun.
𖣐

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

16 Nov, 04:28

Ringing in Blōtmōnaþ in the forest. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Nov, 19:54

In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, he wrote that Blōtmōnaþ sacrifices continued post-conversion, offering animals to the Christian god instead. He noted that before the sacrificial feasts, they’d build huts from the boughs of trees around their temples which had been converted into churches; possibly a remnant of building demarcation fences around weohs.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Nov, 18:25

Tonight is the full moon of Blot month. Bede says the English traditionally sacrificed cattle to the gods at this time but he didn't say which ones.

Professor Richard North argues that Bede's use of the Latin vanis is a rendering of the Old English cognate of 'Vanir' which would be Waene. Not everyone agrees with him but if you do then it is a time to blot to Ingui Frey, Easter/Freyja etc.

The importance of sacrifice at this time of year continued long after Christianisation in the form of St Martin's day. In France the taking of vows in the woods or at sacred spring on St Martin's day was banned in 578 AD. In Ireland people were still sprinkling sacrificial blood in their house on St Martin's day as recently as the 20th century!

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

15 Nov, 03:55

The Sønder Kirkeby runestone contains the Thor Vigi formula, written in bindrunes across the top of the main inscription, possibly intended to be discreet. While the stone was damaged when it was cut to fit into a wall, the inscription is legible, and reads “ᚦᚢᚱ ᚢᛁᚴᛁ (ᚱ)ᚢᚾᛅᛦ; Thor hallow (these) runes.
The main body of the inscription reads “Sasur placed this stone in memory of Ásgautr his brother, and (he) died on Gotland.“
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

14 Nov, 20:28

New find from Frederikshavn, Denmark.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

14 Nov, 04:44

The Helgakviða Hundingsbana II shows us the kind of intercession our ancestors would have asked for, and expected, from the Gods; when Dagr prayed to Odin for revenge on his father’s killer, Odin gave him his spear.
This shows us another tenet of the Germanic pagan worldview; they didn’t ask that the Gods enact revenge or strike down their enemies on their behalf, but rather, aid them in righteous actions they had set in motion. Conversely, several Bible verses say not to take revenge, as God will do it for you.
Painting by Knut Ekwall, 1876.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

13 Nov, 22:38

“He knows alone who has wandered wide, and far has fared on the way, what manner of mind a man doth own who is wise of head and heart.”
~Hávamál 18, Bray
ⴲ
“Sá einn veit
er víða ratar
ok hefr fjölð of farit,
hverju geði
stýrir gumna hverr,
sá er vitandi er vits.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

13 Nov, 05:37

Interesting find from Bornholm; this silver Iron Age pendant has a hollow compartment behind the decorated face, not unlike a Slavic kaptorga, which were used for carrying herbs and amulets. This may have served as a kind of reliquary.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

12 Nov, 22:14

This lead die stamp bears the same motif as the coins found in Ribe, with a stag, coiled serpent and a bearded face. The addition of a suspension loop shows this motif was used for jewelry as well; possibly Eikþirnir, Níðøggr, and Mímir or Odin’s head.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

12 Nov, 03:13

On Remembrance Day, I perform an ancestor veneration practice of my own; renewing an oath to my ancestors.
I think of my own family members who fought in the wars, and held our family line together through the darkest chapters in recent history. They would be disgusted by what our countries have become. But as long as we live, the fight isn’t over.
Hail Odin and Freyr, may they keep you well.
ᛟ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

11 Nov, 22:06

A bronze spearhead-shaped pendant from Norddjurs, Denmark; quite likely a representation of Gungnir.
ᚸ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

11 Nov, 05:40

The Fagrskinna and Heimskringla attest to the practice of casting “blótspánn”; chips of wood used for divination. This likely would’ve been the divination method mentioned by Tacitus in Germania, wherein the wood was marked with “signs” (undoubtedly runes), which by the time of these Kings’ Sagas would’ve been practiced for over a thousand years.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Nov, 22:19

While the figure on the left of the Riksby stone could depict Odin with his ravens, it does also resemble a human figure held upside down by the neck; perhaps someone being attacked by a Jötunn, with Thor coming to the rescue?

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

10 Nov, 05:13

A wooden figure from Jelling, Denmark, 10-11th Century. The tendril around the torso is very reminiscent of multiple depictions of Völundr.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

09 Nov, 19:46

A pendant found in Kalundborg, Denmark, with two wolves back to back; Freki and Geri.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

09 Nov, 02:31

“Fire for men is the fairest gift,
And power to see the sun;
Health as well, if a man may have it,
And a life not stained with sin.”
~Hávamál 68, Bellows
This deceptively simple stanza appears to be a testament to the use of sacred fire as a means to contact the Gods.
ⴲ
“Eldr er beztr með ýta sonum ok sólar sýn, heilyndi sitt,
ef maðr hafa náir,
án við löst at lifa.”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

08 Nov, 21:59

A wooden Urnes-style serpent head from Hemse, Gotland, 11-13th Century. Possibly from a stave church.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

08 Nov, 02:50

The Christian scribe who recorded Beowulf condemns the Danes for praying to the Old Gods, yet, when they do, Beowulf arrives. Makes you wonder how he may have been referred to in earlier versions; undoubtedly as a gift from the Gods, even an avatar of a deity.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Nov, 19:35

An incomplete figure found in Denmark, with the remains of an elaborate braided beard. Due to the similarities with the Thor figures from Lund and Chernaya Mogila, this may have depicted Thor raising winds with his beard.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

07 Nov, 04:33

This small silver figure was recently found in Nybølle, Lolland, quite similar to the figure from Lejre. It’s likely an image of Frigg on Hliðskjálf as attested in the Grímnismál, and two tiny ravens are perched on the frame of the throne.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Nov, 22:56

A petroglyph from Riksby, Sweden, believed to depict Odin with his ravens perched on his arm and Thor with his hammer.
ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Nov, 04:29

Recent find from Finland; a silver-gilt Viking Age sword pommel, with inlaid knotwork and triquetra designs.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

06 Nov, 00:21

Erik the Red by Joan Francesc Oliveras.
x.com/JoanFrancescOl1

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

30 Oct, 01:47

A reconstruction of the Germanic shield from Gommern.
x.com/TeutonicAesthet

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

30 Oct, 01:46

This shield boss was found in a nobleman’s burial in Gommern, Saxony-Anhalt, from around 300AD. It’s been proposed to have originally been a Roman cup, which was converted into a shield boss. Possibly a war trophy.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

29 Oct, 22:10

A treasure hoard from Eke, Gotland, containing brooches from the Vendel Period and Viking Age.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

29 Oct, 02:02

Divination by incense smoke specifically is called libanomancy, from Greek líbanos (Frankincense). It was attested first in ancient Babylon, and later in Egypt and Greece.
In Illyria, there was a fire sanctuary called Nymphaion. According to Cassius Dio, people would pray and then cast incense into it, and if their prayer was to be fulfilled it would burn, and if not, it wouldn’t.
Pic: a coin with an image of the eternal fire at Nymphaion.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

28 Oct, 23:25

They found this feller's legs over the weekend.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

28 Oct, 10:21

The second half of new the die stamp from Guldborgsund has been found, with the legs. Very similar to the Odin figure on the Torslunda Plates, and if you look closely at the “horns” on this example, a raven head is quite visible. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

28 Oct, 02:15

Grimm noted that Odin’s title Hnikar, used when Odin calms a storm in the Reginsmál, was very similar to Old English nicor, meaning water spirit. Hnikar means roughly “overthrower”, which could be applied to Odin’s power to calm the storm in the case of the Reginsmál.

Nicor later evolved into nixe/neck/nøkk, and knucker, a water serpent in southern English folklore. While nixies are often malevolent in post-Christian folklore, they could be benevolent, warning of future drownings, and they retained an association with poetry and music, which they would teach in exchange for an offering of alcohol or blood; very Odinic.

Painting: Nøkken by Theodore Kittelsen, 1904. ᛚ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

27 Oct, 21:26

A scabbard chape from Bjergene, Denmark, with an image of Völundr, or possibly Odin as an eagle. Two human arms are visible gripping the frame, similar to the winged man figure from Uppakra.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

27 Oct, 03:00

A carved wooden plank with an Urnes-style serpent from Trondheim, Norway, 11-12th Century. Possibly part of a chair.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

26 Oct, 22:51

Grimm recorded a folk song from Westphalia in 1836;
“Hermen, sla dermen,
sla pipen, sla trummen,
de kaiser wil kummen
met hamer Un stangen,
wil Hermen uphangen.”
This Hermen is challenged to strike up his war music, because an emperor will come with staves and hang him up. This could be referring to Arminius and the Romans, but Grimm proposed that Hermen refers to Irmin, and this song could have originated in the Saxon Wars, when Charlemagne destroyed the Irminsul.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

26 Oct, 02:52

A West Slavic stone carving embedded in the wall of the Altenkirchen church on the island of Rügen, thought to depict Svetovid or one of his priests with his drinking horn. 𖣐

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Oct, 21:38

A Rus/Slavic bronze pendant in the shape of a miniature drinking horn. The Gesta Danorum mentioned an idol of Svetovid holding a large decorated drinking horn, which a priest would fill with wine every year, and make predictions about the season’s crops through the state of the wine. 𖣐

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

25 Oct, 04:55

Sigurðr finds Sigdrífa, by Franz Stassen, an illustration for the Sigdrífumál.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Oct, 21:41

A wooden gaming board from the Gokstad Ship, for playing Hnefatafl or similar.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Oct, 02:38

The image on this bracteate is similar to the later recurring hair-pulling motif.
In Greek mythology, pulling hair was associated with Kassandra, who tore at Helen’s hair when she foresaw she would be the downfall of Troy, but wasn’t believed by anyone.
This could very well depict Frigg; able to see the terrible events of the future, but never sharing them, as attested in the Lokasenna.

“Mad art thou, Loki, that known thou makest The wrong and shame thou hast wrought; The fate of all does Frigg know well, Though herself she says it not.”
~Lokasenna 29, Bellows.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Oct, 01:50

I’d also suggest this could be Freyja with her cats.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

24 Oct, 01:50

Fuerstenberg-type bracteate found in a grave in central Germany and dating to the 7-8th century possibly depicting Holle/Frigga

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Oct, 20:47

A carved plank with an Urnes-style serpent from Hørning, Denmark, 11th Century. Red and yellow paint is visible on the serpent, and painted flowers survived on the back.
While less original infrastructure survives from the Viking Age due to greater utilization of wood, what did survive is beautiful.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

23 Oct, 01:28

An interesting annular brooch from Hol, Norway, 5th Century. Similar to examples found in Gotland, possibly depicting Odin with a horned headdress, but with the addition of animals (horses?) around the frame, which could be a reference to the charms invoking Odin to heal horses. ᚨ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Oct, 20:07

Several parallels to the Merseburg Charms are known across Germanic Europe, invoking Odin to heal horses. Jacob Grimm collected an incomplete version from Sweden in 1842, which was followed by a stanza invoking Frigg to heal sheep.
“Oden står på berget
han spörjer efter sin fole,
floget har han fått-
spotta i din hand, och i hans mun,
han skall få bot i samma stund.”
“Frygge frågade frå
huru skall man bota
den flåget får-”

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

22 Oct, 03:29

An interesting bronze find from Kalundborg, Denmark. The art style is far more akin to Irish art, similar to the figure from the Oseberg Ship; this figure may have been brought back in a raid and modified by a Viking, to depict Odin by removing an eye. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Oct, 21:36

It begins
A new cult site to Holle

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Oct, 12:58

Jacob Grimm recorded a survival of Woden worship in Blekinge, Sweden and Mecklenburg, wherein farmers would leave a section of rye unharvested for Odin’s horse. They would braid the tops together and sprinkle them with water, take off their hats and bow, and recite thrice;

"Woden, take care of your horse now, with thistle and thorn,
so next year we may have better corn!"
Another version was;
"Woden, Woden, feed your horse now, with thistle and thorn, next year, better corn!"

He noted that it was said during winter nights, he could be heard roaming the fields with his hunting dogs (Freki and Geri?).

This was likely a remnant of offerings on Winterfylleth and/or Álfablót; in the Austrfararvísur, Odin is mentioned during a sacrifice to the Álfar. In rural regions of Scandinavia and Germany, the Old Ways never fully disappeared.

Art by Carl Emil Doepler, 1905. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Oct, 04:30

…what’s ironic is the Japanese sometimes used the exact same method to torture missionaries and converts as Olaf Tryggvason used to torture pagans; tying them up below the tide line, so they can watch in horror as the tide creeps closer. Full circle.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

21 Oct, 03:40

It’s so funny when Christians say “follow your ancestors and convert”, and “might makes right and we beat you” etc…I wonder if this logic also applies to Japan, where Japanese Christian converts were converted, often by force, back to Shintō and Buddhism.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Oct, 21:59

Odin’s association with storms is often overlooked. Aside from the Wild Hunt, known as Åsgårdsrei (Asgard Ride) and Odens Jakt (Odin’s Hunt) in Scandinavia, two of his epithets in both Eddas are Þundr (Thunderer) and Viðrir (Stormer), and in the Reginsmál, a storm subsides when Odin boards Sigurd’s ship. ᚬ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

20 Oct, 04:03

The Fuglsang Hoard, found on Bornholm, 5th Century. The small metal container was found to contain several bratcteates, pendants made of Roman coins, two sun cross pendants, and several gold filigree beads. These were likely all worn together on the same necklace. ⴲ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Oct, 21:28

The theory that the Æsir-Vanir war was an allegory for a war between the invading Indo-Europeans and the Early European Farmers/Hunter Gatherers is deeply flawed.
Most importantly, cognates to the Vanir gods are found in other Indo-European religions. The most obvious example is Freyja/Ēostre, cognate to Greek Eos, Baltic Aušrinė, Roman Aurora and Vedic Ushas, the most-mentioned goddess in the Rig Veda.
Myths of wars between gods exist in other Indo-European religions, such as the Titanomachy of Greek paganism, the wars between Devas and Asuras, and the battle between Shiva and Vishnu in the Puranas. It is not at all unique to Germanic paganism.
Painting by Donn P. Crane, 1922.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Oct, 08:23

Establishing the sacred space for the blot by circumambulating the barrow 9 times carrying fire and ringing a bell for Lord Ing.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

19 Oct, 05:09

A rare survival from the Viking Age; a painted fragment of wood from Jelling, Denmark, 10-11th century.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Oct, 21:36

A statue of Wodan by Rudolf Maison, 1900.

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Oct, 21:35

The 10-11th Century Anglo Saxon poem De Falsis Deis tells us Woden was worshipped at crossroads and hills (burial mounds?), both liminal spaces, with crossroads later associated with the devil.

“A certain man was also called Mercury in life; he was very crafty,
and, although fully clever in speech, treacherous in deed and in deceit. That one
made the heathens, by their reckoning, also for themselves into a renowned god, and at crossroads
offered him sacrifice often and frequently through the Devil's teaching, and to high
hills they often brought, erringly, praise-offerings. This false god was honorable also
among all heathens in that day, and he is called Odin by another name
in Danish manner.”

“Sum man eac wæs gehaten Mercurius on life, se wæs swyðe facenfull
And, ðeah full snotorwyrde, swicol on dædum and on leasbregdum. Ðone
Macedon þa hæðenan be heora getæle eac heom to mæran gode and æt wega
gelætum him lac offrodon oft and gelome þurh deofles lare and to heagum
beorgum him brohton oft mistlice loflac. Ðes gedwolgod wæs arwuðe eac
betwux eallum hæðenum on þam dagum and he is Oðan gehaten oðrum naman
on Denisce wisan.”
ᚩ

ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

18 Oct, 08:18

The Hearth of Devon Winterfylleth blot last night was preceded by the auspicious call of ravens. The moon was beautiful. And for the first time we had use of an Ing weoh created by Wessex Woodcraft.

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