Viking Nonsense Award

[The Hammer]

Maine May Legalize Viking-Style Funerals And Let You Literally Go Out In A Blaze Of Glory

The passage cited in the Heimskringla is about spreading ashes, not a funeral boat pyre.

Also, there is no archaeological evidence of this type of funeral ever taking place in ancient times, but there is much evidence of boat burials and motifs in land burials, such as outlines of boats with stones.

 

[Rival]

THANK YOU.
​

How many times have I had to tell folks this.

 

[Heyo]

Also, there is no archaeological evidence of this type of funeral ever taking place in ancient times

And nobody would expect any from a burnt ship.
While there is no archaeological evidence, there is still the record of ibn Fadlan:
A Viking Burial Described by Arab Writer Ahmad ibn Fadlan

 

[Bear Wild]

And nobody would expect any from a burnt ship.
While there is no archaeological evidence, there is still the record of ibn Fadlan:
A Viking Burial Described by Arab Writer Ahmad ibn Fadlan

I think the state of Maine would have to put some restriction on that type of funeral arrangement. Maybe the would allow for some of the sex and intoxication but the sacrifice of the girl would probably not be acceptable.

 

[Erebus]

Maybe the would allow for some of the sex and intoxication but the sacrifice of the girl would probably not be acceptable.

Spoilsport.

 

[Bear Wild]

Maine May Legalize Viking-Style Funerals And Let You Literally Go Out In A Blaze Of Glory

The passage cited in the Heimskringla is about spreading ashes, not a funeral boat pyre.

Also, there is no archaeological evidence of this type of funeral ever taking place in ancient times, but there is much evidence of boat burials and motifs in land burials, such as outlines of boats with stones.

Hey, I saw it happen on the TV show the Vikings. It must be true. Of course the archeological evidence of the Viking boats being buried on the land does put a slight damper on the idea but it would be quite a sight to see. Of course they could just take them to the west coast and send them of to Tir-na-nog but that is Celtic not norse.

 

[The Hammer]

And nobody would expect any from a burnt ship.
While there is no archaeological evidence, there is still the record of ibn Fadlan:
A Viking Burial Described by Arab Writer Ahmad ibn Fadlan

One (or even three) written record is not proof of it's widespread prevalence.

We find remains of burnt wrecks and other underwater archaeological evidence, we would have found something by now.

 

[Heyo]

One (or even three) written record is not proof of it's widespread prevalence.

We find remains of burnt wrecks and other underwater archaeological evidence, we would have found something by now.

I'm not arguing widespread use. I'm not even arguing that ibn Fadlan's report is accurate, just that it exists and the "Viking funeral" is not a modern invention - like the horned Viking helmet.

 

[The Hammer]

I'm not arguing widespread use. I'm not even arguing that ibn Fadlan's report is accurate, just that it exists and the "Viking funeral" is not a modern invention - like the horned Viking helmet.

A Viking Funeral: Burial Rituals from the Norse Age

Ibn's account seems a bit different here. Nothing was set adrift.

 

[The Hammer]

I'm not arguing widespread use. I'm not even arguing that ibn Fadlan's report is accurate, just that it exists and the "Viking funeral" is not a modern invention - like the horned Viking helmet.

It wasn't a thing at all.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Also, there is no archaeological evidence of this type of funeral ever taking place in ancient times, but there is much evidence of boat burials and motifs in land burials, such as outlines of boats with stones.

I'm not that familiar with a lot of the archaeology, but I hear that it is extensive.. One wonders why these people left behind extensive funerary archeology , but also have accounts of creating pyres, like in the stories of Brynhild and Sigurd's death.. Brynhild being placed in a wagon. Are there a lot of wagons in the archeology, like with boats ?

 

[The Hammer]

I'm not that familiar with a lot of the archaeology, but I hear that it is extensive.. One wonders why these people left behind extensive funerary archeology , but also have accounts of creating pyres, like in the stories of Brynhild and Sigurd's death.. Brynhild being placed in a wagon. Are there a lot of wagons in the archeology, like with boats ?

I am actually not sure about wagons in conjunction with burials? I know some wagons were found in relation to a few of the Fertility gods cults, likely Vanir and often carried a statue.

 

[Heyo]

I'm not that familiar with a lot of the archaeology, but I hear that it is extensive.

As a Living History actor of a medieval, central European peasant, I can only be jealous. Scandinavia in the time of the Vikings has such a rich archaeology that almost anything else in Europe pales in comparison. One cemetery in Greenland alone has about half of all well preserved every day clothing from all Europe in the early second millennium.