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The barbaric methods of execution of the ancient Vikings

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The barbaric methods of execution of the ancient Vikings

1. Torture method " eagle wings "

This is one of the most barbaric ways of torture of the Vikings. A sharp knife will be used to cut the flesh of the victim's back. Their backs were dissected, and their ribs slashed by axes or swords. Their skins are pulled and hooked up like wings on their backs.

The more painful way is to cut open their chest and pull their lungs out to the sides like above. If the victim is still alive, their wounds will be sprinkled with salt.

2. The death of King Edmund

Ivar the Boneless was a Viking chieftain, son of Ragnar. He ruled the territories of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Soon after, he built himself a powerful army to attack England in 869.

He was a brutal leader who ordered the torture and execution of King Edmund of East Anglia in 855. In 870, King Edmund fought back Ivar and his brother was killed in Suffolk, England. However, when the Vikings returned in many times, the king had to retreat, then was captured by the enemy.

After being beaten with a stick, King Edmund was tied to a tree and became a target for the arrows of Ivar's Viking soldiers. He was still alive despite being full of arrows, and was beheaded by Ivar and thrown into the river.

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3. Newborns left to die

In Viking tradition, a baby is not considered a member of the family at birth - not even a person - until the naming ceremony takes place nine days later. During these nine days, it is up to the circumstances to decide whether the baby should be allowed to live or not.

If the child is deformed, sick, or their parents are too old and poor to sell them, they will be left to die or be seriously injured. Even if they survived their naming ceremony, the child was still at risk of dying before their 5th birthday because of the poor conditions of the time.

To us this is terrible and inhuman, but the Vikings consider it to be benevolent. Because such an unfortunate child should be returned to God.

4. Horror funeral

The Vikings believed that a careless burial would prevent the deceased from reaching the next life. Therefore, their traditional funerals are very elaborate and strange.

Some of the Viking burials included cutting off body parts and ribs, and burning them with the animals. For those who have an important role in their society, the funeral ceremony is more elaborate. The bodies of these people were placed on a small boat loaded with their possessions, and all were burned.

Even slaves or wives of the deceased have the duty to accompany their masters/husbands to the next life. For kings and chieftains, their bodies were initially buried, left there for a few days. A female slave would be selected, raped and killed, then placed on a wooden boat with the leader's body and burned in the middle of the river.

5. Snake bite

It was once believed that the Vikings, especially legendary leaders like Ragnar Lodbrok, died from a very scary execution - snakebite.

The history of this event lacks many details, but it is said that after being imprisoned by King Ella of the North, Ragnar was thrown into a very deep pit filled with ferocious venomous snakes, most of which were vipers.

This meant that there was no hope for the executed victim, as they would be caught up in the swarm of snakes, unable to move. The snakes would slither around and bite their flesh. Venom from different snakes, when absorbed into the blood, will cause the body to swell, bringing with it a painful death.

However, snake venom takes time to take effect, and it takes about 5-10 bites to kill a person, depending on the type of snake. If the victim does not die from a snake bite, he will also starve and lack water in the deep pit.

The only proof of this is the Scandinavian graffiti on the walls of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which depicts a fleet of small ships with dragon heads. The archaeological evidence is very vague.

The only ship decorated with a dragon's head has been found in Denmark. It is not completely preserved but the "dragon mane", made of iron curls, still exists.

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Scandinavia is also inhabited by the Sámi - semi-nomadic peoples living in the Far North, in Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of Russia. Norwegians call these people Finns. The two groups actively traded with each other and married people of high status.

Archaeologists have discovered many different hygiene items of the Vikings such as tweezers, combs, ear cleaners, toothpicks, etc. John of Wallingford - British chronicler said that Vikings took care of themselves. . Viking men will comb their hair daily, wash their hair every Saturday and change their clothes regularly. Viking beards are also very neat.







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