How would Vikings view hurricanes?

Simple as that. How would a Viking explain the phenomenon known as "hurricanes", aka "typhoons", "cyclones", "whirly-whirlys", etc.?
 
That it was Thor or some other god at work? He was the god of storms, right? Or at least thunder...

I'm just guessing though, I don't know much Viking mythology...:eek:
 
I don't know, Thor and the god of the sea (don't know his name) boxing?

Seriously, I guess they may say that it's that giant sea snake turning around or something like that.
 
Hurricanes are too big to see as 'twisters' with the naked eye. It's sort of like the modern idea that 'Italy looks like a boot' - I've been there, it doesn't. To a Viking, a hurricane would just be a really bad storm. There would be an underlying mythological idea, oif course, but there really wouldn't be a need for a specific explanation. Storms happened. Anyone familiar with the North Atlantic and its squalls, storm surges, freak waves, tidal currents, twisters and vicious storms would encounter nothing new in a hurricane. It's doubtful they'd even notice it was stronger. At some point, it makes no difference to the participant.
 

Philip

Donor
Anyone familiar with the North Atlantic and its squalls, storm surges, freak waves, tidal currents, twisters and vicious storms would encounter nothing new in a hurricane. It's doubtful they'd even notice it was stronger. At some point, it makes no difference to the participant.

I agree with this. They only time it might seem odd is if the eye passes directly over them. The rapid succession of terrific storm-dead calm-terrific storm could lead to new myth.
 
Thor is the God of storms, lightening, fertility, and courage. His also the self-appointed protector of the human race.

Njord is the God of the sea and of sailors, and possibly commerce as well.

If the Vikings regularly encountered hurracanes, whatever they thought the cause was, they would still consider it a downright fucking inconvenience.
 
I agree with this. They only time it might seem odd is if the eye passes directly over them. The rapid succession of terrific storm-dead calm-terrific storm could lead to new myth.

"Don't worry- come outside. Can't you see how eerily calm it is?" :D
 
Thor is the God of storms, lightening, fertility, and courage. His also the self-appointed protector of the human race.

Njord is the God of the sea and of sailors, and possibly commerce as well.

If the Vikings regularly encountered hurracanes, whatever they thought the cause was, they would still consider it a downright fucking inconvenience.
Aegir is another sea god, like Njord, though he didn't like humans quite so much. If Vikings encountered a hurricane, they'd just assume they displeased Aegir in some way (which was pretty easy to do) and make the appropiate sacrifice.
 
Seeing the eye...

I doubt any Viking would ever experience the eye of the storm from his ship, save by sheer luck. They are seaworthy, but not THAT seaworthy. The eye would be creepy...especially the first time it's encountered. Then they might think a double dose of sacrifice was needed.
 
The Vikings weren't that big on mythological explanations for stuff anyway. As far as I know they never had one for the aurora, which would seem made for myths.
 

Krall

Banned
The Vikings weren't that big on mythological explanations for stuff anyway. As far as I know they never had one for the aurora, which would seem made for myths.

Wikipedia says that the Vikings thought that the aurora was the reflection of light off the Valkyries' sheilds.

But Wikipedia says alot of things... :rolleyes:
 
Thats a new one on me. I do know Wikipedia tends to go a bit off the rails on subjects of Norse mythology. Their account of the Draug has nothing in common with my childhood tales:)
 
Thats a new one on me. I do know Wikipedia tends to go a bit off the rails on subjects of Norse mythology. Their account of the Draug has nothing in common with my childhood tales:)

You mean the account which has them as sea monsters or the one where they're more like Glam in Grettir's Saga, i.e. undead mound-dwellers?
 
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