Video Review - History Channel - Ancient Aliens - The Viking Gods - #TidbitThursday

Sometimes while researching, I stumble upon resources that are controversial and this is no exception. "Ancient Aliens" is a show on the History Channel that has a lot of followers as well as a lot of naysayers. Many people believe aliens and extraterrestrials are real (check out the ever-popular alien hub Roswell, NM). As a writer and researcher, I keep an open mind and for this particular show, I was more interested in the bits about Vikings than the bits about aliens.

Ancient Aliens - The Viking Gods

Season 5 - Episode 11

Description:

From the History Channel website: "They were teachers and destroyers. Mighty warriors who blazed across the skies in gleaming chariots and wielded magical weapons that could bring down mountains. Odin, Frey and Thor. The gods worshipped by the Norse Vikings were fearsome and mysterious, but were these beings truly divine, or is there, perhaps, an extraterrestrial connection? The Norse were among the most technologically advanced cultures of the ancient world. They were epic explorers who embarked on oceanic voyages to Africa and the Middle East and even reached North America at least 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Were the Norse guided by powerful gods, or could the super-beings that guided the Vikings have actually been visitors from another planet?"



Highlights:
The Viking Era flourished between the late 8th century and the 11th century with efforts to establish trade routes.
These explorers built ships as well as bridges and circular fortresses.
Like pirates, Vikings formed an assembly like democracy where the power was held by the people and not one person and they could argue over issues.
They sailed long distances hundreds of years before other European countries heading over the rivers in Russia to seas such as the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Newfoundland was established by Norse 500 years before Columbus.
Their ships were built lightweight, strong, flexible and were well-balanced enabling them to sail through shallows as well as deep oceans.
During this time period, most people did not venture far from their birthplace, but the Vikings seemed to be born explorers traveling across oceans.

"The Eddas" or Icelandic books (written after the Viking Age) mention the Viking Gods - Odin, Frey (or Freyr), and Thor.
Frey/Freyr is the god of fertility and prosperity. He negotiates for peace and also controls the weather.
Odin was the chief of gods. He had one eye because he gave up the other to drink the Water of Truth. He sent out two ravens, Huginn ("thought") and Muninn ("memory"), every day to observe or spy.
Thor was the god of thunder and lightning. He rode a cart pulled by goats. Known as the protector against giants, he wore a powerful belt called Menginjoro to give him strength. Thor's infamous hammer was made by dwarves and is very accurate and powerful (can crush mountains).
Asgard was the peaceful and beautiful land where Odin and Thor lived. Midgard (or Middle Earth) was where the humans lived. Bifrost is the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard.
Gamla Uppsala, Sweden - the oldest, continuously inhabited Viking site in Scandinavia had a temple to worship Odin, Thor and Freyr.
The "Boksta Runestone" in Balingsta, Sweden depicts Odin with the Gungnir spear riding on horseback.
Valhalla (Odin's Hall) known as "The Hall of the Slain" is where warriors go when they die (like going to heaven). They have a great feast of meat and pork in the large hall filled with long tables and fires.

Picture References:
Viking God - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2831124/
Ancient Aliens Cover - https://www.history.com/shows/ancient-aliens/season-5/episode-11

Read more about this episode here.


Ancient Aliens: The Complete Seasons 1-6 [DVD]