The seeresses of the Viking period Henbane is one of Denmark's most poisonous plants. Photo: Bjoerntvedt. Völuspá:The prophecy of the seeress Seeresses possessed such strong powers that even the king of the gods, Odin , could benefit from their help and advice. In “Völuspá:The prophecy of the seeress” – a poem from the Elder Edda – an old man visits a seeress, as he wishes to know the future and what the fate of the world will be. He looks poor and miserable, but as he has only one eye the seeress recognises him immediately as Odin. Odin offers the völva his necklace and ring as payment for telling
The old religion The transition to Christianity Christianity comes to Denmark The magic wands of seeresses? Viking seeresses The seeress from Fyrkat The old Nordic religion today Blót Runemagi
The magic staffs of the Viking seeresses? Two seeress’s magic staffs. The shorter one is from the Gävle area of Sweden and the longer from a grave at Fuldby, near Ringsted in Denmark. Völva probably [...] Several of the objects in the burial are associated with seid and seeresses, for example a wooden staff or wand, and cannabis seeds in a purse. At Hagebyhöga in Östergötland, Sweden, another seeress [...] can be interpreted as Freyja – the goddess of the Viking seeresses – who is wearing the necklace “Brísinga men”. The Goddess Freyja – seeress of the gods and seductress Scandinavia's only silver figure
A seeress from Fyrkat? The Viking seeress’s cooking spit. The spit was already slightly bent when it was placed in the burial. Perhaps she gave the warriors and inhabitants of Fyrkat henbane prior [...] of “Fyrkat”, near Hobro, in Denmark. Amongst the total of around 30 graves from the site, it stands out because of its unusual grave goods. It was the grave of a female, who may have been a seeress. At the time [...] from the poisonous henbane plant. These two accessories are associated with the seeress. The most mysterious object is the metal staff. It has partially disintegrated after the long period in the ground. It consists
their wealth and status. Powerful women: queens and seeresses The Icelandic sagas give examples of how a strong woman could overshadow her husband. It was a dangerous balancing act. Sometimes a wife’s drive [...] Women also played an important role in the pre-Christian cult. Seeresses were highly revered people. They could foretell the future, for instance, on individual farms or for army commanders before great
finds show that völur or seeresses existed. These were women with magical and prophetic powers. In the sagas and on rune stones great men are also mentioned known as “Goder”, or heathen priests,