One question we asked ourselves recently, when we were diving into our limited numbered released products was, “How did the Vikings count?” We really hadn’t seen anything on the internet about Viking numbers or ways to annotate numerical values. So, we thought we’d look into it ourselves and find out how the Vikings used numbers.
One question we asked ourselves recently, when we were diving into our limited numbered released products was, “How did the Vikings count?” We really hadn’t seen anything on the internet about Viking numbers or ways to annotate numerical values. So, we thought we’d look into it ourselves and find out how the Vikings used numbers.
One question we asked ourselves recently, when we were diving into our limited numbered released products was, “How did the Vikings count?” We really hadn’t seen anything on the internet about Viking numbers or ways to annotate numerical values. So, we thought we’d look into it ourselves and find out how the Vikings used numbers.
Before we get into how the Vikings wrote numbers, we need to get into the weeds about how the Vikings wrote in general. This may sound like we are going way too far off track, but the reality is, while you may already know that the Vikings used “runes,”not many people realize that runes weren’t actually meant to be “letters.”
That’s right, runes were not “letters” as we know them. Runes were more symbolic in the way that ancient Mayan symbols were letters (which they weren’t).
Before we get into how the Vikings wrote numbers, we need to get into the weeds about how the Vikings wrote in general. This may sound like we are going way too far off track, but the reality is, while you may already know that the Vikings used “runes,” not many people realize that runes weren’t actually meant to be “letters.”
Before we get into how the Vikings wrote numbers, we need to get into the weeds about how the Vikings wrote in general. This may sound like we are going way too far off track, but the reality is, while you may already know that the Vikings used “runes,” not many people realize that runes weren’t actually meant to be “letters.”
That’s right, runes were not “letters” as we know them. Runes were more symbolic in the way that ancient Mayan symbols were letters (which they weren’t). While each rune does stand for a sound, each character also has several other meanings. If you are familiar with hieroglyphics or even Tarot cards, you may be able to pick up what we are about to put down.
While each rune does stand for a sound, each character also has several other meanings. If you are familiar with hieroglyphics or even Tarot cards, you may be able to pick up what we are about to put down.
Runes stood for individual sounds, but also for syllable sounds, and even entire themes, motivations, characteristics, or on rare occasions a single rune may embody a god. Take Odinn’s rune for example. “Odal” carries the sound “O,” but it also represents the concepts of “estate” or “heritage,” while at the same time, it acts as the symbol of Odinn himself.
The Vikings were literate! …they just never wrote… And that is likely for the reason we discussed above. Letters for the Vikings were more than just a way to catch sounds. Runes and writing in general held power. It captured the world as it was written, invoked the gods, charmed people animals and even commanded the dead! Writing was not a toy.
That’s right, runes were not “letters” as we know them. Runes were more symbolic in the way that ancient Mayan symbols were letters (which they weren’t). While each rune does stand for a sound, each character also has several other meanings. If you are familiar with hieroglyphics or even Tarot cards, you may be able to pick up what we are about to put down.
Runes stood for individual sounds, but also for syllable sounds, and even entire themes, motivations, characteristics, or on rare occasions a single rune may embody a god. Take Odinn’s rune for example. “Odal” carries the sound “O,” but it also represents the concepts of “estate” or “heritage,” while at the same time, it acts as the symbol of Odinn himself.
Runes stood for individual sounds, but also for syllable sounds, and even entire themes, motivations, characteristics, or on rare occasions a single rune may embody a god. Take Odinn’s rune for example. “Odal” carries the sound “O,” but it also represents the concepts of “estate” or “heritage,” while at the same time, it acts as the symbol of Odinn himself.
The Vikings were literate! …they just never wrote… And that is likely for the reason we discussed above. Letters for the Vikings were more than just a way to catch sounds. Runes and writing in general held power. It captured the world as it was written, invoked the gods, charmed people animals and even commanded the dead! Writing was not a toy.
Numbers were a different matter to the Vikings, and we are not exactly sure if they understood numbers the same way we do today. They wrote out the words for numbers in runic script, e.g. “three, five, ten,” but they never really used high numbers or number symbols. Evidence points to the idea that the Vikings did not understand the concept of Zero, and only worked with numbers as they appeared in the natural world. If something did not exist, it could not be counted, hence… no number “0”.
The Vikings were literate! …they just never wrote… And that is likely for the reason we discussed above. Letters for the Vikings were more than just a way to catch sounds. Runes and writing in general held power. It captured the world as it was written, invoked the gods, charmed people animals and even commanded the dead! Writing was not a toy.
Numbers were a different matter to the Vikings, and we are not exactly sure if they understood numbers the same way we do today. They wrote out the words for numbers in runic script, e.g. “three, five, ten,” but they never really used high numbers or number symbols. Evidence points to the idea that the Vikings did not understand the concept of Zero, and only worked with numbers as they appeared in the natural world. If something did not exist, it could not be counted, hence… no number “0”.
Calendars are probably one of the best ways to look at how historic peoples imagined ‘time’ and how they used numbers to describe it. It also lets us get a peek at just how high a number system might go, looking at how days, month, and years are counted through an age. The Vikings are no different, and used “numbers” to describe time, but again, only as they saw it in the natural world.
If you have ever seen a Viking calendar, you may assume that all the cool symbols are numbers, but you would be wrong. For the early Vikings, they did record days, weeks, years, and even annotate holidays and solstices, but they didn’t use any math to do it. They used ‘letters,’ which makes it a bit difficult to interpret, as we look back.
You’d expect that with as much emphasis as the Vikings put on power hidden within their runes, that they would take a lot of care in deciding which runes would stand for which days on the calendar, but they really didn’t. Each day had its own name, of course. Frigadaggr, or Fraya’s Day has become our modern ‘Friday’. Thor’s Day has evolved into ‘Thursday’ as we know it now, etc., but as far as how the days are counted in time, despite having specific gods honored by each calendar day, days themselves were merely numbered with the first 7 runes in the Elder Futhark alphabet. No matter how many days were being counted, they just repeated 1-7 over and over and over, repeating the pattern of: “ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ”.
Calendars are probably one of the best ways to look at how historic peoples imagined ‘time’ and how they used numbers to describe it. It also lets us get a peek at just how high a number system might go, looking at how days, month, and years are counted through an age. The Vikings are no different, and used “numbers” to describe time, but again, only as they saw it in the natural world.
If you have ever seen a Viking calendar, you may assume that all the cool symbols are numbers, but you would be wrong. For the early Vikings, they did record days, weeks, years, and even annotate holidays and solstices, but they didn’t use any math to do it. They used ‘letters,’ which makes it a bit difficult to interpret, as we look back.
Numbers were a different matter to the Vikings, and we are not exactly sure if they understood numbers the same way we do today. They wrote out the words for numbers in runic script, e.g. “three, five, ten,” but they never really used high numbers or number symbols. Evidence points to the idea that the Vikings did not understand the concept of Zero, and only worked with numbers as they appeared in the natural world. If something did not exist, it could not be counted, hence… no number “0”.
Calendars are probably one of the best ways to look at how historic peoples imagined ‘time’ and how they used numbers to describe it. It also lets us get a peek at just how high a number system might go, looking at how days, month, and years are counted through an age. The Vikings are no different, and used “numbers” to describe time, but again, only as they saw it in the natural world.
If you have ever seen a Viking calendar, you may assume that all the cool symbols are numbers, but you would be wrong. For the early Vikings, they did record days, weeks, years, and even annotate holidays and solstices, but they didn’t use any math to do it. They used ‘letters,’ which makes it a bit difficult to interpret, as we look back.
You’d expect that with as much emphasis as the Vikings put on power hidden within their runes, that they would take a lot of care in deciding which runes would stand for which days on the calendar, but they really didn’t. Each day had its own name, of course. Frigadaggr, or Fraya’s Day has become our modern ‘Friday’. Thor’s Day has evolved into ‘Thursday’ as we know it now, etc., but as far as how the days are counted in time, despite having specific gods honored by each calendar day, days themselves were merely numbered with the first 7 runes in the Elder Futhark alphabet. No matter how many days were being counted, they just repeated 1-7 over and over and over, repeating the pattern of: “ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ”.
You’d expect that with as much emphasis as the Vikings put on power hidden within their runes, that they would take a lot of care in deciding which runes would stand for which days on the calendar, but they really didn’t. Each day had its own name, of course. Frigadaggr, or Fraya’s Day has become our modern ‘Friday’. Thor’s Day has evolved into ‘Thursday’ as we know it now, etc., but as far as how the days are counted in time, despite having specific gods honored by each calendar day, days themselves were merely numbered with the first 7 runes in the Elder Futhark alphabet. No matter how many days were being counted, they just repeated 1-7 over and over and over, repeating the pattern of: “ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ”.
For any Vikings out there who are still investigating your Viking roots, Elder Futhark is the runic alphabet used in the earliest Viking era. It evolved into (as you may have guessed) “Younger Futhark” before being adopted and redesigned by various Germanic and Indo/European peoples and cultures. And if you were wondering, it is Younger Futhark that is most prominently represented in the hit TV series, ‘Vikings.’
Elder Futhark though, has 24 characters, and many say there is a 25th rune that is reserved to only be used by Odin himself. When Odin sacrificed himself to himself and became a god, it was then that he was made aware of the magic of the runes, and while he did deliver them to mankind, he boasts that he didn’t deliver them all. Truth be told, some scholars have surmised that as many as 8 secret runes exist (referenced in Icelandic Epics, poems, rune stones, and epitaphs). Odin himself brags that he has one such rune which he can use to reanimate the dead, merely by drawing it on the trunk of the tree the corpse was hanged upon.
For any Vikings out there who are still investigating your Viking roots, Elder Futhark is the runic alphabet used in the earliest Viking era. It evolved into (as you may have guessed) “Younger Futhark” before being adopted and redesigned by various Germanic and Indo/European peoples and cultures. And if you were wondering, it is Younger Futhark that is most prominently represented in the hit TV series, ‘Vikings.’
For any Vikings out there who are still investigating your Viking roots, Elder Futhark is the runic alphabet used in the earliest Viking era. It evolved into (as you may have guessed) “Younger Futhark” before being adopted and redesigned by various Germanic and Indo/European peoples and cultures. And if you were wondering, it is Younger Futhark that is most prominently represented in the hit TV series, ‘Vikings.’
Elder Futhark though, has 24 characters, and many say there is a 25th rune that is reserved to only be used by Odin himself. When Odin sacrificed himself to himself and became a god, it was then that he was made aware of the magic of the runes, and while he did deliver them to mankind, he boasts that he didn’t deliver them all. Truth be told, some scholars have surmised that as many as 8 secret runes exist (referenced in Icelandic Epics, poems, rune stones, and epitaphs). Odin himself brags that he has one such rune which he can use to reanimate the dead, merely by drawing it on the trunk of the tree the corpse was hanged upon.
Days were counted with the first 7 letters in the runic alphabet, but that isn’t the strangest part. The strangest part is that they were only counted using the first 7 letters. Over and over, cycles of 7 letters represent all of Viking time. While confusing to outsiders though, this did lead the Vikings to discover a few unique observations in relation to their world, like the true 19-year cycle of the moon.
Don’t misunderstand though, the Vikings were aware of numbers, and would use them in writing, but they had no system of numerical ‘integers’ which represented numerical values. That is, not initially. They did develop number symbols (integers) eventually.
Elder Futhark though, has 24 characters, and many say there is a 25th rune that is reserved to only be used by Odin himself. When Odin sacrificed himself to himself and became a god, it was then that he was made aware of the magic of the runes, and while he did deliver them to mankind, he boasts that he didn’t deliver them all. Truth be told, some scholars have surmised that as many as 8 secret runes exist (referenced in Icelandic Epics, poems, rune stones, and epitaphs). Odin himself brags that he has one such rune which he can use to reanimate the dead, merely by drawing it on the trunk of the tree the corpse was hanged upon.
Days were counted with the first 7 letters in the runic alphabet, but that isn’t the strangest part. The strangest part is that they were only counted using the first 7 letters. Over and over, cycles of 7 letters represent all of Viking time. While confusing to outsiders though, this did lead the Vikings to discover a few unique observations in relation to their world, like the true 19-year cycle of the moon.
Don’t misunderstand though, the Vikings were aware of numbers, and would use them in writing, but they had no system of numerical ‘integers’ which represented numerical values. That is, not initially. They did develop number symbols (integers) eventually.
Eventually, the Viking world expanded and annotating numbers as fully written words was not an option for trade with anyone who did not speak the Viking language. Just like the traders of other nations, merely knowing weights and values was not enough. They had to be able to write them down in ways that more people that could understand. This led to the eventual creation of an actual numerical system for the Vikings, which allowed them to write number and perform mathematics using integers. But, even in this newly designed system there was still no inclusion of a number “zero”.
This isn’t as strange as it may sound though. Much in the way that roman numerals do not have a “0” digit, but can still write numbers like 10 (X), 20 (XX), 100 (C), or 1,000 (M), the Viking Pentimal system could also express zeros in much the same way.
Similar to Roman Numerals, the Viking Pentimal integers represented numbers by compounding stylized markings. Starting off (as seen in the image below), a vertical line with one horizontal line protruding from the top stands for the number 01. Each additional line adds to the value, up to 4. To represent the value of “5” a curved line extends from the top of the vertical line.
Adding curved loops to the line denoted values of 5, while lines represented a value of 1 and could be added up to a total of 4 before becoming a looped curve. These looped curving lines are most commonly seen drawn at the ends of each vertical mark, meaning that it is possible that the number system only went up to 24, but that seems unlikely.
Days were counted with the first 7 letters in the runic alphabet, but that isn’t the strangest part. The strangest part is that they were only counted using the first 7 letters. Over and over, cycles of 7 letters represent all of Viking time. While confusing to outsiders though, this did lead the Vikings to discover a few unique observations in relation to their world, like the true 19-year cycle of the moon.
Don’t misunderstand though, the Vikings were aware of numbers, and would use them in writing, but they had no system of numerical ‘integers’ which represented numerical values. That is, not initially. They did develop number symbols (integers) eventually.
Eventually, the Viking world expanded and annotating numbers as fully written words was not an option for trade with anyone who did not speak the Viking language. Just like the traders of other nations, merely knowing weights and values was not enough. They had to be able to write them down in ways that more people that could understand. This led to the eventual creation of an actual numerical system for the Vikings, which allowed them to write number and perform mathematics using integers. But, even in this newly designed system there was still no inclusion of a number “zero”.
This isn’t as strange as it may sound though. Much in the way that roman numerals do not have a “0” digit, but can still write numbers like 10 (X), 20 (XX), 100 (C), or 1,000 (M), the Viking Pentimal system could also express zeros in much the same way.
Eventually, the Viking world expanded and annotating numbers as fully written words was not an option for trade with anyone who did not speak the Viking language. Just like the traders of other nations, merely knowing weights and values was not enough. They had to be able to write them down in ways that more people that could understand. This led to the eventual creation of an actual numerical system for the Vikings, which allowed them to write number and perform mathematics using integers. But, even in this newly designed system there was still no inclusion of a number “zero”.
This isn’t as strange as it may sound though. Much in the way that roman numerals do not have a “0” digit, but can still write numbers like 10 (X), 20 (XX), 100 (C), or 1,000 (M), the Viking Pentimal system could also express zeros in much the same way.
Similar to Roman Numerals, the Viking Pentimal integers represented numbers by compounding stylized markings. Starting off (as seen in the image below), a vertical line with one horizontal line protruding from the top stands for the number 01. Each additional line adds to the value, up to 4. To represent the value of “5” a curved line extends from the top of the vertical line.
Adding curved loops to the line denoted values of 5, while lines represented a value of 1 and could be added up to a total of 4 before becoming a looped curve.
Similar to Roman Numerals, the Viking Pentimal integers represented numbers by compounding stylized markings. Starting off (as seen in the image below), a vertical line with one horizontal line protruding from the top stands for the number 01. Each additional line adds to the value, up to 4. To represent the value of “5” a curved line extends from the top of the vertical line.
More likely is that looped lines could continue being added to the vertical mark infinitely. Another possibility is that a certain number of looped lines could be added all the way up to a “cap,” making the filled line more easily recognizable for its total value. For example, instead of 4 loops and 4 lines representing a total value of 24, it is possible that completely filling the vertical line with 10 loops may have represented the value of 50.
Looking at it this way, it is possible that certain design elements in the Viking world also held a numerical significance.
On the note of ‘numerical significance,’ it is finally time to dive into Viking numerology! (Numerology being the study of the significance of numbers, often extending beyond the physical and into the fringe sciences or the meta-physical realms)
Vikings did believe that numbers themselves held certain significance, and this is evident all throughout their legends and stories, such as the story of Drapnir, Odin’s golden arm ring that every 9 days, it would “drip” eight identical arm-rings, being itself the 9th. Or how parties of 3 gods, or any combination of gods, mortals, or giants might be seen competing or questing in groups of 3. The number 4 seems to appear quite often as well. There are the 4 dwarves that hold up the sky, the 4 branches of Yggdrasil, etc.
These looped curving lines are most commonly seen drawn at the ends of each vertical mark, meaning that it is possible that the number system only went up to 24, but that seems unlikely. More likely is that looped lines could continue being added to the vertical mark infinitely. Another possibility is that a certain number of looped lines could be added all the way up to a “cap,” making the filled line more easily recognizable for its total value. For example, instead of 4 loops and 4 lines representing a total value of 24, it is possible that completely filling the vertical line with 10 loops may have represented the value of 50.
Looking at it this way, it is possible that certain design elements in the Viking world also held a numerical significance.
Adding curved loops to the line denoted values of 5, while lines represented a value of 1 and could be added up to a total of 4 before becoming a looped curve. These looped curving lines are most commonly seen drawn at the ends of each vertical mark, meaning that it is possible that the number system only went up to 24, but that seems unlikely. More likely is that looped lines could continue being added to the vertical mark infinitely. Another possibility is that a certain number of looped lines could be added all the way up to a “cap,” making the filled line more easily recognizable for its total value. For example, instead of 4 loops and 4 lines representing a total value of 24, it is possible that completely filling the vertical line with 10 loops may have represented the value of 50.
Looking at it this way, it is possible that certain design elements in the Viking world also held a numerical significance.
On the note of ‘numerical significance,’ it is finally time to dive into Viking numerology! (Numerology being the study of the significance of numbers, often extending beyond the physical and into the fringe sciences or the meta-physical realms)
On the note of ‘numerical significance,’ it is finally time to dive into Viking numerology! (Numerology being the study of the significance of numbers, often extending beyond the physical and into the fringe sciences or the meta-physical realms)
Vikings did believe that numbers themselves held certain significance, and this is evident all throughout their legends and stories, such as the story of Drapnir, Odin’s golden arm ring that every 9 days, it would “drip” eight identical arm-rings, being itself the 9th. Or how parties of 3 gods, or any combination of gods, mortals, or giants might be seen competing or questing in groups of 3. The number 4 seems to appear quite often as well. There are the 4 dwarves that hold up the sky, the 4 branches of Yggdrasil, etc.
Unfortunately, there are no writings of what these numbers stood for, or what they were intended to mean for those who heard the tales or read the epics. The Vikings had writing, but they weren’t really a fan of it, it seems. The Icelandic Epics, for example, were written nearly 1,000 years after the end of the Viking age! But, there are so many tales and stories, that we can deduce what these numbers stood for through their context.
Vikings did believe that numbers themselves held certain significance, and this is evident all throughout their legends and stories, such as the story of Drapnir, Odin’s golden arm ring that every 9 days, it would “drip” eight identical arm-rings, being itself the 9th. Or how parties of 3 gods, or any combination of gods, mortals, or giants might be seen competing or questing in groups of 3. The number 4 seems to appear quite often as well. There are the 4 dwarves that hold up the sky, the 4 branches of Yggdrasil, etc.
Unfortunately, there are no writings of what these numbers stood for, or what they were intended to mean for those who heard the tales or read the epics. The Vikings had writing, but they weren’t really a fan of it, it seems. The Icelandic Epics, for example, were written nearly 1,000 years after the end of the Viking age! But, there are so many tales and stories, that we can deduce what these numbers stood for through their context.
Unfortunately, there are no writings of what these numbers stood for, or what they were intended to mean for those who heard the tales or read the epics. The Vikings had writing, but they weren’t really a fan of it, it seems. The Icelandic Epics, for example, were written nearly 1,000 years after the end of the Viking age! But, there are so many tales and stories, that we can deduce what these numbers stood for through their context.
The Number 3: “Sacred” or “Divine”
Odin was dead for 3 days after he sacrificed himself to himself to become a god.
There are 3 roots to the world tree, Yggdrasil.
There are 3 Norns who water them daily and spin the tread of fate for all living beings.
There are 3 gods who created the 1st humans: Odin, Vili, & Ve.
There were 3 gifts given from each god to humanity:
Odin gave: Life, Breath, & Spirit
Vili gave: Movement, Mind, & Intellect
Ve gave: Shape, Speech, & the 5 senses
The Number 3: “Sacred” or “Divine”
Odin was dead for 3 days after he sacrificed himself to himself to become a god.
There are 3 roots to the world tree, Yggdrasil.
There are 3 Norns who water them daily and spin the tread of fate for all living beings.
There are 3 gods who created the 1st humans: Odin, Vili, & Ve.
There were 3 gifts given from each god to humanity:
Odin gave: Life, Breath, & Spirit
Vili gave: Movement, Mind, & Intellect
Ve gave: Shape, Speech, & the 5 senses
The Number 3: “Sacred” or “Divine”
Odin was dead for 3 days after he sacrificed himself to himself to become a god.
There are 3 roots to the world tree, Yggdrasil.
There are 3 Norns who water them daily and spin the tread of fate for all living beings.
There are 3 gods who created the 1st humans: Odin, Vili, & Ve.
There were 3 gifts given from each god to humanity:
Odin gave: Life, Breath, & Spirit
Vili gave: Movement, Mind, & Intellect
Ve gave: Shape, Speech, & the 5 senses
Loki has 3 children: Hel(ruler of death), the Midgard Serpent, & Fenrir (bringer of Ragnarök).
It took 3 tries to bind Fenrir to subdue his destiny of swallowing the sun.
There are 3 dragons in all Norse mythology (though one is a man who turned to a dragon).
Loki has 3 children: Hel(ruler of death), the Midgard Serpent, & Fenrir (bringer of Ragnarök).
It took 3 tries to bind Fenrir to subdue his destiny of swallowing the sun.
There are 3 dragons in all Norse mythology (though one is a man who turned to a dragon).
And of course, there are many, many more times that the number 3 shows up in Norse Mythology, but even from these few accounts, there is something divine about the number 3. We can see it used with sacred beasts and objects, with gods, with aspects of human life itself, etc.
Loki has 3 children: Hel(ruler of death), the Midgard Serpent, & Fenrir (bringer of Ragnarök).
It took 3 tries to bind Fenrir to subdue his destiny of swallowing the sun.
There are 3 dragons in all Norse mythology (though one is a man who turned to a dragon).
And of course, there are many, many more times that the number 3 shows up in Norse Mythology, but even from these few accounts, there is something divine about the number 3. We can see it used with sacred beasts and objects, with gods, with aspects of human life itself, etc.
And of course, there are many, many more times that the number 3 shows up in Norse Mythology, but even from these few accounts, there is something divine about the number 3. We can see it used with sacred beasts and objects, with gods, with aspects of human life itself, etc.
The Number 4: “Order” or “Balance”
There were 4 rivers of milk that flowed from the utter of Audhumla, the great cow who created Odin’s grandfather Buri from the salt ice at the beginning of the world.
There are 4 dwarves that hold up the corners of the sky (the cardinal directions)
There are 4 deer who live among the branches of Yggdrasil.
The Number 4: “Order” or “Balance”
There were 4 rivers of milk that flowed from the utter of Audhumla, the great cow who created Odin’s grandfather Buri from the salt ice at the beginning of the world.
There are 4 dwarves that hold up the corners of the sky (the cardinal directions)
There are 4 deer who live among the branches of Yggdrasil.
The number 7: “Longsuffering” or “Endlessness”
Great Vikings were said to have fought in 7 wars.
Great sea voyages would often confront hardships for 7 days at a time:
”For seven days we rode across the cold land,
but other seven days we hit the waves;
the third seven days we went onto a dry land.”
-the lay of Guðrúnarkviða
The number 8: “Insufficient” or “Unfavorable”
Sleipnir was Odin’s 8-legged horse, which Loki actually gave birth to after one of his tricky scams went very… very wrong.
Countless sagas show parties of 8 Vikings being defeated, or at least thwarted from their victory by unforeseen circumstances or unfavorable luck.
The Number 4: “Order” or “Balance”
There were 4 rivers of milk that flowed from the utter of Audhumla, the great cow who created Odin’s grandfather Buri from the salt ice at the beginning of the world.
There are 4 dwarves that hold up the corners of the sky (the cardinal directions)
There are 4 deer who live among the branches of Yggdrasil.
The number 7: “Longsuffering” or “Endlessness”
Great Vikings were said to have fought in 7 wars.
Great sea voyages would often confront hardships for 7 days at a time:
”For seven days we rode across the cold land,
but other seven days we hit the waves;
the third seven days we went onto a dry land.”
-the lay of Guðrúnarkviða
The number 8: “Insufficient” or “Unfavorable”
Sleipnir was Odin’s 8-legged horse, which Loki actually gave birth to after one of his tricky scams went very… very wrong.
Countless sagas show parties of 8 Vikings being defeated, or at least thwarted from their victory by unforeseen circumstances or unfavorable luck.
The number 7: “Longsuffering” or “Endlessness”
Great Vikings were said to have fought in 7 wars.
Great sea voyages would often confront hardships for 7 days at a time:
”For seven days we rode across the cold land,
but other seven days we hit the waves;
the third seven days we went onto a dry land.”
-the lay of Guðrúnarkviða
The number 8: “Insufficient” or “Unfavorable”
Sleipnir was Odin’s 8-legged horse, which Loki actually gave birth to after one of his tricky scams went very… very wrong.
Countless sagas show parties of 8 Vikings being defeated, or at least thwarted from their victory by unforeseen circumstances or unfavorable luck.
Ships attacking in a group of 8 were also defeated in the Grettis Saga, even though they only faced 5 enemy ships.
The Number 9: “Magical Power” or “Mystical”
Odin hanged from the world tree for 9 days before the magic of runes was revealed to him.
Odin’s golden arm-ring Drapnir, produced eight copies of itself every 9 days, to increase Odin’s horde for eternity.
There are 9 realms that hang from the branches of Yggdrasil
Heimdall, the guardian of Bifrost (the Rainbow Bridge) was born from 9 sisters.
Lastly, Thor takes 9 steps before he falls down dead during the battle of Ragnarök.
To close out this blog on Viking Numerology (and the history of Viking numbers), I would like to ask you to just stop and think about all the natural numbers in your life. How many friends do you hang out with? How many items are on your desk at work? How many pages can you read before you get sleepy or bored…? Is there any symbolism that may exist in your life that you may have missed? And lastly, if you really put your mind to it… do you create meaning from these numbers, or do they give meaning to you?
Ships attacking in a group of 8 were also defeated in the Grettis Saga, even though they only faced 5 enemy ships.
The Number 9: “Magical Power” or “Mystical”
Odin hanged from the world tree for 9 days before the magic of runes was revealed to him.
Odin’s golden arm-ring Drapnir, produced eight copies of itself every 9 days, to increase Odin’s horde for eternity.
There are 9 realms that hang from the branches of Yggdrasil
Heimdall, the guardian of Bifrost (the Rainbow Bridge) was born from 9 sisters.
Lastly, Thor takes 9 steps before he falls down dead during the battle of Ragnarök.
Ships attacking in a group of 8 were also defeated in the Grettis Saga, even though they only faced 5 enemy ships.
The Number 9: “Magical Power” or “Mystical”
Odin hanged from the world tree for 9 days before the magic of runes was revealed to him.
Odin’s golden arm-ring Drapnir, produced eight copies of itself every 9 days, to increase Odin’s horde for eternity.
There are 9 realms that hang from the branches of Yggdrasil
Heimdall, the guardian of Bifrost (the Rainbow Bridge) was born from 9 sisters.
Lastly, Thor takes 9 steps before he falls down dead during the battle of Ragnarök.
To close out this blog on Viking Numerology (and the history of Viking numbers), I would like to ask you to just stop and think about all the natural numbers in your life. How many friends do you hang out with? How many items are on your desk at work? How many pages can you read before you get sleepy or bored…? Is there any symbolism that may exist in your life that you may have missed? And lastly, if you really put your mind to it… do you create meaning from these numbers, or do they give meaning to you?
Live long and live strong, my fellow Vikings.
Dr. Cody J. Dees, Ph.D
Resident Viking,
Norse Tradesman
To close out this blog on Viking Numerology (and the history of Viking numbers), I would like to ask you to just stop and think about all the natural numbers in your life. How many friends do you hang out with? How many items are on your desk at work? How many pages can you read before you get sleepy or bored…? Is there any symbolism that may exist in your life that you may have missed? And lastly, if you really put your mind to it… do you create meaning from these numbers, or do they give meaning to you?
Live long and live strong, my fellow Vikings.
Dr. Cody J. Dees, Ph.D
Resident Viking,
Norse Tradesman
Live long and live strong, my fellow Vikings.
Dr. Cody J. Dees, Ph.D
Resident Viking,
Norse Tradesman
