The Journey of Raven-Floki

In the year 868, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson leaves western Norway. He is no ordinary traveler, but a man with a purpose: to find the unknown land to the west – a place of which earlier seafarers had only caught fleeting glimpses. With his wife, children, three companions, and three ravens, he boards his wooden ship (drakkar), built for the open sea.

The wind carries them to the Faroe Islands, where Floki loses his daughter – a bad omen, some say. But Floki sails on, determined. On the open sea, he releases his ravens one by one. The first returns. The second flies a bit further but turns back. The third disappears toward the western horizon. Floki follows it, full of trust.

Days later, a rugged coastline emerges from the mist. Iceland. Floki and his companions set foot ashore. The summer is kind. Lakes teeming with fish, green valleys, clear waterfalls – it seems like a promised land. But winter hits hard. Ice-cold and merciless. Livestock dies. The wind cuts through their bones. Floki climbs a mountain and gazes out over a world of snow and glacier. He names the land “Ísland” – Iceland.

When he returns to Norway, he speaks bitterly of cold and death. But his companions also tell of fertile valleys and freedom. And so begins the wave of settlers heading to Iceland – the land Floki was the first to consciously discover.

He sought a new beginning. What he found was freedom, but also cold, loss… and history.

History of the Gjermundbu Helmet

Of course, this is not just any helmet. The Gjermundbu helmet is actually a real Viking helmet! The helmet dates back to the Viking age from around 950-975 and was found in a graveyard near the similarly named Gjermundbu farm in Haugsbygd, Ringerike, Norway.

The helmet was found by accident in 1942. Only later were the employees of the University of Oslo informed. Curator Sverre Marstranden and museum assistant Charlotte Blindheim led an investigation that confirmed the existence of a grave chamber of historical value. The Gjermundu findings contained several objects, including weapons. The helmet was discovered in nine parts and was restored. It is made of iron in four parts and is heightened. The helmet can still be seen at the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo.

Together with the Tjele helmet fragment, two fragments from Gotland and a fragment from Kiev, it is one of the few known Viking helmets that could be reconstructed. The Gjermunbdu helmet is relatively well preserved. It has a spectacle-shaped face shield and must have belonged to an important person. Iron was difficult to make in the Viking Age and was also very expensive. Therefore, helmets were very expensive and not very common. Anyone who could afford a helmet would certainly want one, but only a few people could actually afford it. Helmets were well cared for and preserved, repaired when necessary and passed on from generation to generation. Some helmets were probably in use for centuries, until the iron became too thin and brittle to provide protection.

The history of the Varjagen Shield

The second centrepiece of the Medals for Life series is the Varjagen Shield. This shield consists of six medal parts, where you earn one part for every two medal points. When you earn twenty medal points, you become the proud owner of the entire Varjagen Shield. The medal points for the shield can also be earned by participating in a Strong Viking edition or a Virtual Edition. Conquer all obstacles on your journey and earn the Varjagen Shield!

The Varjagen Shield is obviously not just any shield. The word Varjagen finds its origin in the composition of the words promise (Varja) and companion (Gen). This more or less means ‘a sworn person’. There are only a few sources that point back to this period, we must rely on the various excavations carried out by different nationalities. These show that the Varjagen were present for a long period of time. The stories of Nordic history say that in the 8th century, the Varjagen came with their ships to the land we know today as Russia. Rus is originally the name for Vikings who reached Russia! So Russia even owes its name to the Vikings. The Varjagen played an important role in history and were mainly known as a strong tribe. In the early Middle Ages, the Swedish Vikings descended the rivers and built trading settlements along these rivers, the so-called trade route from the Varjagen to the Greeks. In time, the Vikings began to establish settlements between the Slavs and the Finns, where they formed the ruling elite under the name of Roes.

Gouden draak

The Varjagen Shield features a golden dragon, which, of course, is not placed on the shield without reason. Moreover, dragons are important and common creatures in Norse mythology. The most famous dragons are Níðhǫggr, Jǫrmungandr and Fáfnir. Each dragon in mythology has its own characteristics and stories. But the common denominator is that each dragon represents strength and courage. For this reason, ships often had dragons’ heads as their figureheads, and ships were, of course, essential to the Varjagen and their journeys.

Images of dragons were mainly used as decoration on objects belonging to the richest and most important people. The images served as expressions of strength, power and courage. Furthermore, flags with dragons were often used to intimidate opponents. Dragons are thus an important and powerful symbol of the Viking Age.

The Varjagen Shield is a symbol of the strength and courage you have shown during the challenges that have crossed your path on your journey.

History of Sleipnir​

The story begins in Asgard, the place where the Gods lived. This city was surrounded by a great wall, which had to protect all the inhabiting Gods. In addition to the protection of this wall, the God Thor was responsible for guarding Asgard. However, Thor was busier killing giants than guarding the city. In his absence, the city was attacked and the wall destroyed. The city could not exist without this great wall and soon an unknown builder came to Asgard. This builder promised to rebuild the wall without any help! Moreover, he would do the job in a time that no one could beat, even if they had all the help in the world. Of course, the gods were interested in this plan, but it came at a high price… 

In return for a new wall, the master builder requested the sun, the moon and Goddess Freya. Even before the Gods could discuss this demand, someone had already agreed, it was Loki, the God of fire. He set only one condition: the construction of the wall had to be completed within six months. The master builder then agreed with the added condition that he could use his stallion Svadilfari.

Loki was satisfied with his trick, building the wall in such a short time was impossible. The sun, the moon and Freya were safe. However, Loki was not the only one with a trick. The unknown builder was in fact no stranger to the gods, it was the giant Hrimthur. His stallion Svadilfari was stronger than any other horse. Building the wall together was no problem for them.

To the great astonishment of the Gods, the construction of the wall proceeded smoothly. The Gods of Asgard feared that they would have to pay the promised reward. Loki no longer felt safe and came up with a new trick. He transformed himself into a beautiful white mare and lured Svadilfari away from the wall. This trick eventually led to the birth of an eight-legged horse. Loki returned to Asgard and gave the horse to Odin, who named him Sleipnir. Here began the story of Sleipnir, who grew into a large and muscular horse, the fastest horse in existence! His coat is grey like a stormy sky, his manes a darker grey. Legend has it that runes were engraved in Sleipnir’s teeth. After he had grown into an adult horse, he could not only move on land, but could even walk over the sea and through the air. On top of that Sleipnir could also transport Odin between the worlds of heaven and earth.