The Vikings – a powerful people of sailors, originally from Scandinavia, who for centuries reigned on the seas, invading and trading in Europe. Their brutal and untamed nature, as well as their extraordinary strength, had a huge impact on the early medieval history of Europe and made them remembered as one of the most fascinating peoples in history.
For many years, researchers have been trying to unravel the mystery behind the Vikings’ behavior. There is a theory that the crazy, trance-like states that characterized them may have been caused by psychoactive plants native to the region. Let’s check it out!
Who were the Vikings?
The Vikings were Scandinavian sailors, warriors and traders who lived between the 8th and 11th centuries. They came mainly from the areas of present-day Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The Vikings were known for their seamanship, aggressive warfare and trade, which ranged from western Europe to Byzantium and the Middle East.
The expansion of the Scandinavians was due to both internal and external factors. Overpopulation in their rocky territories and the lack of stable political structures encouraged the search for new lands. At the same time, the military and political weakness of other countries encouraged easy acquisition of wealth.
Viking society was organized in clans or tribes, each of which had a strong leader who led the warriors in expansion both on the European continent and beyond.
Faiths
Viking faith was deeply rooted in their daily life and culture. Gods like Odin, Thor and Freya influenced different spheres of life, such as fighting, farming, sea travel and family life.
In addition to religious practices, Viking beliefs were also linked to magic and divination practices. Spells and runes were believed to help predict the future or ensure success in battle or travel.
Vikings also believed in the existence of a world after death, where the souls of the dead could go to different lands depending on merit. Valhalla was a place where warriors who died in battle wanted to go, where they could live forever, partaking in a feast together with the gods.
The Vikings also believed in Ragnarok – the end of the world, which was to come in the form of a great battle between gods and giants.
Viking beliefs were an important part of their culture and society, influencing all aspects of daily life, including art, literature, rituals and magical practices. Although traditional Norse religion disappeared with the Christianization of Scandinavia, today many people are interested in it as part of the Viking cultural heritage.
Odin’s Chosen Ones
When looking at Viking culture and beliefs, it is impossible not to mention the legendary group of warriors, known for their relentless determination and brutality during battle. Berserkers were known for their aggressive fighting style and display of fury on the battlefield. They were believed to enter a state of battle rage that gave them superhuman strength and endurance. Berserk Vikings would don the skin of a bear during battle, which was believed to emphasize their ferocity and strength. They were known for not feeling pain during combat, which allowed them to fight even after suffering severe wounds. However, such determination often led to their death on the battlefield.
This unusual group of warriors was strongly associated with shamanic culture. According to legends, they practiced rituals before battle in order to enter a state of battle fury, which was supposed to make them indestructible in battle.
It was believed that berserkers extracted their power by undergoing a form of spiritual transformation. They drank an herbal concoction called “berserksgangr” and then entered a trance-like state that allowed them to tap into their inner reserves of strength and fury.
This altered state was said to give them access to great physical strength and endurance, allowing them to fight with seemingly impossible intensity and resilience.
Rite of passage
So what enabled the Berserk Vikings to enter a state of unbridled strength and superhuman endurance? Some suggest that it may have been the result of hysteria or a consequence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by years of exposure to violence.
Others believe it was a consequence of consuming large amounts of alcohol or psychedelic plants such as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Research by archaeologists suggests that Vikings ate certain types of psychoactive mushrooms to enter what some might call an altered state of consciousness. They believed that mushrooms had mystical properties that could give them power over enemies on the battlefield, including superhuman strength and courage. Berserkers believed that the famous battle frenzy – berberkergang – was sent to them by the supreme Norse god Odin. During it, warriors would often expose themselves, beating and biting shields, while chanting loudly. After the battle, they would fall into a torpor of several hours, which may indicate the fading effects of psychedelics.
Amanita muscaria
The most widespread hypothesis is that the Vikings’ endurance and insensitivity to pain during battles may have been the result of consuming a strengthening drink with Fly agaric as the main ingredient before battle.
In pre-Christian times, Amanita muscaria was commonly used in religious rituals, mainly those of a shamanic nature, from Scandinavia to Kamchatka, as well as in North America. In Siberia, it was the most popular hallucinogenic agent for many centuries.
Moreover, there is historical documentation from other cultures around this period describing similar practices involving the consumption of mushrooms before battle.
However, the evidence that the Vikings used Fly agaric is far from reliable. Moreover, the toadstool contains several psychoactive substances. One of them is muscimol, a compound that interacts with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitter. Activation of GABA is associated with sedative effects. However, the toadstool also contains other substances, such as ibotenic acid and muscarinic, which can have stimulating effects.
The variety of substances contained in Amanita muscaria makes predicting its effects extremely difficult. Consuming it before a battle seems to be very risky.
Henbane
An equally popular theory is that berserkers used a plant from the solanaceous family Hyoscyamus niger, known as black henbane.
Seeds of this plant were found at a burial site near Fyrkat, Denmark. The remains of a woman who appeared to be a Viking priestess or shaman were found in a grave dating to 900 AD. This and other archaeological finds indicate that henbane was known to the Vikings. Analysis of the symptoms caused by the poisoning of this plant suggests that it may have been used by berserkers to induce a state of rage, which they used during battles. The leaves of this plant contain toxic alkaloids such as hyoscine and scopolamine, which can cause hallucinations when ingested. Henbane has been used as a medicine and as a ritual plant. It is also known to produce psychoactive effects, and can lead to states of delirium, separation from reality or dark and realistic hallucinations. Other physiological effects include swelling and reddening of the skin, pupil dilation, chills or fever, lowering blood pressure and relieving pain, which may have enabled berserkers to continue fighting violently in the face of injury.
Research indicates that Nordic and Germanic communities may have taken henbane before combat to increase their strength, reduce the sensation of pain and increase aggression. There is also the possibility that some berserkers combined henbane with other substances, such as psychedelic mushrooms, to achieve an even more extreme state of madness. However, the details of how the warriors consumed the plant are still unclear due to the lack of archaeological material to support these theories.
Other plants
Despite their small territory, the Vikings had access to a rich variety of plants, in addition to those theoretically used in battle. The Vikings’ plant landscape was rich and varied, reflecting their close relationship with nature and their ability to use its gifts. Popular medicinal plants included burdock, wormwood, yarrow, ribbed plantain and ground ivy. Meanwhile, plants such as hops, garlic, cress, marjoram, mint, sorrel and thyme were used as herbs. The Vikings were also known for producing honey, which was used not only to sweeten food, but also to treat various ailments.
Plants thus played an important role in Viking life and culture, both in practical and sacred aspects. Thanks to them, these people were able to survive the harsh conditions of life in the harsh climate of Scandinavia, heal themselves and stay connected to nature and the gods.
