50+ Facts That Will Change the Way You Watch Netflix’s “Vikings”
The Viking Obsession With Brutality Gave to Rise the Blood Eagle
The Blood Eagle is a gruesome execution and one of the most ominous omens in Viking history. It’s said to have originated from their religious beliefs as a symbol of sending the victim’s spirit to the afterlife.
The ritual involved severing the ribs from the spine and pulling the lungs outward, forming ‘wings.’ Historical accounts debate whether this was an actual practice or a possible exaggeration. Still, it’s easy to see how the Vikings would have been at home with such brutality.
NEXT: This is how we got information about Viking history.
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