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@KarlKarsnark

2 жыл бұрын

This particular horned helmet is quite historically accurate and is depicted in numerous art pieces. Along with the holding of two staves. Yes, the vikings and their ancestors really did have real horned helmets. If anything, the horns were longer/bigger/more deer-like than the short stumpy, cow kind we see in caricature. This, of course, ties into many such depictions of Cernunos/Stag King figures.

@ezrafaulk3076

2 жыл бұрын

I was honestly expecting this to be a *rant* about how this show was just more Horriwood bullshit, but it's actually pretty cool to see that they got more right than *most* shows depicting the Norse do; to be honest, that's why I can enjoy How to Train Your Dragon as much as I can. It's *obvious* that they *weren't* trying to portray the Norse accurately in it, but that really helps to show just what they *did* get right without even *trying* ; the *biggest* thing they got right that comes to mind is how the other Berkians speak to Stoic and Hiccup as *piers* even though they're the chief and his son respectively, and despite his position as the chief's son, Hiccup has to *earn* the other Berkians' respect. The Norsemen *didn't* see either *theirs* , or *other* people's leaders as some higher being, just as the fellow humans they *were* , and so not only were leaders just *piers* that had to *earn* their respect, and could be *mocked* if they demanded respect *without* earning it, but if they committed some horrible crime, like *murdering* someone, their status *didn't* protect them from being made to serve as a *thrœll* (thrall), or even *killed* as punishment. It's honestly not surprising, considering that they were a *republic* while the rest of medieval Europe was feudalist, and so not only could a thrall save enough up and *buy* their freedom, but even a *karl* (commoner), who amassed enough fame and fortune could *become* a jarl (noble). I still *can't* overlook the things they got *abysmally* wrong though, like the berserkers being completely *filthy* . And as for the horned helmet, while we all know that the Norse *didn't* wear horned helmets into *battle* , there're actually bronze helmets dating back to the Nordic Bronze Age that have horns on them that're too thin to've provided any substantial protection from a blow; that suggests that during the Nordic Bronze Age, the Norse *did* have horned helmets that they *occasionally* wore for some *display* oriented purpose. Considering *that* I no longer think it a stretch that they may've *continued* that practice into the Viking Age, even though we don't know that they did for *sure* . PS: Just a fun fact, that pop culture depiction of a Viking Age Norsemen wearing a horned helmet and wielding a double-headed battle-axe would actually be more historically accurate if, instead of the Viking Age Norsemen, it was (occasionally) applied to Renaissance Era *Persian* warriors; I kid you *not* , we have *artifacts* of Persian Tabarzin made for *combat* that're double-headed, and Persian Khula-Khud helmets thick enough to protect from a blow that *do* actually have horns on them.

@luckimonster2298

2 жыл бұрын

Ty mister Metatron! I find u very informing on history :D

@urubutingaz5898

2 жыл бұрын

@@KarlKarsnark Yes they probably had some kind of horned headdress but it seems to be tied to the cult of Wodan (Odin) rather than Cernunos, this guy was worshipped by the Gauls in the iron age, not by the Norse in the early Middle Ages.

@tabularasa7350

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this assessment.

The horned helmet was clearly used for ceremonial reasons in that scene, not combat. The helmets people wore in the movie seemed fairly accurate, based on the little we know of them in the Viking age. I loved the fact that the armor and treasures in the grave hoard are from the migration era, although it would be unrealistic for it to be in Iceland, which had only been recently settled by the Scandinavians.

@texasbeast239

2 жыл бұрын

I interpreted that character as an elder priest performing a ritual. And I noticed they didn't show any of the actual fighters wearing such, so I was satisfied.

@sharkchaos5160

2 жыл бұрын

@@texasbeast239 Same.

@magicman3163

2 жыл бұрын

Also most Nord stuff was made of cotton or leather or pelts or wood or parts of animals all stuff that naturally decays over time so who would know if they did or did not use certain animals parts in certain ways they were a very eco friendly people

@Akhen.

2 жыл бұрын

That helmet specifically represents odinn, and is a ceremonial hedwear. It is also the ONLY horned helmet in the movie. Everythibg about it is therefore correct

@rossbobfdsfvfscx5887

2 жыл бұрын

@@magicman3163 probably not cotton as far as I know it was almost or completely linen and maybe some imported silk for the rich

The "horned helmet" you don't like is a headdress. It doesn't have actual horns on it, but flat decorative pieces that curve upward (possibly with terminals shaped like bird's heads, although I couldn't tell in the brief shot), AND animal ears. That is not a Wagnarian horned helmet. And it is historically justified. It is derived from primary source material--the Torslunda plates. In fact, the whole berserker ritual scene comes from the Torslunda plates. The plates show a guy in that headdress, and a warrior with a wolf head. The same headdress is seen on the plates of the Sutton Hoo helm, so the whole affair seems to be an old Germanic Pagan ritual that was common to the ancestors of the Saxons and the Norse. ShieldWolf knows. Also, Amleth was wielding a big seax, not a sword.

@KailinaerO1

2 жыл бұрын

yes! Glad someone corrected these points. I was very surprised by this video as I have a lot of respect for him, but I don't think any of the "inaccuracies" were actually inaccuracies" . Some are left to interpretation, as much as there's no proof, a negative doesn't prove a positive. Personally I was excited to see the seax. :) I always thought it was relatively common, probably more than the long sword, but we never see them in film or TV.

@DieLuftwaffel

2 жыл бұрын

I didn't think it looked like a seax at all personally. The seax design I have always seen is much shorter, wider bladed, and with a very dramatically angled tip that is very unique to the seax. I've seen the blade depicted in the movie simply described as a "long-knife" and though I think it's a borderline short sword (not a shortened version of the typical viking sword however), calling it a long-knife fits pretty well in my opinion.

@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929

2 жыл бұрын

I can understand why he thought it was a sword, not only was the seax likely just a tool and a weapon as much as a roofing hammer is a weapon, they were rarely ever that big as well, and I don't think any findings of the big ones were actually used as anything but art pieces or possibly advertising, like to show the capabilities of the craftsman. So it doesn't really make sense for him to be using it, infact I don't know why they didn't just give him another axe or an actual sword, it would fit the sagas and would just make more sense, I mean that knife doesn't even look like a good weapon, if he needed a backup he should've just brought two axes. Anyway, I'm gonna stop ranting now.

@Geirr9

2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant comment mate…those who are diving into the Germanic Heathen world regularly, would have instantly recognised the “Horned Spear Man” (likely Oðinn/Wodan) image referenced in the film. Especially referenced in the Berserker ritual, an Odinic rite. The horns are also clearly birds, either ravens or eagles. Like you mentioned. This was a great historically reference in the film

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Hey there thanks for the correction about the helmet, my bad! As for the saex I have too my to say about it to fit it into a comment, so I'll make a clarification video. Thank you all for your comments!

16:25 - Speaking about "fiction" in The Northman. It is very important to understand how Rober Eggers (the director of the movie) implements fictional elements into his movies. For Eggers everything is depicted as real that the ppl in the movie would see as real. So if the ppl in the story believe in Odin he will be depicted as if he was just as real as you and i and Amleth. The Draugr appeared because Amleth believed in it. I think this is a very interesting way of handling culture because you cannot really make a culturally acurate movie while, at the same time ignore these believes. The gods where real to these ppl so you gotta make em just as real as the believe is.

@solokom

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting comment!

@nwodepopulationcomingverys1288

2 жыл бұрын

That's obvious dude or you are close minded as fuk and not trying to understand the obvious

@kispankum

2 жыл бұрын

I loved that part about the movie! Pagan spirituality if portrayed seriously is woven into every part of ones live.

@guatobean2869

2 жыл бұрын

So what I’m understanding is eggers gave us a saga not a Viking historical bio film…but a saga from the perspective of what people of that time would have “imagined” based on their beliefs etc.? Like the point you make about eggers depicting what they would have believed. That is fantastic filmmaking!!

@killgoretrout9000

2 жыл бұрын

I view the movie as taking place in the mind of 10th century Scandinavian hearing the "Saga of Amleth" as it were, so the line between the natural and supernatural is very thin.

Actually Amleth IS wielding a knife during the raid in Rus, that's a seax, a big one granted, but it's a knife not a sword Raph. Also he turns it around part way through. That horned bronze helmet is also depicted alongside depictions of the "bezerkergang" in period art, it probably represents Odin in a ritual capacity, though it's all very speculative when it comes to Norse religious practices.

@td370

2 жыл бұрын

I thought he was holding a Seax

@DieLuftwaffel

2 жыл бұрын

Doesnt look remotely like any example of a seax I've ever seen. Way too long and I didnt see the very distinct angled tip the seax is famous for. To me it was a very long knife or a short sword.

@BDarOZ

2 жыл бұрын

@@DieLuftwaffel ive spoke once with this guy whos an authority in norse swords, cos i was working designing a seax for a game and my question was precisely the size and i was told seaxes came in different sizes, form a small knife to a small sword size

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

@@DieLuftwaffel some seax artifacts are actually huge, actual small sword/gladius blade size: 45-50+ cm, with some handles measuring up to 20cm, that makes a total length of around 70cm or so. That's the size of a typical Roman gladius. So yeah, some seax (Frankish ones notably) are in the range of short swords length wise.

@lyndonjohnson5063

2 жыл бұрын

@@DieLuftwaffel 20 years of living viking history Yes long seax was a thing and could be as long as a viking Broad sword I believe the name is a Langseax The seax have three different names depending on they rough lenght aswell

10:25 Here I would dissagree, because a mythical Valkyrie is probably the exact figure to project extravagant attributes on. She's already riding a horse through the night sky, casting an aurora tail, wearing a goose-feathered cloke. A Valkyrie is a fantastic antropomophism of natural effects combined with belief in the afterlife. 13:30 I think it's important to remember that the story of The Northman is a _legend._ Legends are told by Skalds and bards, and those like to beef up their saga with exaggerations and bombastic telling. Thus, depicting Berserkers like dual-wielding demigods is completely fine with me, as long as in the end the regular troops come into play, which they do in that specific scene.

Personally, I think the "Fiery" in 'Fiery gates of Hel' more likely refers to the erupting volcano being the place where the gate to Hel was located, in the sense of it leading to somewhere beneath the earth, rather than Hel itself being a place of fire.

@mjolnirmilitia569

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly.

@StormDrago

2 жыл бұрын

I understand your point, then why not just use a normal cave. it works when talking about the christian hell, but since its suppose to be the viking representation of hel. It would have been a better idea to cast it with a more accurate scene.

@RexFuturi

2 жыл бұрын

That volcano on Iceland has been called the Gates of Hell since at least the early 12th century. There have been suggestions that pre-Christian Norse settlers also called it Gates of Hel even earlier, though I can't say I've seen anything authorative.

@tomsawyerpiper9412

2 жыл бұрын

Hel, or Helheim, is not a realm of fire. It is the afterlife of those who died unremarkable deaths, such as from old age or sickness. It isn’t a punishment, just a separation of those who died worthy of Valhal and those who weren’t.

@mjolnirmilitia569

2 жыл бұрын

@@tomsawyerpiper9412 couldn't have said it better myself, it isn't considered an honorable afterlife but it also isn't consider a punishment either.

The helmet shown in the ritualistic background was completely correct. I am surprised you, of all people, would have fallen for this

@michaeldoolan7595

6 ай бұрын

There are depictions of that exact helmet on the Sutton Ho helmet

I'm the first one to hate horned helmet but as many have pointed here, this character is directly inspired by the Torslunda plates where you see a guy wearing this exact helmet next to a guy with a wolf head. So it's a nice idea to use it as a ceremonial helmet for an ulfhednar/berserker ritual. They never show it used in combat.

You gotta understand with Eggers is that he is *more* interested in folktales than filmmaking. So you have to watch this movies through a lens of folktale.

@SeniorAdrian

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. It all happened just like in a folktale.

@OslaTheWalrus

Жыл бұрын

This is a lie. He is actual a filmmaker, and his work is pretty well respected in filmmaking circles. He is not interested in 'folktales', only turning folktales into movies. If you want to meet someone telling actual folk tales, travel deep into appalachia or the ozarks.

@josephpercy1558

Жыл бұрын

@@OslaTheWalrus "...turning folktales into movies." Movies are a medium - a way of telling stories. Nobody "turns" folktales into "movies." Just as nobody "turns" oral stories into written stories. They are all stories told through different filters.

@Compton3clipsed

Жыл бұрын

Interesting, I got the exact opposite from watching this movie. I felt he was using source material he cares little for in order to have a "viking" background for his overly self indulgent directorial exploration of the space. I could feel every dragging moment of what should be the equivalent of a 20 minute short story or short film, and trying to turn it into a 2+ Hour masturbation session for the director.

@OmniDan26

Жыл бұрын

@@Compton3clipsed nobody cares what you think is "interesting", you bad faith venomous snake.

Of course not, it doesn't have any black or asian people.

@sevenproxies4255

2 жыл бұрын

Nor any gay people!

@mjolnirmilitia569

2 жыл бұрын

Or strong females that easily beat up on their superior male counter parts.

@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz

2 жыл бұрын

Not “people”, just Jarls

@magicman3163

2 жыл бұрын

Honesly I loved it felt like we were taken back to a world where reality and fantasy were mixed like how the Vikings viewed the world in the 8th century

@jmgonzales7701

2 жыл бұрын

Werent there any asians in scandinavia? I think they were called the Sami?

The horned helmet warrior with one eye was definitely inspired by one of the Torslunda plates. One is depicted alongside a warrior wearing a wolf pelt.

@ML-bw4yt

Жыл бұрын

But the fact he was holding 2 spears crossed over means it was also inspired by the similar design on the Sutton Hoo helmet

@2canines

Жыл бұрын

@@ML-bw4yt look up horned spear dancer. There are plenty depictions of that motive in the north-west part of Europe.

Those aren't braces, they're literally cuts and etches into the tooth enamel. I would presume since it is a Valkyre then precious or magical metals would be attributed as possibly gilding them. It is meant to be fearsome more than decorative, though. There are stories of berzerkers "cutting their teeth" and "biting their shields" in the throes of bloodlust. Someone with self-inflicted cuts on their teeth would appear to someone as a warrior to not mess around with and who means serious business... the business of separating your soul from your body... violently

@PaletoB

2 жыл бұрын

Basically tooth tattoos

@googlename3859

2 жыл бұрын

it certainly looks fearsome. it just seems like an odd thing to throw in there, iirc there has only been one gravesite found east of the baltic with about 20 skeletons that had these tooth filings filled with some kind of resin

@Scruffykinz

2 жыл бұрын

It is the same kind of etching that we know about from viking king Harald Bluetooth.

@arweninnj

21 күн бұрын

​@@googlename3859there have been over a hundred Viking era graves found in Sweden where the bodies had decorative filed teeth. Surprisingly, this practice doesn't seem to be restricted to one class of people such as warriors; it has been found on many types and ages of people

Robert Eggers is one of the few directors that tries to depict his movies in the most accurate way he can. I don't think you, and other reviewers, are giving him enough credit for this. There's so much more things right than "wrong", and most of them are just a matter of opinion, no one really knows exactly how it was, too much focus just in the negative . He consulted historians, year in the making just for this, who does that? if you listen to his interviews about the movie, he addresses many issues and why they made his choices. Man, is so upsetting for me that the movie is not selling well. it means less thing accurate, and more super hero movies, half helmet knights and leather pants vikings.

@konradvonschnitzeldorf6506

2 жыл бұрын

@Salt Meister Yeah, and those youtubers also never time-travelled back and saw how it "really" was. It's all about narrative.

@patriciusvunkempen102

Жыл бұрын

it not selling welL? hell it is a great movie in many regards, despite a relatively simple story, its very well made

@n0namesowhatblerp362

Жыл бұрын

@@konradvonschnitzeldorf6506 so you didn't make it to 11: 00 min in the video I see

@dreyri2736

Жыл бұрын

"There's so much more things right than "wrong"" like what? the costumes? Also, pretty much every movie and video game consults historians when making something about a particular period, they, like Eggers, exercise creative liberty. But despite what people may like to think, this movie is not all as "accurate" as it's cracked up to be. Sure, the costumes look authentic but that's pretty much where things end which other films and media haven't done before. It still depicts the Norse in a way that modern people want to view and experience it. Take that knattleikr scene. WHY on earth would a bunch of Icelandic settlers, not the richest bunch, watch their priceless property kill each other for fun? Honestly, the whole underlying slavery theme just made the Vikings look more like Aztecs than Norsemen. Even the homestead is weird. Why does the guy have all his hirðmenn (meaningless position in Iceland) decked in helmet (expensive) and mail (very expensive) just guarding his property 24/7? Who's gonna come to this desolate rock? Other Icelandic settlers? I hope they are ready to be declared outlaws at the Althing (basically a death sentence unless you could sail abroad or were willing to stay in hiding). If anything, those lazy fucks should be helping the thralls sow the fields, or else they're going to starve come winter. Why did they even choose to follow him? Most of the settlers who came here from norway came with their family and formed their own homesteads before choosing a representative Goði (which was not a landed title but a legal office that could be bought and sold) Then there's the draugr scene (which was my personal favorite nevertheless). Why was there some ancient German warrior in Iceland? Sure, it was all in his head but they could have done it better and with more subtlety since these things actually happened in the sagas. Sure, maybe Eggers wants to do some deconstruction or whatever but isn't this supposed to be a fairytale anyway? Also, the ritual helmet is from the bronze age to the early iron age and we don't really know anything about the rituals that don't come from christian sources. That whole scene felt more like something from Joseph Campbell anyway... In fact, the whole movie is the hero's journey but, for me, it was very blatantly so. Also, I think most people who watched this just thought the protagonist was extremely unlikable. Aside from being one-dimensional with absolutely no arc to speak of, he also embodies a more traditionally villainous role when compared to the sagas, being a berserker and all. I mean, the guy helps set fire to a house filled to the brim with people in it. And yeah, while that stuff did happen it was also considered a very villainous act, a níðingsverk. It didn't really strike me as something the average norse would do to a bunch of people he didn't know. The one Saga I know of whose protagonist does this is Egil's Saga. But Egil does it for reasons completely alien to us and even probably those raiders. Because it would be dishonorable to simply steal (as in, his partners who were slaves) without the victim (the slavers) even knowing his name...

@caiolemes7224

Жыл бұрын

@@dreyri2736 First of all, I never said it was a perfect movie. It has pacing and character problems. It was his first attempt with such a big budget, he didn't had the control on all aspects as he did with his previous movies( that had just a small number of scenarios). Not to mention covid. Delays etc. On second watch was way better. Witch movies/games with consultants are even remotely right? Not sure this is the way people want to see Vikings. It's not a documentary, producer and investors want results, they make impositions. Eggers thing is folktales, he's not trying to create 100% historical realism . He want to bring as much historical content as he can. That's the problem, you're nitpicking... where did you even watched that game depiction? Don't know about what a viking would or not do with a slave. Being nice is not my first guess. It's not supposed to kill them, is entertainment. I prefer the depiction of the brutality of slavery. You really think they would not mistreat slaves? Oh no, hahaha we gonna sell it, we would never kill then, dehumanize them, or damage them.... never happened... OK. De draugr scene, what do you want? Is in the legends, is cool, if you where the director, would youtake it off ? because "no one would, supposedly, ever, never, have tried to settle on Iceland"? I think you lack imagination man hahaha movie is supposed to be on 895 AD. From what I guess it's a older Anglo saxon settler, who knows? is a movie, relax. The ritual helmet, see the interviews with the consultant, is a guess. They try to use everything they could. There,'s compromise, there's different opinions It's not perfect but jesus... look at his previous movies, what he is trying to do, is a long step in the right direction You want to go from leather viking with horns cutting through armor like butter, To uncompromised historical depiction in one sweep, ok. Put this movie in the trash with the others. I prefer to look at the good, and hope more attempts like that are made.

Given the rubbish that is normally portrayed, I honestly get pretty excited when something is mostly historically accurate (and in this case, accurate to representation of myth).

@goldenageofdinosaurs7192

2 жыл бұрын

This. I don’t expect 100% accuracy & I think it’s probably naive to expect it in a movie. As long as there’s an attempt to get the majority of it correct, I’ll happily allow some artistic license for the other 10-20%.

@timesthree5757

2 жыл бұрын

To me historically accurate means boring. It's a movie for Christ sake not a documentary.

@mycaleb8

2 жыл бұрын

@@timesthree5757 "To me, historically accurate means boring." Then your definitions are shit. It's a movie? So are any movies that take place today and portray the world accurately. False dichotomies are bad, but the champions of false dichotomy (like you) are true fools.

@michaelritter8927

2 жыл бұрын

@@timesthree5757 bruh maybe historical movies/shows aren’t your thing then.

@WoodenWizard

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelritter8927 bruh, maybe 'historical fiction' isn't your thing then.

Bruh it had chain mail and no leather armor Like 10000% stupid accurate Me happy

I figured the "fiery gates of Hel" might just be a reference to Amleth's destiny to die at the base of the lava-leaking volcano, which would be very "fiery" as we see in the end. Also, there is no guarantee that anyone is going to Valholl, so Hel would be an unknown option as a backup. Odd that he tells his mother they will be reunited in Valholl, but we know only men went to Valholl. Maybe it was an emotional response more than a logical response.

@Ackalan

Жыл бұрын

Well... During Ragnarök the dead will leave Hellheim and attack the Asgård, and as one of the Einherjar Amleth will be on the defending side, sooo... I guess there's a chance?

The horned helmet is likely a direct reference to the Torslunda plates which date to the 6-8th century AD and depict that very helmet next to what appears to be a berserker in animal skin.

To everyone whose saying "You're wrong, those aren't berserkers, those are ulfhednar": Even though bear-shirt may be the etymological origin of "berserk," that does not limit the definition of berserker to bearskins. You confuse etymology with definition. The term "berserker" encompasses ulfhednar. By analogy, the etymological origin of "whiskey" is "water." That does not mean the definition of "whiskey" is water and water only.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that. I was sure they called them berserker in the film, and did think it was more of an umbrella term.

@Ackalan

Жыл бұрын

This would depend on if we're using the modern (descriptive) term or the older (practical) term, as there are to my knowledge no sources that connect Berserkers and Ulfhednar, except possibly of Ulfhednar going berserk (bärsärkagång). As far as I know the berserkers were the champions of kings and nobles, as in, they were huskarls, permanent payed fighters in a household. The Ulfhednar were a religious order that might or might not have been/part of the retinue of the king of Norway, but who's services were limited as they were also supposed to conduct their rites, religious training and ceremonies.

@sparkofcuriousity

Жыл бұрын

It's not the same thing... That's sort of like saying Templars are just the same as any other regular knight. Yes, most Templars were also knights but they were their own thing.

@sparkofcuriousity

Жыл бұрын

@@metatronyt it's possible in the movie they are called berserker because of a lapse in translation and/or localization for a wider audience, since not many are so familiar with the term Ulfhednar and the popular term became berserker for everything. Could also be just a mistake from the part of the people responsible for the movie, although i find this less credible since they seemed to have given high attention to other details. Be well noble one! :)

@pappenheimer1510

Жыл бұрын

It is not even 100% clear whether "berserker" really comes from bear-shirt or rather from bare-shirt.

I was wondering about that at the start of the film with the 'fiery gates of Hel.'

@KarlKarsnark

2 жыл бұрын

All of the "Firey" imagery doesn't really pop up until after settling Iceland and discovering volcanoes. It's one of the easiest ways to tell if your reading Scandi vs. Icelandic version of a Saga. This "Fire and Ice" imagery then gets enhanced and played up for Surtr, Raganarok, etc...Kind of like finding tobacco and po-tay-toes in Lord of the Rings. New World plants cropping up in Old World stories.

@Psycorde

2 жыл бұрын

@Zoomer Stasi Oh look it's a contrarian

@fetus2280

2 жыл бұрын

Ditto .... i was thinking that sounds more Christian than Norse ..Cheers .

@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz

2 жыл бұрын

@@KarlKarsnark they’ve found a shit ton of evidence that Egyptians had corn and some for even possibly narcotics. It’s just wether you believe the “narrative”, or not.

@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz

2 жыл бұрын

“Zoomer Stasi” x)

You made a great point at the end about what Eggers is trying to do with this story. The blending of historical and mythological, and the open ended way it can be interpreted by a given audience.

What the protagonist carries in the raid is not a sword, but a "seax" knife that he carries horizontally on his hip (historically correct). And in knife-axe combat, it's normal to pick up the knife like that. It was something very common in the North American native tribes. Also, he just used it like that to climb the fence.

@vargenfenrisson1164

2 жыл бұрын

Sax* its named sax in the north. and no the sax is normally carried behind your back so that you can grab it like it should be grabbed like a machete or a small sword.

@hellboy7424

2 жыл бұрын

@@vargenfenrisson1164 I don't speak any Nordic language, so I used the generic word that is used in the rest of the world for that type of knife. That's why I also used quotes. Thanks for the correction. Regarding the technique of using the knife upside down and combined with another weapon (for example an ax): see, my Kali Eskrima "punong" always said that it's a very good technique for many reasons. But it also said, "If you ever fight someone who grabs a knife like that, be very careful. They either have no idea how to fight with a knife, or they're a very, very dangerous person." I guess that's why it's used so much in movies. To give the idea that the character is very good in combat. But I assure you that while in kendo it is not normal, in other martial arts it is and it has certain advantages if you know them. It seems justified to me considering that it is like you have to take a knife if you want to climb a fence.

@hellboy7424

2 жыл бұрын

@@vargenfenrisson1164 the "langseax" sheath, which is the weapon carried by the protagonist in the film, used to be designed to be carried horizontally at the back waist. That is why it had a metal, wood or metal-covered wood frame, with more or less decoration. Sorry for the dow text, but I'm busy. All the best!

@lyndonjohnson5063

2 жыл бұрын

@@vargenfenrisson1164 well as someone who done living history for 20 years in the heart of York which also hold the biggest viking festival in Europe seax are alway worn to the front plus have a large blade like that at the front is a status symbol which is one thing viking where known for showing off there wealth

@markkerr1762

2 жыл бұрын

One of the profs who advised on the film said that in most burial sites, the corpses have the sax horizontally in front, so that is what they did in the film as well.

I agree that they wanted to mix mythology and realism in terms of the concept of the film, but the actual scenes in the film that aren't within the mind of the characters (e.i. fighting the Draugr) are all set in reality which is why it was so great when he actually walks up and just takes the sword, bit of comedy there too. All of the mythical magical parts, as far as I can tell, are supposed to be theater of the mind, which makes total sense to me, I liked that.

Ahs ^^ i corrected Lindybeige so many years ago on his berserker video and his source ended up agreeing with me, so now for you XD 1) BER-SERK (Bear shirt) is not an ULF-HEDNAR (Wolf skin) they are similiar in many ways BUT BER serkers have the bear "totem" and are more aligned with Thor, while Ulfehdnar are wolf tuned and more aligned to Odin 2) No they didnt ingest stuff to achieve their trance. Why - alcohol back then had very low percentages, very hard to get drunk. Also you need to drink tons but more importantly, alcohol inhibits your fighting ability a LOT. coordination? gone. Strength? Done. And you sober up real quick if adrenaline kicks in - shrooms: difficult to gather but possible but same issues as with alcohol -- what did they do? They got high on Adrenaline (runnters high) by biting shields, pulling beards, hitting themselves (pain) and jumping and dancing (stimulating large muscles) in this state you dont really feel pain, but your senses are sharpened AND you dont feel exhaustion + you get an increase in speed and strength (not superhuman but counting) - these methods of achieving battle trance are also sourced in the sagas 3) Historicly speaking most berserkers and ulfhednar didnt acutally wear animal skin (except as cloak maybe) but the term is rather "putting on the inner animal" like totem shamanism. Indeed other cultures have very similiar practises we can refer to (Amok warriors, Fianna, the lion men....) 4) in viking society these people were semi outcast. Some cities wouldnt even allow them in, because these people are known to cause trouble and having short tempers - to javelin scene: while highly unlikely its not impossible. there is modern martial artists training to do similiar or catch low speed arrows aimed at them. its definitely not a skill you can use reliably but you know sometimes you get lucky

I think we're not sure who or for what reason teeth were carved horizontally. I think it was a good choice to have the teeth carvings represented by a Valkyrie, and they certainly were inset carvings in the film. great video keep it up.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

I would say this movie get an A grade when it come to historical "authenticity" & it is indeed the best one (so far). It's also a rather interesting mix of classic Hamlet & Norse mythos/culture. It really surprised me how well & comfortable it is to hear a theatrical-esque dialogues in a basically a Viking movie.

@patriciusvunkempen102

Жыл бұрын

exactly this

I don't like the blade held that way either, it basically becomes a shield at that point. But still, people do it, and I'm sure they've always done it. Bad form doesn't equal historical inaccuracy.

@timesthree5757

2 жыл бұрын

Well enough people that did it lived soooo.

@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929

2 жыл бұрын

There is no reference to the Scandinavians of old ever doing anything like that as far as I have found, and there's no reason to assume they would, there is never a good reason to as you lose a majority of your defensive and offensive capabilities doing it, it isn't even a shield at that point either, you have more defensive options just using it normally. Also, there is historical reference of reverse sword grip in history, but it is extremely rare and was only used in very specific circumstances, so it doesn't even matter if people have done it as technique, it has always been used sparingly even by those who did, so even when disregarding that the Scandinavian's never did it, there's just never a place for it in a historical setting. Bad form doesn't equal historical inaccuracy, but there's a difference from Hollywood shlock and bad form, and reverse grip is Hollywood shlock.

@DieLuftwaffel

2 жыл бұрын

Just because depictions don't show it doesnt mean a non-standard style of combat never could happen. It's not near a far-fetched as most of the bull in viking shows like black Scandinavians. A reverse grip when done right can perform some pretty good slashing motions and is best for stabbing from above. Most Vikings fought with one blade and a shield, so it's not hard to understand that being the most common depiction that has survived to today.

@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929

2 жыл бұрын

@@DieLuftwaffel Consider this, why use an objectively worse system when you could just use something that has worked for thousands of years. I mean what, you can't slash and thrust with a normal grip? Those aren't even pros you're mentioning, all you can really do is slash at that point and you lose reach, so you're forced to be in a more dangerous position by restricting yourself to a reverse grip if the other person does not. So objectively speaking, it's worse. The point is, it not only has no historical value, it's also just stupid, so it has no place in something that is supposed to be historical representation.

@404Dannyboy

2 жыл бұрын

@@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929 Because people rarely use tools to their most efficient usage. Look at all the conflicts in the third world where people seem to not know that gun sights exist. Someone using a tool wrong is more likely historically accurate than not.

my critique of your critique is the ninja sword grip. he uses it only once to unsheathe and immediately changes to a normal grip after his first encounter.

An Italian Samurai Centurion explaining a Viking film. Was expecting the Canadian Viking (Skall) to come up with it first, but hey, kudos to a great video! 🙂

@malinko35

2 жыл бұрын

i thought skallagrim was german

@darekbaird

2 жыл бұрын

He's busy handling two spears

@texasbeast239

2 жыл бұрын

Living Anachronism weighed in on this film as a filmgoer even earlier.

@dustinakadustin

2 жыл бұрын

Skallagrim said he might cover it but wasn't super keen to watch it when I asked him a few streams back.

@LiveErrors

2 жыл бұрын

@@malinko35 more likely Norwegian, but he lives in canada

That wasn't a horned helmet. It was a horned "headdress" meant to symbolize Odin leading the warriors into a frenzy. Like you find on the Torslunda plates. As for the Ulfhednar/Berserker, yeah, i believe there is enough to suggest they wore an animal pelt. At least during rituals. Which is what that scene was. I think that scene was great. But what do i know, i've only been fully Pagan for 30+ yrs and researched every aspect of pre-christian Germanic/Nordic life that is available to us.

I have a couple of things to say, but first I warn you that there will be Spoilers. I knew that the norse wolf skin covered warriors were called Ulfhedinn, while the Berserkers are those covered bear skin. (The Ulfhedinn are present in The Witcher 3 and is a type of werewolf in Skellige). I really appreciated the Draugr scene, not because how badass was the creature or the fight, the Draugr (or the mummified warrior) wore clothing, armor, helmet and hold a sword from the Vendel period 540 - 790 AD (the one before the actual Viking age 793 - 1066 AD). (Here maybe I'm wrong, so don't take this literally) About the thralls (the slaves) in the movie they're marked slightly above the collarbone, however I've read that the thralls can be recognized by an ornament that they're forced to wear around the neck (that can not see and isn't even mentioned in the movie). I appreciated that some thralls were also Christians (and one of them had made the sign of the cross)

When he mentions Fiery gates of Hel, I’m pretty sure they’re referring to the end of the movie when he has the fight at the “Gates Of Hel” Which is located on a volcano, hence firey. I don’t think they were referring to Helheim

@aidanwalsh8049

2 жыл бұрын

*Spoilers* Especially because it says “Hear me Odinn, at the fiery gates of Hel, a prince bound for Valhol” I always interpreted that as them talking about the last fight and Valhol and his final moments before being sent off by the Valkyrie

I just realized that it would be cool for Metatron to do something with Asterix. Hear me out. I know that Asterix is a comedy and it has lots of anarchonisms... but it also has, like, references to history and culture of Romans, Celts, Egyptians etc. I would like to see him talk about some of those references, even some more obscure ones.

@jfb.8746

2 жыл бұрын

Great suggestion!

@idafeuerfrau5631

Жыл бұрын

I loved those comics

There is a Bronze mould illustrating a "weapon-dancer" with horned helmet with a man wearing wolf-skin. Probably from a Vendel Age hoard deposit. This is exhibited in the The National Historical Museum in Stockholm. It's an item well known to some groups like the wargaming community.I guess that from this item the berserker dance scene with the presence of a shamna with a horned helmet was inspired from.

With regards to the berserkers... They're represented with wolf skins. I thought berserker has a translation meaning "bear-skin" or something along those lines, whereas wolf skins were known as Úlfhéðnar? I'd have to check sources to be sure since I have a sieve-like memory, but I thought it was worth mentioning. And the point about the weird, horned helmet... If you look at Vendel era Torslunda plates, they depict something that looks incredibly similar. Funnily enough, related to berserkers. Food for thought!

@3-2bravo49

2 жыл бұрын

They used both bear and wolf back in the day. The main character in this flick actually used both wolf and bear skin in his costume because they wanted to use both animals.

@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz

2 жыл бұрын

So there could be an Úlfzerker from what your saying?

@3-2bravo49

2 жыл бұрын

@@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz not sure if they would have called it anything different. I would be more interested in the name of someone choosing a duck billed platypus as his warrior spirit animal. Ferocious creatures

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

Eggers stated that they went for a concept of warrior societies mixed between bear warriors (berserkir, marked by an exceptional strength) and wolf warriors (ulfheðnar, with a more developped cunning trait and great agility). With a sense of mixing up these two figures in the case of Amleth, who is called Berulfr (something like that, I don't recall exactly). Berskerk could also mean "shirtless". We know that the wolf skin has a great signification in pretty much all Indo-european early Youths warrior societies, from Germans to Celts and Italians and much more... Plenty of evidences for that.

@kamurashops

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think they are referred to as Berserkers in the movie. And they're wearing wolf skins, which would point to them being Ulfhednar. Although the director stated, that the main character embodies the characteristics of both a bear and a wolf.

Holy smokes man, your editing is on point! Your cuts mid-sentence are flawlessly timed.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Was waiting for this ngl, ty :)

"The most historically accurate Viking film" is not exactly a high bar.

Honestly, I watched the movie and when the norse attacked that one settlement and literally charged up those palisades... my first question (next to wondering how realistic that is) was "where are the earthworks?" Because according to my knowledge, Scandinavians, Germans and Slaws all around the baltic sea usually build wooden fortifications in combination with extensive earthworks like moats and artificial earthrings which were reinforced with the previously mentioned wooden fortifications. Maybe I am mistaken if its further east (i do not know enough about how the Eastern Slaws build fortifications at that time) That is really something i missed, next to the things you mentioned, while watching the Movie.

@owenlj6261

2 жыл бұрын

Kieran Rus was not on the Baltic, hence the name, Rus comes from the Finnish word Roosti, which means those who row, as the swedes had to row to get around the many rivers of the area

@danielwolfgang8234

2 жыл бұрын

@@owenlj6261 Taking aside the fact that Novgorod, as a Rus principality, controlled a coastal strip along the Baltic sea since at least the 1000s AD. Where did I mention the Kievan Rus? I was talking about the forms of fortifications build by the various peoples living around the baltic sea in the time of the late 9th/ early 10th Century. If you have input in regards of what forms of defensive structures the Slavs, living along the baltic sea, build in the time the movie takes place in, then please go on. I´d gladly read what you have to add in that regard.

@owenlj6261

2 жыл бұрын

@@danielwolfgang8234 that's where the slav village you mentioned was

@danielwolfgang8234

2 жыл бұрын

@@owenlj6261 I see, well, they approached via River so it must have been further inland indeed. Do you have any knowledge on how historically accurate the depiction of the villages defenses are?

Always like your videos as a history buff. Keep up the good work.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend

I laughed out loud when Amleth took the Undead warriors head and stuck it right up against is behind, basically the Norse way of fliping the bird.

@jelenajs5017

2 жыл бұрын

It wasn't an offensive gesture. It's a way to make absolutely sure that the draugr was dead and gone (like staking vampires). This moment was from sagas.

@sealstorm1935

2 жыл бұрын

@@jelenajs5017 Really, could have swore in the TV show Vikings in season 1 when they Jarl finds his dead sons he explains that their heads were placed against their arses as an insult? Can it have several meanings?

In regard to catching a spear and throwing it back again:--- A friend and I used to play a game of catch, using a bamboo pole thrown hard, exactly like a spear and aimed at the body. We stood between 20 and 30 feet from each other. It was easy to step aside, catch the pole, and throw it back again.

@spyrofrost9158

2 жыл бұрын

Bamboo?! I'm glad you guys were good at catching it.

@vargenfenrisson1164

2 жыл бұрын

@@spyrofrost9158 why would bamboo be dangerous if not sharpaned? would just hurt and give a bruise are you sensitive or something? xD

@ZecaPinto1

2 жыл бұрын

@@vargenfenrisson1164 Did you know that bamboo can break into splinters capable of cutting flesh like butter?

@mantaray2239

2 жыл бұрын

@@spyrofrost9158 Thanks. We were teens and safety was not at the top of our list.

@robo5013

Жыл бұрын

I've caught foam padded spears and thrown them back before, and have played the same game as you with them for practice. You should see the look of surprise on a person's face when you catch their spear and throw it back!

Interesting video as always, Metatron. Regarding the “fiery gates of hel(l)“, I must admit that I was somewhat pissed during the projection. Then, I've discovered that Mt. Hekla, one of the most active vulcanos in Iceland, was actually called "getaway to hel(l)" during the middle-ages. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hekla Even though it's less likely that this was a Pagan rather than a Cristian nomenclature. I suppose the idea portraied in the movie was that you can reach Hel, which is situated below Midgard, through a big, active volcano, which of course would be "fiery"

@EmilReiko

2 жыл бұрын

But its sort of ok, because the movie is made like i film version of a legendary saga written down in the 13th century

Thanks for your video, most interesting and entertaining.

Thank you again. Great presentation.

About the horned helmet thing. Odin has been depicted with horns on his helmet. I couldn't tell you if it was true norseman that drew him this way, If it were germanic peoples or if were Christians. But there are historic drawins of Odin with a horned helmet Edit: Torslunda plates is the most famous believed depiction of Odin with a horned helmet. Dated between 6th and 8th century AD

I enjoyed the movie - very bleak, but enjoyable. And to me it certainly didn’t stand out as a ‘bad history’ film - in fact I thought it’s heart was in the right place and it deserved the artistic licence with historical accuracy in order to tell its story. Highly recommended movie (but made me feel like I really need to get on the gym).

Love your video, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie at some point. The only thing I have to say, is that in the picture you showed of him holding the "sword" in a reverse grip it appears to be a Seax. Which while it appears to be langseax, actually is a knife so I don't know that the reverse grip sword analogy is really correct for that. I don't know if a seax was used in a reverse grip but since it's basically a long knife I could see it as a possibility, as opposed to a full-size sword but as I said I haven't seen the movie yet so I don't know. Also I believe there is a volcano on Iceland known as the Gates of Hel but that was probably named later.

I personally seen one guy throwing blunt javelin at the other (who wasnt even paying that much attention) and he aclually catched it, spinned around and thrown back at the first guys general direction. He made it look so easy that i never even considered it being something of the legends

10:40 your a little in the wrong there, I fear. This dude is wearing a helmet wich is depicted in archeological finds, regarding the depiction of allfather Odin. In this ceremony he is wearing a ceremonial piece, wich is connected to Odin and represented, again, in finds like belt buckles. Just a little Argumentation pro this choice. :)

@michaeltheophilus5260

2 жыл бұрын

*you're

@giggityskull8986

2 жыл бұрын

Where does he mention it??? Everyone keeps pointing out his comment about the ritual helmet but I can't find it. Did he edited out??

@leone.6190

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaeltheophilus5260 thank you Michael... No one ever did make this mistake in haste and it is very important to allways point it out when it happens... :D

@leone.6190

2 жыл бұрын

@@giggityskull8986 Haven't rewatched it. I have pin point it, so he must have edited some

I think others have pointed it out, but the horned helmet is inspired by old tablets of warriors wearing horned helmets. So they made it part of ritual, rather than actual warfare. So it's not so insane as it may appear

about the Berserker head dress; the wolf skin is actually Ulfhednar. I haven't seen the movie, so I'm not sure if they wanted to depict Berserkir or Ulfhednar, but the berserhir were those with the spirit of the bear, the Uflhednar, the wolf.

14:09 a bit late but they show exactly what is used. Amanita Muscsria, the Fly Agaric is shown shortly before the poisoning scene. Amanita Muscaria Mushrooms contain Ibotenic Acid which attacks the liver and kills you from the inside out. It also contains Musimol, a Psychoactive compound that gives a trippy drunk like effect and these Mushrooms are said to be used by the Suomi and ancient Norse. When Eaten by a Shaman, the body takes the acid and keeps the Psychoactive stuff, Shaman would piss into brews or even par boil them rather. If I am wrong, it's Amanita Pantherina.

Didnt the norse actually have a game like that? Throwing spears and catching them (probably blunt practice ones) I remember reading about such competetions being featured at some gatherings in danelaw brittain for instance, horse racing, rowing, wrestling archery, axe tossing and spear catching being some kind of norse olympics.

Religion is an interesting thing to look at. How it shapes society is really dramatic. Now that you are in the United States you will find a lot of interesting ways that various things have shaped regions. I would recommend that you read Collin Woodards book American Nations. It will make the country make more sense to you especially since you see things in a historical context. I have been dealing with some family disputes and the cultural differences between areas are huge and really stands out to me. I am from the Northwest and its been interesting to think about how religion has shaped so much of our culture and actually there are principles that shape our laws. Even when we are not thinking of things in a religious way history and religion have shaped our day to day life. Its somewhat ironic that the most religious parts of the country at the time of founding shaped area that arw now the least religious. You should talk about the region that you are in. I understand not giving a location but it might be interesting for you to look at our culture as an outsider and hiw history has shaped it along with maybe some of us explaining the wierd things in the area. since Americans are not history focused you might find some cool content ideas explaining our own history to us. 😆

Fiery gates of Hel had me startled aswell.. But given your description of Niflheim and Hel being connected to it, there was a hell lot of smoke, thus "fog" in that scene. And a volcano can symbolize a connection to the underworld. I personally attributed it to artistic freedom. ;)

I love your insight!

The director also states that some of the clothing and the long hairstyles were def not accurate. So I appreciate them not claiming that this was 100% accurate. Just that it’s the most accurate film ever.

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, Eggers stated he wanted some kind of uniformity of hairstyles to differentiate between the Norses and the Slavs in the movie. He also said that they wanted to give some of them actual iconography evidenced haircuts like bowl cuts or rear shaved, but that those actually looked too ridiculous on actors. So they went for the standard longedhair style, which was very common at the time from multiple accounts. Still way better than those footballers hairdos that they went with in Vikings TV show or Last Kingdom. They have to stop with this stupid trend, its just complete fantasy.

@leonieromanes7265

2 жыл бұрын

@@KroM234 Long hair represented someone who is freeborn. Both slave men and women had their hair cropped in old Norse culture. The main character cuts his hair short, to show he's a slave when he stows away. The slave women should of all had short hair once they reached Iceland. Only slaves wore their hair short.

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

@@leonieromanes7265 That's a bold claim there. Do you have any accademic reference(s) to support it? Because I went through a lot of these and the least I can say is evidences towards Viking/Norse hairstyles are scarce. But those we have point towards shorter haircurts or partially shaved (but not in the way they portray it in recent TV shows). I have there under me the book of Régis Boyer, the French ultimate reference when it comes to Norse culture of the Viking era. There is a quote of Denis Piramus, who is a Norman writer from the 12th century, so right after the end of the proper Viking era. But his description is validated by other testimonies. He describes the appearence of the leaders of the Vikings who besieged Paris back in time, himself based on scriptures that we unfortunately lost. He says (translated from French): "A hideous race, tall and strong Which had a terrifying appearence, Ones with shaved heads, But a fringe of hair on the front, Others with shaved heads, But a fringe of hair on the back" Then we have an anonymous Old English letter where a guy tells his brother to follow the Anglo-Saxon fashion and not give in to "Danish fashion with a shaved neck and blinded eyes". "Blinded eyes obviously references to the fringe of hair going so low that the eyes are almost shaded or partially hidden. As far as I am aware, there is no regulations that we know about stating that a freeman (bondir) must have their hair longs (except for women, it was strictly forbidden for them to wear men's clothes), or slaves to have their hair cut. Eggers also refer to the bowl or bowl with half back shaved or front shaved haircuts when he speaks about the movie making. But he sticked to the long hair representation to play on popular imagery.

@therightarmofthefreeworld4703

2 жыл бұрын

Most accurate film ever? Erm…

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 In a Norse setting yes it is, most definitely.

In the scene with him holding the sword wrong, surely it’s a Scramasax, which means it’s essentially a long combat knife. The way I see this film is it’s made for Vikings! If for example we sat down to watch a film set in the 2010’s and it’s about Vampires. We would let the vampire bits slide but if they included a flying car and Laser beams it would tear us out of the film. This is almost like someone filming the Sagas for a Viking audience and trying the keep the realistic bits as normal as possible to ground the fantasy. That being said Robert Eggers should make a Conan film!

I love some of the subtle details in this movie. When Amleth’s father returns to the mead hall you have a bunch of plundered loot among the loot are Irish Wolfhounds implying that the father was raiding in Ireland.

The clothes are point on. Nille Glæsel here in Norway (kind of the Guru of Viking Clothes) were behind it :)

Why is Rasputin on KZread?

Why do people keep saying its a viking film. its a retelling of a saga and the sage shakespear used for hamlet... its not trying to be historical at all.....

As for the braces: I remember some movie where it has been discussed whether the actress (?) did wear some, but they had been hard to make out (it at all). Maybe this was a hommage on that one ... Nice to see that you are also addressing the northern parts. The movie seems to follow an Icelandic viking movie tradition back from the 70s/80s (therefore maybe a bit cryptic to hollywood soaked audiences), very strange movies back then, quite interesting.

You forgot to talk about the fact, it is not possible to find a vendell/valsgaard grave in Iceland.

@disprogreavette8545

2 жыл бұрын

Permafrost?

@egilkarlson7253

2 жыл бұрын

@@disprogreavette8545 😂 no, just scandinavian were not in Iceland before Xth century.

Most of what we see of 'Vikings' in the 8th century looks like a direct import of ideas take from the far more ancient culture of Thrace and Dacia. They had an all-father archetype long before the Viking's concept of Odin, who was known as Zalmoxis. This figure imbued a certain caste of Dacian warriors with the power to be as fierce as wolves. They wore wolf skins, and were so effective that their reputation lived on in the form of the werewolves, which persist to the present time in that region. They were very protective of their homeland, Wallachia, which etymologically may have been the inspiration for the idea of Walhala. There are more comparisons to make with regard to spiritual concepts, but this post isn't the place for that level of detail. I just wanted to say that powerful ideas and stories have a way of traveling, and I think what we are seeing in the misty origins of the Vikings is in reality, an expression of the ancient Daceans, embraced and integrate into Norse culture.

@lanthorn

2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting points, now I need to go look up Zalmoxis.

@JMagician.

2 жыл бұрын

Well the Thracians were from Indo-European origins same as the Scandinavians.

@Blackdog9871

2 жыл бұрын

it's nice to see people Who are aware of what little we do know of dacian Culture and religion, you need to read more on the Indo Europeans. the Nordic people and peoples of Thracia are more or less cousins culturally, and religiously as opposed to one Borrowing From the other. the identity of Both are the product of the indo-Europeans bringing their own culture and beliefs and Conquering/intermingling with the local populations of those areas and incorporating the local beliefs and cultures into their own.

Amleth is speaking with Mara (slavic goddes) in the begining, that reminds him of his path. Which can lead us to think it is fantasy. In the same time every fantasy scene can be explained as tricks of mind and old beliefs projecting onto reality, the way people in the past would`ve seen world. For example that raid could`ve reminded him his past (especially scene with children, when doubts were born. sooner he describes his life as hell). i like this movie, and yes, historically accurate clothing can be interesting for viewer. Few words about slavic armor, the helmet is "Chernihov`s type helmet" existed X-XIII century and were worn by Rus warriors. and it is awesom to see it, after chinese helmets worn in Vikings show by Rus warriors... good movie, will watch it again.

@n0namesowhatblerp362

Жыл бұрын

why would he be talking to a Slavic godess in a Viking film?

@n0namesowhatblerp362

Жыл бұрын

The Rus were swedish vikings. You are russian. It's different.

@n0namesowhatblerp362

Жыл бұрын

Like you are delusional if you think that the rus vikings were actually Russians lol. Sorry but nope..

@user-ti4bm4md5y

Жыл бұрын

​@@n0namesowhatblerp362 I am Ukrainian, calling me russian insults me. in the second act film states "land of the Rus" where Olga was captured. her dialect is slavic, as slavic as it possible for Hollywood actress, consultant did his best though. There was no such thing as russia up untill XVII century. I might have mistaken Mara for some random seeres (or have I?). it just made sense for me as Mara is goddes of afterlife, so after a slaughter of HER people (her slavic people), she would come to Amleth for a dialog and to remind him of his quest. "get the fck out of here mate, you have more important things to do". Why would slavic goddes reveal herself to a Northman. in the ending when Olga is speaking to wind I suppose, few words can be translated (i will use Ukrainian): "несіть меня ... сіверського вітру, несітя (несіть/ несите) меня на землі предков моїх, там зрожу (народжу) я вам ...." can`t translate last part. English: "bring me... north wind (word сіверський/ siverkyi can be transtated as north, also here in Ukraine we have river сіверський донець/ siverkyi donets). Bring me on the land of my ancestors. there i will give birth..." If my translate is right, they went back to Rus. where she would give birth to a girl, also named Olga, the princess (or Knyahynya Olga) Olga, that same Olga You can find few videos about here on youtube. Her son was Svyatoslav Rurikid/ Rurikovich. Rurik`s grandson. So i thought Mara builds a plot for a princess to be born. YOu know as gods do from time to time. Film leaves a lot of empty space for an interpretation. That what the Art does. She could`ve been a random seeres. She could`ve been a Mara or even both.

I was waiting for this review!

The film doesn't have the protagonist as a berserkir. He is an ulfhednar (wolf skins). Berserks fought as individuals, and while strong, were generally portrayed in the sagas as a negative: unreliable, untrustworthy and those who often preyed on others by challenging them to single combat to take their women (wives, daughters etc) . Whereas ulfhedinn (plural form) fought in packs like shock troops in a force. Ulfhednar were also most distinctly associated with the worship of Odin that fits in nicely with the hero's patron deity. Fiery gates of Hel is referring to the volcano, not the metaphysical abode of Hel.

@sparkofcuriousity

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Precisely this! Thank you!!

Wait, so no fat black female Jarls? then it's simple - 10 out of 10, a masterpiece.

Excellent analysis! I think Eggers is a great director and his pursuit of historical accuracy but I don't mind a little departure for the sake of entertainment and I think that's what most of the nitpicks are. My favorite scene is the berserker ritual before the raid.

@seanbeadles7421

2 жыл бұрын

It’s hard to make a movie that’s accurate to how people behave even if you’re setting it in 2022 and filming it in 2022. Movies exaggerate actions and how people talk all the time. It should be expected in the medium. If a movie is exactly accurate to real life it’s not a movie it’s a filmed reenactment.

Thank you for this awesome analysis!

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

My very pleasure!

As always, thank you for the review excellent observations.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

I found "Norsemen" on Netflix to be a VERY accurate depiction of Vikings, especially season 2.

@INSANESUICIDE

2 жыл бұрын

The depictions are pretty good believe it or not for such a goofy show, what is more funny is it is combined with modern day social awkwardness any Scandinavian would recognize easily. Most of the costumes are garbage though, but surprisingly good for a comedy low budget show

@QarthCEO

2 жыл бұрын

@@INSANESUICIDE LOL, I love the show, I really hope they make more seasons.

@INSANESUICIDE

2 жыл бұрын

@@QarthCEO the same, not sure if I like it in english or Norwegian the best, that english accent is just too good tbh

@spuddlingbob8724

2 жыл бұрын

@@INSANESUICIDE As a Norwegian it's best in Norwegian by far.. The Norweglish pains me to hear 😅 And the awkwardness is shown better in Norwegian I think.

@INSANESUICIDE

2 жыл бұрын

@@spuddlingbob8724 the norwenglish is horribly good it is so on point for stereotype bad Norwegian english, but yeah that awkwardness definitely comes through better in Norwegian. Hilsen fra vestlandet

Tom Rowsell from Survive The Jive wrote an interesting article about this movie and its accuracy. He is a historian and a specialist in pagan religions, so if you are interested be sure to give it a try!

@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115

2 жыл бұрын

Link, please.

@Akhen.

2 жыл бұрын

Here is the link sir, hoping the youtube algorithm wont remove it xd survivethejive.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-northman-pagan-themes-explained.html?m=1

@mycaleb8

2 жыл бұрын

Is he a historian? What has he published?

@che71che

2 жыл бұрын

@@mycaleb8 survive the jive is not a mainstream historian, he tells the truth which makes it difficult for people like him to get books published as they go against today's politically motivated academic agenda, he's based

@mycaleb8

2 жыл бұрын

@@che71che And there it is.

I really enjoyed your videos Metatron. Your knowledge is amazing. Keep up the good work.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

There's tid bits from the movie I really love like how he shoved the Draugr's head into its ass after killing it. I remember seeing something similar done by medieval Europeans to their dead who they suspect will come back as a vampire. Amleth doing it instinctively is him doing the common practice to ensure it doesn't combe back again. Another thing is the village massacre scene where the vikings herd children and women into a barn and burned them alive seems to be a reference to the soviet film Idi I Smotri. Best part of the movie for me is the Draugr fight. He literally had to fight the zombiefied Sutton Hoo dude. The grave goods, except for the helmet, look exactly what was found in Sutton Hoo as shown in the reproductions of it in Scholagladiatoria's video.

Interesting that you didn’t like the helmets. The Welsh Viking said that they helmets were really good and highly accurate reproductions

@edmundblackadder6698

Жыл бұрын

They weren't that great, really. Some were better than others.

I think there might be a difference between ulfhednars and berserkers though, as in they are both descriptive of the animal they are embodied by, due to wearing their skin, I guess them being non armored is a ritualistical thing as the whole unit of "wolves"worked as a animalistic pack caring little for their own lives.

@googlename3859

2 жыл бұрын

if your interested in berserker history check out the koryos, seems likely being a berserker was like a warriors initiation rite going back to the bronze age. its also likely there were "berserkers" who used boar totems, and possibly other animals kzread.info/dash/bejne/rHmMuqNpnsS-m84.html video on koryos by dan davis if you're interested

I really enjoy your videos and I really like that people have their own thoughts on your interpretations. I myself was thinking on the fiery gates of hel point. Personally I think they knew exactly what they were describing and it wasn't the Norse hel in mythology but the actual volcano that they end up fighting on in the movie. Hence why it's high up and fiery.

Thanks for another awesome video! I'm gonna watch this

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

So, in conclusion; Is it perfectly historically accurate? No. Of course it isn't lol is it a dramatized depiction of a fictional story set in a historical perspective? Yes. Is it the closest thing to being "historically accurate" that we've ever gotten? Absolutely. Does it unintentionally lend itself to criticism by "historians," "scholars," and other "experts," for some quick and easy KZread monetization? Well, what do _you_ think?! 😂✌

Amo il tuo canale è meraviglioso, miglioro il mio inglese e imparo una parte di storia che non studierò mai a scuola. Continua così❤

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Grazie mille!

@Metatron Units with wolfskin are called "Ulfhednar". Units with bearskin are called "Berserker"

My understanding of the firey gates of Hel part is that it foreshadows the final fight where both fight and die. One goes to Valhalla and the other presumably goes to Helheim since he is a backstabber. So the erupting Volcano was for the uncle at the gates of Hel

@EmilReiko

2 жыл бұрын

both die fighting, both goes to Valhal... This whole cnceptualization of afterlife places as revards or punishments was probably very alien to pre-conversion scandinavians... and when you find it in the prose Edda its likely Snorris addition

Please,a vídeo about mercenary samurai in southeast asian,there is a book about ito called The lost samurai by Stephen turnbull.

Thank you for your most Excellent Presentation on this Viking Movie. Movie Productions seldom gets things accurate but there does seem to be a few productions who are at least making the attempt to be more historically accurate than the previous slew of Viking Movies that are just terrible. Very Enjoyable presentation, informative and with good documented information to back up your analysis. Thanks!!

good review, Metatron. Another!

What really impressed me-and you didn't mention-was the well-researched depiction of Viking rituals and how seriously the Vikings themselves experienced them (as in most pagan cultures). Eggers the director and Alexander Skarsgård, the lead actor & a producer, were apparently especially insistent on the authenticity of the visionary-religious-ritual aspects of the film. (Yes, when our hero, Amleth, experienced anything supernatural, he was in an "altered state".) Well-done, Metatron.

Gripping the sword that way might seem like a small thing and it sort of is but at the same time why put all the effort and work in to being accurate just to squander it with such a silly gimmick? Great video Metatron.

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment

@willmosse3684

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah. There are a lot of things that I have seen some people complain about that I really don’t care (climbing the fortress without being stabbed in the face because it was fantastical, or having the berserkers wear leather thongs - it’s just a movie ffs). But this one - just why? Why do all this excellent historical work just to put in a bullshit clichéd “cool” sword look from the 90s?

Berserk means "bear shirt". From this it is usually assumed that they wore the furs of bears.

@LEEgner

2 жыл бұрын

Does it though? It makes somewhat sense in English, but I'm modern Norwegian it's quite the way from "bjørneskjorte" to "berserk". It could of course be different in old Norse, but if modern Norwegian it's anything to go from, it's nowhere close.

@KroM234

2 жыл бұрын

there's not set answer towards the meaning of the word. And there is also iconographic depictions involving animal skins.

@texasbeast239

2 жыл бұрын

@@LEEgner From the Online Etymological Dictionary, berserker is derived from the Old Norse *ber* (bear) + *serkr* (shirt)--thus, *berserkr.* Later on, Old Norse *Serkr* became Old English *serc* (shirt, chemise), which then reverted to Middle Eng. *sark.* Supposedly, the Swedish *skjorta* has a different root in the Old Norse *skyrta* (short garment, skirt).

@haidner

2 жыл бұрын

@@LEEgner Well, I'd trust my Old Norse professor. Well, I just took the Norse history course from him, but he also taught the Old Norse language course, which I didn't have time to take, sadly.

I would argue that "firey gates of Hel" is in reference to the end of the movie. Amleth's end is met in an erupting volcano, so his gates to Hel would be, well, firey.

This was a really great video! I much prefer seeing you reacting to stuff that actually markets itself as accurate or trying to be authentic. Cause then you can just talk about whether or not it succeeded at that. Hopefully more future content is of this quality.

@darekbaird

2 жыл бұрын

Are you familiar with the director?

@dustinakadustin

2 жыл бұрын

@@darekbaird yeah seen all his work, why?

@metatronyt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you I’ glad your enjoyed it

@darekbaird

2 жыл бұрын

@@dustinakadustin oh I just realized I misinterpreted your words. I thought you were saying Tron should review stuff that tries to be historically accurate and that this film wasn't (I dunno due to the fantasy elements?) I was going to bring up that historical accuracy is a passion of the director

@dustinakadustin

2 жыл бұрын

@@darekbaird oh I gotcha! No worries! Yeah Robert Eggers' stuff is really a cut above what others do when it comes to authenticity.

From what I've heard from another KZreadr is that the horned helmet as you called it is not actually horns but 2 snakes facing each other. They actually took the design for this helmet directly from a depiction of a ceremonial helmet drawn by Norseman and found in some archeological site somewhere. I think he said it ties directly into berserker rituals along with the wolf skins.

And this is why I love this channel I personally recommend Northman. Pretty entertaining. If you liked the very first original Conan movie then you'll love this movie

@jananilcolonoscopu4034

2 жыл бұрын

I loved the original Conan movie, but I recognise that The Northman was pretentious twaddle about as entertaining as watching paint dry 😂

@mascadadelpantion8018

2 жыл бұрын

@@jananilcolonoscopu4034 well I agreed with everything they said on this channel but just know IT'S ONLY A LITTLE BORING!!!!!! It's really not that boring it is just a little bit in the middle. Overall it was just a fantastic movie and if you love Conan you're going to love this movie

I searched “historic accuracy of the Northman” and found this. Excellent presentation, and informative. I enjoyed your overall vibe, as well! Subscribed.

There is an Old Norse poem which has the gates of Hel along with fiery imagery: ‘Hel’s gate is fallen, mounds open, one can see the whole island-edge on fire. Outside it is terrible to look around; hurry, girl, if you can, to your ships. ’ Hnigin er helgrind, haugar opnaz, allr er í eldi eybarmr at sjá. Atalt er úti um at lítaz; skyntu, mær, ef þú mátt, til skipa þinna.

That's not a sword in icepick grip, that's a sax/seax, a type of knife which can be found with blades in varying lengths. Totally viable to icepick grip a long knife.

@lyndonjohnson5063

2 жыл бұрын

Fun fact ice pick grip can do far more damage then the normal grip at the loss of range

another thing about the clothes that I noticed and really liked was that the patterns correspond nicely to each culture.

I'd have to see the film again, but my impressions of that reverse grip on the sword (or long knife) was that is was used defensively as a ward or shield. I also thought the film was doing homage to 'Beowulf' with Amleth the Berserker taking on the Grendel role in the nightly uncanny attacks on Fjolnir's settlement.