Viking (Norse Mythology)

Viking is the name of the son of Vífil and Eimyrja in Þorsteins saga Víkingssonar. Viking is the father of Thorsten and Thorer.

The two daughters of Logi (Haloge) were stolen away by suitors to nearby islands. Viking was a son of one of these daughters. He grew up in Bornholm. By the time he was 15, he is the biggest and strongest man of his time. His magic sword Angurvadel is fatal even to giants. His friend is Halfdan. His magic dragon ship is Ellida, the first ship in the North, given to him as a gift by Aegir. The ship is big like a fortress, but faster than an eagle. It is not fastened by nails, but rather, the planks were grown together. Hunvor, a Swedish princess, asks for his help against a giant suitor who harasses her. The giant escapes to India with her. Viking slays the giant in a holmgang (duel). Viking is unable to marry her because is it disgraceful to marry before 20. The giant's relatives, who are adept at magic, pursue him and bring him sea perils.

He settles in Sweden. Halfdan marries Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant. Viking sires nine sons by a second wife. He befriends his worthy foe Njorfe, King of Upplands, in Norway, who also has nine sons. The two groups of sons are highly competitive against each other. In a brutal ball game, they beat and maim each other, breaking each others' arms. A son of Viking, near death, slays a son of Njorfe. Viking scolds this son and sends him to an island in Lake Werner. Two more sons go with him, including the eldest Thorsten (or Thorstein). Viking gives Angurvadel to Thorsten and tells him to wait quietly on the island until the danger is over. Njorfe's sons want revenge. They use magic to conjure a frost that freezes the lake and travel across it to attack the three sons of Viking. Two of Viking's sons survive: Thorsten and Thorer. Two of Njorfe's sons survive, including his eldest son, Jokul, a sorcerer. Njorfe's sons use magic to discover that Thorsten and Thorer are alive. Viking sends his two sons to the court of Halfdan for safety. [The Norsemen Myths & Legends, H.A. Guerber 1986 Avenal Books]

Viking's son Thorsten and grandson Frithiof inherit Angurvadel and Ellida.

References

See also

*Fornjot
*Frithiof's Saga

External links

* cite web
url=http://www.fullbooks.com/Legends-of-the-Middle-Ages5.html
title=Legends of the Middle Ages (5/8)
author=H.A. Guerber
pages=Chapter XV - The Story of Frithiof
date=
accessdate=2007-06-27