published 27 January 2022 It literally turned victims inside out. The victim was allegedly alive the entire time, and his last breaths would cause a final fluttering of the lungs, akin to the fluttering of a bird's wings. In our forthcoming book, The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe, we show clearly how the Vikings were savvy traders who rode camels into Baghdad and explorers who settled new lands across the Atlantic. A posterior view of the thorax, illustrating some deeper structures encountered while exposing the ribs. The "blood eagle" execution method: Sagas made Vikings look scary, but The History Channel series Vikings is a fictional account of legendary Norse hero Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), who was born a farmer and became a Scandinavian king. Few were better The Dirty, Deadly History of Depleted Uranium Munitions, The Comics Writer Who Became a Legend-and a Martyr of Argentina's Dirty War, Emily Meggett, Preserver of Gullah Geechee Foodways of the Coastal South, Dies at 90, Documents Confirm Direct Ancestors of King Charles III Involved in Slave Trade, Academic Freedom is Vital to Developing the Critical Abilities Society Needs. Second, the mere act of opening the thoracic cavity from behind would likely weaken or sever several major arteries of the body, and probably deflate the lungs. Others are more graphic, aligning with the extreme versions depicted in contemporary popular culture. (Warning: some graphic anatomical descriptions follow.). These representations take their cue from medieval sources written in both Old Norse and Latin. In one version, an eagle is carved on Halfdan's back with a sword, all the ribs cut from the backbone, and the lungs drawn out. The blood eagle seems to have been a more extreme case of this sort of behaviour conducted only in exceptional circumstances: on a captured prisoner of war who had earlier subjected the. They were intrepid, fearless oceangoing explorers who beat Columbus to North America by, well, a lot, and according to the National Museum of Denmark, they had no actual horns on the actual helmets, which ruins a lot of optics but you have to admit it makes absolute sense. The blood eagle was a method of ritually executing a chosen member as detailed in late skaldic poetry.According to the two instances mentioned in the Sagas, the victims (in both cases members of royal families) were placed in a prone position, their ribs severed from the spine with a sharp tool, and their lungs pulled through the opening to create a pair of "wings". Such a knife could have been used to cut and peel back the skin and muscle layers for the first part of the blood eagle ritual. Finally, it would be extremely challenging to reposition the ribs in the shape of an eagle's wings, and then pull the lungs through the opening. The blood eagle is referred to by the 11th-century poet Sigvatr rarson, who, some time between 1020 and 1038, wrote a skaldic verse named Kntsdrpa[9] that recounts and establishes Ivar the Boneless as having killed lla and subsequently cutting his back. Blood eagle? : r/NSFL__ - Reddit Always loved the ending of Midsommar for the Blood Eagle. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. The Vietnam War Crimes You Never Heard Of. In popular lore, few images are as synonymous with Viking brutality as the blood eagle, a practice that allegedly found torturers separating the victims ribs from their spine, pulling their bones and skin outward to form a set of wings, and removing their lungs from their chest cavity. Vikings, like many medieval people, could be spectacularly violent, but perhaps not more so than other groups across a range of time periods. The show led them to medieval sagas, which opened up further questions and made them realize they needed to consult a historian. Both were written several centuries after the events they depict, and exist in various versions known to have influenced each other.[4]. [5], Einarr made them carve an eagle on his back with a sword, and cut the ribs all from the backbone, and draw the lungs there out, and gave him to Odin for the victory he had won.[6]. No exact date is attached to its origins, nor is therea specific legal prohibition as to its use, but popular culture depictions keep it alive and well. Blood-Eagle lines on Thy foe shall be flowing.". Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Afterwards, Earl Einarr went up to Halfdan and cut the blood eagle on his back, in this fashion that he thrust his sword into his chest by the backbone and severed all the ribs down to the loins, and then pulled out the lungs; and that was Halfdans death. [14], Roberta Frank reviewed the historical evidence for the rite in her "Viking Atrocity and Skaldic Verse: The Rite of the Blood-Eagle", where she writes: "By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the various saga motifseagle sketch, rib division, lung surgery, and 'saline stimulant'were combined in inventive sequences designed for maximum horror. A posterior view of the thorax (back), without the skin, illustrating the anatomical structures encountered during the initial phase of cutting the blood eagle. Borg later attacked Kattegat when Horik excluded him from their raids and battled Ragnar and his men. Who's Really to Blame for America's Lousy Transit Systems? Review: AP Program Undermines Humanities, Devalues College, and Cheats Students of Learning, SCOTUS's Stay of Mifepristone Ruling a Win for Abortion Rights, but Shows Dangerous Power of "Shadow Docket", How the Reagan Administration Used "A Nation at Risk" to Push for School Privatization, Ned Blackhawk Unmakes the American Origin Story. Either way, the rituals appearance in these texts is intended to send a message tied to honor and revenge. In TheOrkneyingaSaga, Hdlfddn(Halfdan) underwent the Blood Eagle after he was defeated in battle: "Next morning they found Hdlfddn Hdlegg on Kinar's Hill. The value of this new scholarship lies in its imagination, in the way it manages to take something conceptual and make it more concrete. But he likely would have died of shock, suffocation, and/or exsanguination within seconds of the blade being thrust into his back to cut the ribs. We won't go into detail here, but watch our new horror video to see how bad torture was in the past, and how you pretty much have it made living in 2020. of the killer of Sigmund. cut with [an] eagle.[1]. What Is the 'Blood Eagle' Execution Method? - Smithsonian Magazine The Vikings rubbed salt on the wound to make things more painful and pulled the victim's lungs over their shoulders. It wouldnt be until the early 1200smore than 300 years after the alleged participants had diedthat a very detailed and graphic description of the method appeared in the Orkeyinga Saga: Einarr made them carve an eagle on his back with a sword, and cut the ribs all from the backbone, and draw the lungs there out, and gave him to Odin for the victory he had won. cut with [an] eagle. The authors also re-assessed archaeological and historical data and concluded that the blood ritual was in keeping with the behavior of the Viking Age warrior elite. If you purchase an item through these links, we receive a commission. But What is it, Really. Some references to the torture are terse. He's currently the senior academic advisor in the History Department at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). The victim, it is said, would still be alive at this point to experience the agony ofsaline stimulanthaving salt rubbed, quite literally, into his vast wound. Saxo Grammaticus in Gesta Danorum tells the following about Bjrn and Sigvard, sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and king lla: Idque statuto tempore exsecuti, comprehensi ipsius dorsum plaga aquilam figurante affici iubent, saevissimum hostem atrocissimi alitis signo profligare gaudentes. All of that exposed tissue then gets salt rubbed into it, which certainly puts "lemon juice on a paper cut" into perspective, doesn't it? "There is no possibility that a victim would have remained alive throughout the procedure," the researchers wrote. "The victims hands and legs were tied to prevent escape or sudden movements. About 50 percent died during the first year due to their inexperience at meeting the dangers of living in the wild. This, in turn, led to a more nuanced discussion of not only what could have happened, but how and why. The second account comes from Norse poet and historian Snorri Sturluson: "Afterwards, Earl Einarr went up to Halfdan and cut the 'blood eagle' on his back, in this fashion that he thrust his sword into his chest by the backbone and severed all the ribs down to the loins, and then pulled out the lungs; and that was Halfdan's death.". According to descriptions of the blood eagle in poems and prose dating from the 11th century to the 13th century, victims were typically captured in battle. According to 12th and 13th century authors, the Blood Eagle had a long tradition in Scandinavia, often being associated with Vikings, and was used against the most heinous enemies. 936 Blood Eagle Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock As this new article helps demonstrate, perhaps the pendulum needs to stop. The debate among historians about whether or not the Blood Eagle actually occurred continues. Thus, the blood eagle was manifested in all its gory glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br-eCy6wG14 The Ritual Behind The Blood Eagle King Aella was not the last royal to face the blood eagle. Blood Eagle Execution - Behind the Scenes Pictures "Vikings" If the Vikings did perform the blood eagle, does that mean the Middle Ages were as brutish, nasty and dark as stereotypes suggest? It is alleged that the practice was invented by Ivarr the Boneless, a Viking military leader in occupied England who lived in the 800s and disappeared from the historical record by 870 AD. David Horspool in his book King Alfred: Burnt Cakes and Other Legends, while not committing to the historical veracity of the rite, also saw parallels to martyrdom tracts. "), There are also two accounts of Torf-Einarr's execution of Halfdan Haaleg. Brutal Viking 'blood eagle' ritual execution was anatomically possible The answer is complex. The lungs would also likely have collapsed by this point into compact tissue about the size of a fist. The execution methods recurring appearances in medieval texts, often without extensive explanation, suggests a common understanding among Viking-age readers and listeners, many of whom would have learned the tales through oral tradition. This horrific murder method was allegedly practiced not only on conquered soldiers, but on Viking men whod performed evil deeds and had thus lost all honor in the eyes of the community. carved on the back Some accounts also mention the pouring of salt on the victim's wounds. 251 Blood Eagle Stock Photos, Images & Pictures - Dreamstime Per the authors, "holding a sharpened blade parallel to the underlying muscle layer, while making long cutting incisions just superficial to the muscles" would have made it possible to remove the outer skin and muscle. Many historians suggest that even the earliest literary references to the Blood Eagle were in poems rather than in historical accounts, which may mean they were merely intended for entertainment and not to be taken literally. Please read the rules before participating, as we remove all comments which break the rules. A common element in the medieval sources, according to the authors of the new study, is that the aggressors perform the ritual on enemies who killed one of their family members. The theory is backed by the fact that Ivar was famous for his massive size and that the skeleton was reported to be about nine feet tall. Blood Eagle Execution of King Aelle - Behind the Scenes Pictures His latest book, co-authored with David M. Perry, isThe Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe(Harper, December 2021). The Blood Eagle - Worst Punishments in the History of Mankind An Anatomy of the Blood Eagle: The Practicalities of Viking Torture Viking historian Luke John Murphy of the University of Iceland decided to enlist the aid of actual anatomical specialists to assess whether performing the blood eagle would even be feasible. Borgs involvement in Vikings was through his conflict with King Horik, as they both wanted control over mineral-rich lands and Horik sent Ragnar as his emissary. Gruesome Viking "blood eagle" ritual is anatomically possible, study finds But victims would have died long before the torturous execution concluded. That's especially the case with the blood eagle ritual, which has long been dismissed as mere legendwhether because of repeated misunderstandings during translations of the poems or perhaps a desire by Christian scholars to portray the pagan Vikings as barbaric. Details About The Blood Eagle, One Of History's Most - Ranker The Earl made a blood eagle be cut on his back with the sword, and had his ribs severed from the back-bone, and his lungs pulled out.". Unless performed very carefully, the victim would have died quickly from suffocation or blood loss; even if the ritual was conducted with care, the subject wouldve almost certainly died before the full blood eagle could be completed. ar fundu eir Hlfdan hlegg, ok lt Einarr rsta rn baki honum me sveri, ok skera rifin ll fr hrygginum ok draga ar t lngun, ok gaf hann ni til sigrs sr. See more at profgabriele.com. So it remains unclear whether or not the Blood Eagle was real. The blood eagle scene was a real parallel to Athelstan's crucifixion. Some references to the torture are terse. David M. Perry is the co-author ofThe Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe. The give-and-take nature of the pairs collaboration withLuke John Murphy, a historian of religion at the University of Iceland, proved eminently fruitful, with the different perspectives of history and medicine pushing the scholars in unexpected ways. Her writing has also appeared in Scientific American, The Washington Post and How It Works Magazine. Here are some details about this antiquated and shocking punishmentto help fill in some of history's cracks. Blood Eagle: The Grisly Torture Method Of The Vikings - All That's Real Life / Cruel And Unusual Death - TV Tropes Terms of Use Popular opinion ebbs and flows, especially regarding history. What Is The Blood Eagle According To The Vikings? She also reports on general science, covering climate change, paleontology, biology, and space. Vikings, like many medieval people, could be spectacularly violent, but perhaps not more so than other groups across a range of time periods. However, theres a lot of debate on whether the blood eagle was real, a literary invention, or a mistake in the translation of the original texts. Related: Vikings: Jarl Borg Created A Major Location Mistake In The Show. His latest book, co-authored with David M. Perry, is The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe (Harper, December 2021). had Ellas back People are messy, and, by extension, history is, too. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The Disturbing Truth About The Vikings' Blood Eagle Execution. ("They caused the bloody eagle to be carved on the back oflla, and they cut away all of the ribs from the spine, and then they ripped out his lungs. Carved on the back. The blood eagle is described as a sacrifice to the Norse god Odin, who is referenced throughout the Vikings series. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. "It is clear that a victim undergoing a 'full' blood eagle would have died long before their ribs could have been formed into the shape of wings and their lungs externalized.". A BRUTAL Viking torture ritual rubbished by researchers may have actually been a thing, according to a new study. When she's not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs! Was the Legendary Viking "Blood Eagle" Torture Real? Spectacular executions, displaying of dead bodies, and "deviant burials" did occursuch as the skeleton of a beheaded noblewoman buried with her head tucked under arm and her jawbone replaced by a pig's mandible. A posterior view of the thorax illustrating the results of detaching or cutting the ribs. baki ristinn. Select from premium Blood Eagle of the highest quality. After that, his exposed lungs would be pulled out of his body and spread over his wings, offering witnesses the sight of a final bird-like fluttering as he died. ), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. I'll 'vengeThee well; There are two sources that purport to describe Torf-Einarr's ritual execution of Harald Fairhair's son, Halfdan Long-Leg, in the late 9th century. Gillis observation builds on the earlier work of scholar Valentin Groebner, who wrote in 2004 that terror tends to disorient. Violence (and how that violence was portrayed) in the European Middle Ages was a way of making meaning, of rendering visible important ideas that had previously remained unseen. Horik then told Ragnar to reestablish their alliance with Borg, and after the latter accepted the offer, Ragnar captured him and sentenced him to death by blood eagle (in season 2s episode appropriately titled Blood Eagle). Updated June 19, 2019 567.2k views5 items The Blood Eagle is one of the most graphic, cruel, and lengthy torture methods ever described. 2010 The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. 10 Methods Of Execution For Utah That Are Way More Fun Than FiringSquads. The longest that any Bald Eagle has been known to live in the wild is 39 years. They make it look beautiful in the most horrific way possible The blood eagle is a method of execution detailed in late skaldic poetry. The blood eagle is a method of execution detailed in late skaldic poetry. In fact, he might have survived the first stage, although probably not in silence, since the removal of the soft tissue from the back would have been excruciating. Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. "For the slayer by a cruel death of their captive father, Ragnar's sons act the blood-eagle on Ella, and salt his flesh.". - Jan 10, 2022 7:22 pm UTC. "Therefore any attempts to reshape the ribs into 'wings' or remove the lungs would have been performed on a corpse. Download Blood Eagle stock photos. The sources are often vague, referencing legendary figures of dubious veracity or mixing up accepted historical chronology. Next, take an axe there's nothing about sharpening it first and use the axe to hew the victim's ribs from the spine. [16] Frank's paper sparked a "lively debate". There are two stanzas of verse near the end of its section6, "Sigurd Felled the Sons of Hunding", where a character describing previous events says:[12][13], N er blugr rn The Icelandic ritual is the most commonly used in television and film, seeing as it is recognized as being the most painful. Was Wyatt Earp a brave, courageous, bold lawman, or a pimp? The torturer would then complete the ritual by pulling out the victim's intact lungs and laying them over the extended ribs (by this point, the victim was certainly deceased, the researchers wrote). Certain types of Viking knives, swords and spears may have been wielded for different parts of the blood eagle ritual, and prior archaeological discoveries include examples of weapons that would have been well-suited for this gruesome practice. David M. Perry He dedicated the victim to Odin as a victory offering.. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round. While dissecting a living human body in this way was within the realm of possibility, surviving such torture was not. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. The historian community believes that the blood eagle ritual is a piece of complex poetic misunderstanding due to the lack of information. These representations take their cue from medieval sources written in both Old Norse and Latin. The Heimskringla Saga from 1230 describes the same alleged incident: The blood eagle is a punishment where the person is strangled and stabbed with an ax by their tailbone and up towards the rib cage, separating every rib from the backbone. Vikings from different areas had slightly different methods. The gruesome 'Blood Eagle' method is a real nasty way to go that' The conventional term for this ancient form of persecutionrefers to eagles, though it has also been historicallyassociated with owls. In popular lore, few images are as synonymous with Viking brutality as the " blood eagle ," a practice that allegedly found torturers separating the victim's ribs from their spine, pulling. Citing accounts from books published in 1799 and 1834, Smithsonian Magazine provides a much more elaborate (and nauseating) definition of the Blood Eagle torture method: First the intended victim would be restrained, face down; next, the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings would be cut into his back. Alfred Smyth argues that it was a historical method of execution but bear in mind he is a specialist in medieval history of the British Isles, not Viking Age Scandinavia.