If the stone touches the wall, Ragnarok will break loose

The big stone leaning against the wall of this church comes with a frightening spell. 

King Hakon Håkonsson gave permission to build Avaldsnes church, which was completed in 1320. It was then the fourth largest in Norway and was dedicated to St. Olav and received the title of Royal Chapel of Hakon Magnusson. Avaldsnes was a center of power in the historical period and the Viking Age. 

The big bauta was one of many raised nearby. This one, called "Mary’s sewing needle" is placed very close to the church, leaning towards it. If it touches the wall, we will all die, according to the old sagas. 

The stone stands just outside the north wall of the nave. It is currently 7.2 meters high. But much of the top is removed over time.

The legend says that doomsday comes when this memorial stone touches the church wall. During centuries, the the priests at Avaldsnes, could go out in the cover of darkness and carve pieces of the top. Thus they saved the world from destruction.

One can imagine the scene with the priests, in their robes, sneaking around the corner after closing hours, climb up the stone and then cut off pieces. Anything to save the world from going under.

The stone have yet to touch the church wall. Perhaps priests today still sneak out in the night to ensure the Earth's survival?

The tale of judgement day may have roots back to the ancient Christian period before churches were built, as it was customary to devote such pagan cult places to the archangel Michael. And Michael is the archangel who will blow the souls out for doomsday and weigh who will go to heaven and who are perishing. Also Hakon Håkonsson had respect for this stone: The church wall was in fact inclined to prevent contact with the monument.

Let’s hope that the priest working in the church today will continue their predecessors and go out in the night and savie the world. 

The slave Kark who killed his master to earn money, but got a reward that really sucked

After we launched our Video “10 Viking Myths Busted”, there has been some questions about The Vikings and their slavery/trafficking. 

We did some research an found a great story about the slave Kark, who killed his master, eager for a money prize. But his reward really sucked. 

Sergey Vasilyevich Ivanov [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Vikings and the Slaves/"Treller"

The Vikings took slaves as booty and sold them to to everyone interested, across both Europe and in Arabic countries. During a period of the Viking era, the slavery business was very intense. The demand for slaves was great. As you can see, from the still image in the film, the one from Constantinople, a slave is on his knees, wearing a grotesque necklace made of a piece of wood. According to the Norwegian Wikipedia the Vikings could happily capture a monk or a soldier as a slave during a robbery. They would sell the slaves or take them as “treller” for personal use.

The slaves were mainly from Western Europe, hence many Franks, Anglo-Saxons and Celts. Many Irish and Scots was used in expeditions to populate Island. Norse also took German, Baltic, Slavic and Latin slaves.

The tale of the poor trell Kark

There is a famous slave called “Tormod Kark”, which has turned into a great tale In Snorre’s saga (and in other sagas). "Tormod Kark" killed Jarl. Haakon Sigurdsson. According to Snorre, Earl Haakon Sigurdsson had to flee from Olav Trygvasson, who was one of Norway's most important nation-builders. Together with his "faithful" servant (“trell”) Haakon fled and found shelter at the earl's great frill Tora’s farm. 

At Tora's Farm

Olav soon came to Tora’s house. Haakon and Kark had covered under the pigpen. On a stone nearby Olav made a speech, promising a reward in return for Haakon’s head. Haakon realized the reward would entice Kark to kill him. He should have said: "The two of us were born in the same night, and it will not be long between our deaths". 

Kark kills his Master, Earl Haakon

Christian Krohg [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

While Earl Haakon was sleeping, Kark nevertheless pulled a knife and killed his master. Kark cut his head off and brought it to Olav Tryggvason to claim the reward. He wasn’t rewarded at all. Instead he was taken away and got he’s own head chopped off. Olav's speech had a clear message: "There is a difference between a great man and a slave. Where would the world end if the slaves began to fail their masters?" Olav emphasized this point. Poor Kark did not get the reward a free man would have received.