Scandinavia
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Tycho Brahe- Death by Manners
He was born Tyge Ottesen Brahe on December 14, 1546 in Skane, Denmark, now Sweden, to parents from the Danish nobility. When he was two, his uncle, Jørgen Thygesen Brahe, took him from his parents and raised him to adulthood. Brahe later wrote “without the knowledge of my parents [he] took me away with him while I was in my earliest youth to become a scholar”. Perhaps this was a fostering arrangement, however, it was strange that his parents made no move to get back their young son. One story says that the Brahe’s had promised a son to Jørgen Thygesen Brahe to raise and had not kept their promise,…
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The Origin of Stockholm Syndrome
For 5 nights and 6 days, 4 people were held as hostages at the Sveriges Kreditbanken located in Norrmalmstorg square in Stockholm, Sweden. All of the events were orchestrated by one man, Jan-Erik Olsson, although he did have an accomplice, as well as the 4 captives who had become friends with the two convicted felons. Jan-Erik Olsson had a history of being in jail and was serving time for grand larceny at the time of the bank robbery. The prison that was housing Olsson let him leave on furlough, except he failed to return to the prison at his expected time. On the morning of August 23, 1974, Olsson walked…
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Thor God of Thunder
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind. He is also the god of hallowing, healing and fertility. He was typically described as having a red beard and eyes. He was huge in size, and strongest of all gods and men. He is the son of the god Odin and the earth goddess, Fjörgyn. Thor is most widely known for wielding the mighty hammer, Mjölnir. He wears the belt Megingjörð and the iron gloves Járngreipr, and owns the staff Gríðarvölr, that he uses occasionally. The goddess Sif is Thor’s wife, and he also had a lover named Járnsaxa. With Sif, he fathered…
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Freyr
Freyr (Frey or Frej), in Norse mythology is a god of prosperity and fertility. He controls the sunshine and the rain and therefore also the fruits of the earth. He is the patron god of Sweden. His father is the sea god Njord, and his twin sister is Freyja (Óðr’s wife). Freyr’s realm is Alfheim. At the end of the war between the Æsir (the Warrior gods) and the Vanir (the Fertility gods), hostages were exchanged. Freyr, with his father and sister Freyja, came to Ásgarð, the home of the Æsir. Freyr possessed two great treasures made by dwarves: the boar Gullin-börsti with golden bristles, and the ship Skíðblaðnir, which…
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Norse Realms of the Dead and Ragnarök too
In Norse Mythology it was believed when you died, whether in battle, old age, or sickness, you would go to one of three realms Valhalla, Fólkvangr, or Helheim. Awaiting your time to fight in Ragnarök (The Doom of the Gods). Valhalla, Hall of the Slain, is the hall presided over by the Norse god Odin. This vast hall has five hundred and forty doors. The rafters are spears, the hall is roofed with shields and breast-plates litter the benches. A wolf guards the western door and an eagle hovers over it. It is here that the Valkyries, Odin’s messengers and spirits of war, bring half of the heroes (Einherjar) who…
