Читать книгу Search Engines - Jon Jonsson - Страница 23

The Scandinavians had their own belief system, and it was the driving force behind their aggressive mindset. Thor and Odin were the main gods in the Viking religion. Their beliefs were based on a complex creation story and a prediction of a cataclysmic end to the world. That would happen in a final battle called Ragnarok, a conflict so great and threatening that even Thor and Odin would perish. The chief god Odin ruled from Valhalla, which means "Great-Hall of the Slain." It was described as a heavenly chamber whose roof was made of the glittering shields of fallen Vikings. From Valhalla, Odin sent out his beautiful Valkyries to hover over the bloody battlefields of Earth. The Valkyries were fairy-like females who were famed for their flying abilities and for being young, fair-skinned, and blue-eyed. The Valkyries would choose the bravest fighters from each battle to be slain. These wonder-ladies would then carry the fallen Vikings up to the bosom of Odin to become superheroes. The beauties would lovingly attend to the slain heroes with glorious food, wine, and love. The heroes would practice valiant fights and battles up in Valhalla. They would kill each other bravely, only to be raised up again even stronger and ready for their next splendid battle. (And yes, this was over 1000 years before video games were marketed.) All of this fantastic fighting was to prepare the heroes to defend their gods at the dreaded battle of Ragnarok, which would inevitably end the world as we know it.