Woden's Eyes

                                           

The ravens, Huginn ("Thought") and Munin ("Memory") are the eyes of Woden and keep him appraised of the activities of the Nine Realms especially Midgard.

Midgard, the human world, with all its wars, monsters, giants, trolls, mysteries, wonders and brave warriors; was always under Woden's watchful eye and the eyes of his ravens.

Each day at dawn, Huginn and Munin, would travel though the Nine Realms and return by breakfast time to report to Woden what they had observed. 

With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Woden relied upon his ravens to bring him a constant stream of information and news of the happenings, especially battles, that occurred in the Nine Realms.

As was the nature of ravens, Huginn and Munin would feast on the bodies of dead warrior after a battle. So prevalent was Huginn at such feasting that warriors were commonly referred to as "those who make Huginn's claws and break red," and blood was often called "the drink of Huginn."

I Am Woden-the God of Wednesday

               

Mounted on his powerful and mystical warhorse Sleipnir and armed with his matchless rune encrusted spear Gungnir, is the leader of the Aesir-Woden the All Father. Woden was known for his many skills including master of magic, seeker of knowledge, Rune Lord and the God of Victory, Poets, Fury and Madness.  

Be he Odin, Wotan or Wuidan; Woden, was a god of over 100 names. Most were descriptive such as Yggr-the Terrible One, Sigtyr-God of Victory, Runatyr-God of Runes, Hoarr-One Eyed or Aldafaor-Father of Mankind. But to the peoples of the British Ilses he was most often called Woden and they gave his name to the middle day of the week Wednesday.

His steed was Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse that could run on land air and water and cross the divides into all of the Nine Realms was a gift from his Blood Brother Loki. By the way, Sleipnir was also one of Loki's offspring. To be exact, Loki was Sleipnir's mother (see World Historyprof: All Know Loki! for this strange story).

His thirst for knowledge was insatiable to such an extent that he ripped out one of his own eyes to gain knowledge and see the forbidden future. A future that showed his own doom, on the fangs of Fenir, the destruction of his people (including the deaths of 14 of his 15 sons) and the ruin of the world in the final battle between Gods, Monsters, Men and the Jotunn- Ragnarök! For this final battle he strove to create an army of the greatest warriors and sent the Valkyrie to every battlefield to bring back the bravest, most worth warriors to his great hall in Valhalla in Woden's realm of Asgard, where they would feast and prepare for Ragnarok. A battle they could not win, but a battle that must be fought to the bitter end.

Greek and Norse Goddesses Power to Rival any Male God

  Throughout history, humans have looked to their Goddesses for guidance, protection, knowledge and beauty.  Here is a small sampling of some of the most powerful of the Norse and Greek Goddesses. For a more complete description of each goddess and her powers check the link below each one's name.

Athena Knowledge

World Historyprof: Athena-Minerva

Queen Frigg

World Historyprof: Yes, Friday is Named for ME

Artemis the Hunt

World Historyprof: Goddess of the Hunt

Skadi the Hunt

World Historyprof: Skadi, Hunting her Passion, Revenge Her Goal

Aphrodite Love

World Historyprof: Aphrodite Goddess of Love

Frejya Passion

World Historyprof: Frejya Mistress of Love, Fertility, Wealth, Seidr and WAR

Hekate Magic

World Historyprof: Need Magic, Call Hekate

Idunn Youth

World Historyprof: My Golden Apples Restore Youth

Queen Hera the Family

World Historyprof: Hera Queen of Revenge

Angrboda "Mother of Ragnarök Monsters"

World Historyprof: Mother of Monsters of Ragnarok

Echidna "Mother of Greek Monsters"

World Historyprof: Echidna Greek Mother of Monsters

Gaia Mother Earth
World Historyprof: Never Mess with an Irate Gaia

Hel Ruler of the Dead

World Historyprof: Welcome to Hel, Helheim that is!

              All are plastic pieces from Monolith that I have painted over the years.

Greatest Recruiting Posters of the Great War

The need for millions of soldiers for "The Great War" (later renamed World War One) lead to the creation of one of the most iconic recruiting posters in American history the "Uncle Sam, I Want You" poster by famed illustrator Jame Montgomery Flagg.

 Most Americans instantly recognize this famous poster that has become an icon of two World Wars that first appeared on the cover of Leslie's Weekly magazine on 16 July 1916 as a preparedness poster (the words being "What are you doing to prepare"). The recruiting poster was first issued in 1917 with more the 4 million posters produced. 

What few Americans realize is that this poster concept was copied from the British one shown here, where Field Marshal Lord Kitchener wants you to join the British Army. Herber 1st Earl of Kitchner, was a 19th and early 20th century Imperial war hero. He was also the War Secretary of Great Britain from the start of the Great War until he died as a passenger on the HMS Hampshire when she was sunk on 5 June 1916. His instantly recognizable face directly pointing to the viewer was a powerful recruiting tool that helped induce hundreds of thousands, possibly a million+, volunteers to join as "Kitchners Soldiers." While the Kitchner poster continued to be used until the end of the Great War, the American version would continue to appear in public for decades to come.

"The lamps are going out all over Europe"

 Although war had already been declared between Russia, Germany, Serbia and Austria-Hungary in late July-early August 1914, it was still seen as a limited war. Upon learning of the German declaration of war upon France one of the most prophetic statements of that time was made: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime," Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, August 3, 1914. Later the next day the British Empire would join the folly that became "the Great War," that would last four years, redraw the map of Europe, destroy four empires (Austo-Hungarian, German, Ottoman & Russian), kill more than ten million soldiers, wound more than 23 million others, kill 11-15 million civilians and lay the groundwork for the greatest war in human history a generation later. The lights of the old Victorian/Edwardian World would never be lit again.

British "Tommies" pass through a ruined farm in the early days of "the Great War."

(These are metal miniatures from Renegade that I painted in 2010 the ruined house is a terrain piece I completed around the same period.)

Jomsviking Elite Warriors of the Danes

                          

Near legendary for their fighting prowess, often for the highest bidder, the "Brotherhood of Jomsvikings" where loyal unto death to each other. Originally raised from warriors of Jomborg, Daneland in the 10th century CE, the Jomsvikings were skilled veterans of Norse battles and raids. Limited to men of virtue between the ages of 18 and 50, the Jomsvikings were elite warriors who often formed the core of Norse armies.

The "Jomsvikiga Saga" mentions how membership was exclusive and only for warriors willing to pledge their lives and battle skills to the glory of the gods and their Jomsvikings brothers. Warrior members were honor bound to protect each other, equally share all loot and spoils of war and to never bring women into their fortress. To spend time with wives or other women the warriors had to leave their fortress of Jomsborg (possibly modern day Wolim Poland). Spending more than three nights away from their brothers was strictly forbidden without the leader's permission. 

For over two centuries, the Jomsvikings were among the most feared and respected band of warriors in Western Europe. As mercenaries and conquerors, they were highly valued by rulers throughout the lands of the Norther raiders known as the Vikings who were looking for an edge in the next battle. Yet, as with many elite mercenary warriors, their great success led to a fear of their power and wealth by local rulers. In 1043, King Mangus I of Norway smashed the Jomburg and destroyed the Jomsvikings. Another elite warrior caste disappeared from history like so many before and yet to come.

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Eastern Roman Empire Yes-Byzantine Empire No

 

Having lasted 1000 years, the Eastern Roman Empire was the most successful European empire in history. Founded in the 4th century before the fall of its more famous parent the Roman Empire. Its capital, Constantinople (modern day Istanbul), was created upon the site of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium by Roman Emperor Constantine I in 330 CE as his new capital for the Roman Empire. The Empire divided into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires in 395 CE.

With the death of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire maintained the laws, knowledge and culture of the Empire as Western Europe dissolved into scores of petty kingdoms, dukedoms, principalities and lesser states fell into what some historians refer to as the "Dark Ages."

At the height of its power, in the 6th century, under the Emperor Justinian I, the Eastern Roman Empire controlled most of the Mediterranean Sea coastal lands and the Middle East. Overtime Latin was replaced with Greek as the official language, and Orthodox Christianity became the main religion of the Empire.

Yet, until their lasts days, the people of the Eastern Roman Empire referred to themselves as "Romaioi" (Romans) and their last Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, considered himself a continuation of the lineage of the Roman Emperors that began with Augustus in 27 BCE.

The name "Byzantine Empire" did not come into popular usage until after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. One reason for the name change appears to be the need of the intelligentsia of the Renaissance to claim direct linkage to the glories of the Roman Empire and reduce the importance of the continuation of that empire and its glories by "Eastern Peoples" who did not hold Western European cultural, social and religious ideals.

Elite Varangian Guards of the Eastern Roman Emperors. 

These Norsemen so impressed the rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire that they were the Emperors personal bodyguards for 300+ years (11th-14th centuries).