Óðinn is often described as the chief God of the Norsemen and what’s more fitting for a chief than drinking fine wines? A noble activity that was enthusiastically embraced by his many followers as well.
Vikings and other Norsemen loved their alcohol and especially their beer and mead ( as we have already written a bit about) and their Gods were very much into drinking as well. Numerous tales of the Old Religion are centred around the Gods obtaining, making, or attempting to prepare alcohol. Still, the harsh Northern climate of Scandinavia meant that her habitants had only a limited supply of beverages to choose from. Beer was widely available as cereals were grown wherever Norsemen lived. Mead, which is made from fermented honey was also hugely popular. Grapes, essential for making wine were however nowhere to be found. Does this mean that Norsemen didn’t know about wine and simply made their stories up?
In short, the answer is no. Archeologists and Historians have shown that already in the Antiquity, Roman wares, including precious silver and gold artefacts, as well as wine were popular among the Scandinavian elite (1). Grand Crus from sunny France and Italy reached Germania, on the eastern side of the Rhine and reached the complex system of Germanic trade and eventually ended up in the Northern lands where they were treasured above all other beverages.
Similar Roman vessels and even more so the drink they contained were very much valued by ancient Norsemen
A good indication of the high-status wine drinkers held in the Norse society is the God Óðinn (Odin). In the Medieval Scandinavian Literature, Óðinn surfaces as the chief God of the Pagan Norsemen and he is constantly described as upholding an almost supreme authority over Gods and mortals alike. Acting as the chief of the Gods, Óðinn must consequently have all the attributes of a chieftain and he is described as a rather avid wine-drinker in one famous poetry verse:
Gera ok Freka – seðr gunntamiðr – hróðigr Herjaföður – en við vín eitt – vopngöfugr – Óðinn æ lifir Grímnismál 19 (2)
The second part of this verse could be roughly translated as “Yet on wine only the weapon-glorious Óðinn ever lives”. This passage would then indicate that Óðinn could satiate his worldly needs through noble wine alone. This detail simultaneously brings Óðinn closer to the mortal chieftains of the Norsemen and elevates these same chieftains closer to the supreme God.
The Medieval Icelandic Chivalric Sagas are filled with supernatural marvels and wonders. And wine too!
Even in later medieval times, the Scandinavian descendants of the Norsemen kept being very much interested in the still largely mysterious wine. In the late Medieval Age, Icelanders were fond of locally-written fantastic literature set in distant countries where noble knights lived a lavish lifestyle and battled monsters. Almost every one of those numerous tales includes at least one lavish banquet scene whose extravagances would put Game of Thrones to shame, complete, with, you guessed it right, wine! The obsession of those Medieval authors for this hallowed beverage is almost puzzling as they describe in detail the origin and qualities of various mouth-watering drinks such as Piment and Klaret. (3)
All in all, it would seem that the Norsemen have always enjoyed wine, all the way from the Roman times until the end of the Medieval age. A passion that is most definitely shared by their descendants up to this day. Óðinn must be proud!
Sources:
- (1) Johan Callmer (2008). “Scandinavia and the Continent in the Viking Age” in The Viking World (Niel Price and Stephan Brink Eds.). Routledge. London (439 – 452) Page 443.
- (2) Finnur Jónsson (Ed.) (1932). De Gamle Eddadigtene. G.E.C. Gads. Forlag. Copenhagen. Page 67
- (3) Driscoll, Matthew. (2005). “Late Prose Fiction (Lysisögur)” in A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture (Mc Turk, Rory Ed.). Blackwell. Oxford. (190 – 205)
Pictures Sources:
- (I) Lorenz Frølich. Óðínn and Sága in Gjellerup, Karl (1895). Den ældre Eddas Gudesange, p. 65
- (II) Gallo-Roman glass vessels from the IVth century preserved in the Saint-Remi museum in Reims, France. By Wikipedia user Vassil
- (III) Detail of an Illuminated page of a German manuscript of the History of Theodoric the Great. A Tale that was also preserved in Medieval Norway
