Judging by archaeological excavations, Vikings were buried with those objects that could be useful to them in the afterlife. These were the weapons, food, beer, jewelry. Sometimes rich people were buried together with the slaves, horses and dogs. Their graves were very large, because there was free to accommodate all the things they took away with him into another world. The walls of the tombs a wealthy Viking was decorated with wood, inlaid with silver. Over the grave mound was erected the monument in the form lined with rocks ships sizes are also depended on the extent of the wealth of the deceased. What was above the status of a Viking, the bigger was the burial ceremony.

A special place was occupied by a burial konunhiv. Next to the dead body of the leader on the deck of the ship was to place all valuables, jewelry, food, water and beer, dead horses and dogs, happened, and furniture, and in the hands invested weapons. The ship then on raised hands moved to the burial place. There were cases when girls-slave consciously decided not to part with his master to serve him in the afterlife. To facilitate the voluntary suffering of the victims, before to take their lives, the old woman - "the angel of death"gave slaves to drink a potent narcotic analgesic drink. After worldline their bodies carried on deck and laid next to other good. Honor to betray the king's fire belonged close relatives or noble Vikings.

Confused whether anything soul Viking, going to the conquest of foreign lands? Why is it so low valued as their own and others ' lives? The answer to these questions must be sought in their faith and customs. The inner world of the Viking rested on foundations, non-Christian, have long prevailed at that time in Europe.

Their religion was that the world's first living creature was evil giant (van) Ymir. He, and then and other Vanir, in turn, were born from the drops of melted frost Niflheim. From stone occurred Parent, gave life to Odin and his brothers Wheelie and Ve - first Asses (gods). Killing of Ymir, gods threw the body of a giant in the World Abyss. It appeared from the Ground. From his blood they did seas and oceans, from the skull - the sky. So Asses able to break "evil" in the dark preispodnei - "the country of ice" and "the land of fire".

The universe seemed to Scandinavians in a tree view of the giant, ash Indranil. Among its roots in the underground Kingdom, concentrated the forces of evil. From root to crown - in Midgar, people live. At the top, in the lush green branches, relating to the moon and the Sun, is the abode of the gods. From trees happened and the first people of the Earth. The man Ask from the ash, and the woman Embla - from willow. God breathed life into them and gave the soul, Wheelie - reason and Ve - speech, hearing, seeing, and smelling.

The one-eyed old man One accompanied by two crows

The Supreme God of the Pantheon Seatec, or One - eyed old man, followed by two ravens - Chuhina (Mind) and Muhina (Memory) and two wolves, telling him everything that happens in the world. One lives in the Palace of the Valhalla with fallen on the field of battle brave warriors. The main celestial gave them a second life, obliging and really focus on the war. Here they spend time not only on the feasts, where they administer virgin-warriors - Valkyrie, but on mandatory daily practice martial art, necessary to ensure that the soldiers are not lost form in anticipation of the final battle between Asa and the giants. After all gods was considered by the Vikings, death. And hidden giants at any moment ready to defeat them. Then, as the prophets have predicted, and break out the last fight and the hour will come "twilight of the gods" - the end of the world. But because the world is eternal, "twilight of the gods" will be held and will be born a new life, will reign other higher officials, intelligent and kind.

God of knowledge, and poetry - is also One. For the first he gave the eyes of the giant Mimiru, but for the second drank the magic drink quasar - "the honey of poetry". There is an interesting legend about the appearance of kvasir. Once in order to conclude a truce with the gods, van left hostage giant of Gerda, and then, to prove the sincerity of their intentions, together with aces spat in the bowl, and from that saliva was created sage and scald (sasatel) dwarf Kvasir. But the evil gnomes that live in the roots of the tree Indranil, killed him. The blood dwarf mixed with honey and got the magic drink with the ability to give any extraordinary mind and the gift of writing.

Tor is the eldest son of Odin - God-God of thunder. This red-haired giant was armed with a hammer by Millirem, the destructive forces of evil, but his punches were like thunder in heaven. In addition, he is the patron Saint of Midgar, and therefore, the defender of all people. He was worshipped as the common people and soldiers. By the end of the Viking era in the vast Pantheon of the cult of the Torah became dominant.

Baldur is the second son of Odin God of goodness and happiness. Frey, the goddess of love, taking the part of the dead soldiers at Odin himself. Tur - one-handed God of victory.

Vikings worshipped and prayed to their gods who as he could. Often Asses, whose figures were available in any family, brought bloody sacrifices, including human. But it is in the history of the Viking age, when their pagan beliefs kultivirana for centuries, were gradually replaced with a completely different views.

The Vikings, who had seen in many years of travel to different countries and peoples, and often remained to serve a rich European rulers believed that the growing wealth of the latter is the reward of their Christian faith. Therefore Scandinavians, with its eternal quest for better share, increasingly began to think that the Christian God, perhaps faster will make their dreams come true.

First of converts among the Northern peoples were the Danes, probably because their king Harald I baptized 960 year, largely accelerated this process. Norwegian king Olav Trygvasson had to force his subjects to accept baptism, spreading the need for this and zaselenie Norwegians Iceland, Greenland, Faroe, Gabreski and Shetland Islands.

Swedish king Olaf Setlong, later the other Scandinavian rulers, made sweet and is ready to refuse from paganism, which, despite a decree banning, continued to remain there until the XIII century.

The conversion to the new faith took on a mass character and the Vikings-Varyags. Christians have become Askold and dir, the Kiev Princess Olga and the great-grandson of Rurik - Prince Vladimir.

But even as Christians, the Vikings in the majority and could not completely forget the faith of their ancestors, and therefore were worn on the chest near the baptismal cross mascot as the hammer of Thor.