The Viking Age through the eyes of Eric Vasseur

<p>Eric Vasseur's fascination with the Viking Age goes beyond warriors, ships and conquests. In his contribution, he talks about his interest in the Scandinavian world, where daily life was closely tied to traditions, craftsmanship, nature and the spiritual. Runes and working with materials such as wood, stone, metal, leather and horn also play an important role.<br><br><strong>Eric's story, in his own words:</strong><br></p>
<p>The Viking Age has fascinated me for a long time, not only because of its history, but above all because of the worldview of the Scandinavian peoples. Behind the popular image of warriors, Viking ships and conquests lay a much richer society, shaped by traditions, crafts, trade, family ties and a deep connection with the sacred.</p>
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<p><br>What appeals to me most is the way everyday life and the spiritual world were never completely separate. The gods, the ancestors, the forces of nature and fate were all part of the same world. Odin, Thor, Freyja, Freyr, Tyr and Frigg were not just figures from myths: they represented forces, values and essential aspects of existence.<br><br></p>
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<p><br>To me, Thor stands for protection and strength in the service of the people around you. Odin evokes the search for knowledge, which sometimes demands great sacrifices. Freyja represents strength as well as love, magic and independence. Tyr is a reminder of the importance of keeping your word, of courage and of justice.</p>
<p>Runes also hold a special place in my fascination with the Norse world. The Elder Futhark is not simply an aesthetic alphabet. Each rune has a name, a history and a set of meanings rooted in Germanic traditions. Anyone who delves into them is forced to go back to the sources and to distinguish between what truly belongs to the old traditions and what was added much later.<br><br></p>
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<p><br>I also love bringing this world to life through materials. Wood, stone, metal, leather and horn make it possible to create objects that make this inspiration truly tangible. Carving a rune into wood or metal no longer serves the same purpose it did a thousand years ago, of course, but the act does create a special bond with the craftsmen who, long before our time, also carved signs into their objects.</p>
<p>It is precisely this meeting of history, symbolism, craftsmanship and spirituality that fascinates me.</p>
<p>So when I try to recreate a Norse atmosphere, it is not just about wearing clothing or collecting accessories. I try to recapture something of the atmosphere of that time: the wood, the light of the flames, the runes, the handmade objects and the feeling that the visible world was never entirely separate from the invisible one.</p>
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<p><br>That is probably what fascinates me most about the Viking Age: a world in which people were aware of being surrounded by nature, their ancestors, their fate and their gods.<br><br></p>
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