NorsePlay.

NorsePlay was recently gifted a very well thought out belated birthday present: An authentic Viking Age lead weighted astragalos, or sheep's knucklebone, a predecessor to the modern 6-sided die we all game with today. The convex narrow side was counted as 1, the convex broad side as 3, the concave broad side as 4, and the concave narrow side as 6. Lacking hands, sheep don't actually have knuckles -- this is a pastern bone which sits above the hoof. [Thanks to Kara Lynn for the artifact, the Valknut die bag, and the Norway map wrapping paper.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. ...

The grim & wonderous Ribe human skull fragment! Presented here in black & white so you can read the runes, this Danish artifact from circa 725 CE states: Ulf and Odin and High-Tyr is help for Bur against these: pain and dwarf-stroke. Bur Thought to be an magical amulet (note the necklace hole) against illness. Given that the word "stroke" has also been translated as "sword", we also wonder if this could be a battle charm since a warrior would also have need against pain to endure, and protection versus superior weapons, of which "dwarf-sword" could be a kenning for. [Housed at the Vikingeskibs Museet.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of ...