What a Cursed Viking "Eggplant Emoji" Can Tell Us About Women's Rights in The Viking Age

[@BlackFlagHeathen]

I love how a common theme in the Norse myths is “don’t piss off a woman because she’ll fuck you up with magic fuckery.” Even Odin himself says in the Hávamál not to piss off a witch.

[@ApollonianShy18]

& why not trust her???

[@girl-fromthemoon]

Being careful and avoiding pissing off ≠ not trusting

[@realityhelix564]

Ocean out here with the puns, but can't bring himself to say 'penetrate'.

[@brandyjean7015]

And with her dowry returned, no more was heard of Unn. She chose to live happily, on her lands, and no more troubled herself with the foolishment of men & their overly inflated egos or penises.

[@angelikaskoroszyn8495]

Who knows, maybe she even found herself a "roommate"?

[@johnmccarron7066]

@Angelika Skoroszyn *gasp*...they were 'roooommates'....

[@kennithschjoth2024]

I thought, "Oh no, the pun is coming!" Then it came lol.

[@kevincrady2831]

@@automaticninjaassaultcat3703 She was unn-impressed, obviously.

[@OpalDrake11]

This whole story was hugely revealing about culture in general and super interesting. Thank you for the retelling and commentary!

[@OceanKeltoi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SergioKoolhaas]

The teenager in me was laughing every time his magic stick was mentioned. Great story.

[@lizzyrose6494]

"A newt? A NEWT?" "they got better."

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Hrut's root was not sized like a newt

[@Phantom86d]

So... Just because it is funny, the CC puts Hrut as either fruit or root. So at some point, the phrase Gunhild was using fruit for his groot appeared... I wanted to share that with everyone.

[@KH-tt3wv]

Every time I watch your videos, I'm struck by what a wonderful storyteller you are -- truly a rare and ancient skill of perennial value. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@random2829]

Love these stories! THIS is what entertained our ancestors in the past. ❤

[@whiskeydollplays]

My first thought is that once Unn and Ya Boi are divorced, he should have tried bedding her again, as the curse did stipulate this problem would occur with his wife. He should have talked with his father in law about this! Surely a great legal mind would have found a loophole.

[@northp_the_green_pale_pete]

This was both fascinating and hilarious! I enjoyed it immensely. And it was also a great insight into the various roles at the time. Great video!

[@elaraamaris9595]

I literally just started into a book to learn more about Seidr and Völva. The timing of this video couldn't have been better.

[@dunmer_appreciator1379]

Your videos are always top tier, thank you for doing all the hard work to get them out to everyone in such an entertaining & interesting way 💗 also I gotta say that I'm always impressed by the puns you create and share at the beginning of all your videos 😂

[@fiannaninja]

Yes I agree. Very informative. My non Heathistic friends have found a deeper understanding to other polytheism beliefs. Thank you

[@derreklabonte1676]

@@fiannaninja hey, unrelated to the video, but I've never come across anyone with the same spelling of my name.

[@fiannaninja]

Ha! Skål! And hail! You know in my 43; well traveled years have I ever found or heard of a Derrek spelt just as Derrek.

[@fiannaninja]

@@derreklabonte1676 forgot to tag you. My apologies

[@derreklabonte1676]

@@fiannaninja no worries, skål! Yea, 34 here and I'm not surprised you've had that as well lol.

[@josephelizawright5095]

Time to read the sagas

[@LadyArty19]

This video got me thinking of that trippy scene in ‘The Northman’ with Willem Dafoe, young Amleth, and Ethan Hawke when Dafoe says, “It is women that know the mysteries of men.”

[@samanthalacroix2687]

Talk about too much of a good thing... The moral of the story, Hel hath no fury as a sorceress scorned.

[@DrDino123]

This story reminds me that scene from Scary Movie 4 with the Viagra pills 😂 Amazing and informative video!!

[@doktordanomite9105]

Worst part of a long “world serpent” is that complaining about it seems like humble bragging

[@lyndaanneshop]

Totally a humble brag by today's standards. Yet in Ancient Greece it was thought that a large member meant you could not get enough blood to the brain, therefore you were stupid if you had a big one. The male leaders' statues showed the smallest of members to accent their intelligence. I wonder how long it took western civilization to decide to go big? Who will do the hard work of researching that?

[@astrid1647]

Loved this! There was a lot of information to dig through and the fact that you got this down to 29 mins is a feat, hahaha. Excellent work as always (except those puns, ugh, the PUNS /j)!

[@casandramunoz3731]

Still one of your best videos. Thank you for the fantastic storytelling.

[@shadowdante1102]

I like how you tell stories. Its fun and you really humanize the peoole of the past. A lot of old stories make these people seem larger than life, which I always found to be alienating. But the way you talk about the people in the stories makes me want to sit down and drink a beer with them.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Well i guess you could say this guy was "ahem " larger then life. 🍆 👀

[@WikkidGeek]

“You might have a balloon d***” I’m freaking dead lol

[@fiannaninja]

Hail, and Skål. Yes I am raising my horn to you.

[@fiannaninja]

Very glad and relieved that you are in better health. May Eir keep you in health, may Freyja bless you with compasion, Oðin bless your journey in knowledge and my Loki bless you with cunning to enjoy life.

[@davidjb20010]

Welp.... that bracelet is going in my D&D campaign now.

[@paganxpoptart4600]

So much great information! My brain is throbbing with knowledge.

[@warrendriscoll350]

This is the kind of story that requires a flowchart to follow all the relationships.

[@OriginalHuman]

What a fantastic video as always! Best channel on YT

[@greywolfwalking6359]

Good to see ya again...! The descriptions that you " come up " with ,are enormously hilarious!! I have read some of that ( long ) tale n found that the truth 'comes' out ,finally in the end...truly a wonderful production that you have presented, n as I ponder the enormity of the content, I will follow up from a " new " position,no doubt !!! N discuss further the " soft power" of this sorceress..and all of her ram- ifacations, as they unfold!!?? Thanks for sharing this gift today! Good to see n hear from you after " Dragon com"!!!! 👍🧙‍♂️🐺!!!!!!!!!

[@kennithschjoth2024]

I'm dead lmfao

[@greywolfwalking6359]

@@kennithschjoth2024 👍🧙‍♂️🐺 (T/Y)!!

[@bezoticallyyours83]

😂

[@maracaegrizzley8734]

If this were a historical record... I would seriously wonder if Unn had vaginismus. It's a condition where a woman's body reacts poorly to the... procreative act, let's say, and it makes the whole process *incredibly* painful for her as well as kinda defeating the whole purpose. The condition shows up most often, to my understanding, in people who have been raised in *extremely* segregated subcultures where the whole "Purity Culture" thing is ramped up to 11, but it's not *limited* to them.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

🤔

[@zeerae630]

This story is a wild fuckin ride

[@marcusfridh8489]

I think that it was the words of Gunhild that was the curse, but the gold bracelet sealed the curse to hrut

[@jurikirsteinhgel4945]

Hrut seems like a good example of a male. Innocent, unfortunate, but also self-serving in ways. Unn is very decisive, seemingly in defiance of some authority, usually. But she also does not have the sense of freedom that Gunhild and any other accepted magic user (is she a vølve?) might exude. Mord actually means murder in Norse (or at least in Danish), but he ironically is not very murderous at all. The King of Norway also seems like an extroverted people-pleaser, while his mom is more of a calculating type...

[@sigmarecovery699]

Truly, I would want to peruse the contents of the bookshelf in the background. It looks impressive.

[@ryuukashi]

Hey, this is the first one of your videos I've watched. Could this be a legal balance between oaths and agency? Like, yes people can get divorced and essentially dissolve that oath but they'd better have some kind of reason? Love your storytelling!

[@OceanKeltoi]

I think marriage oaths seemed to have built into them justifications for exiting the oath if it isnt reasonably held to. Thats the suggestion I’ve gotten out of reading about a number of divorces now in the Sagas.

[@christianquiner8977]

Fantastic video, great story. Your content just keeps getting better and better. Thanks for keeping history and myth both entertaining and valuable!

[@DARKADIAN]

Thanx ocean for the greate content your videos also inspire me to continue my research

[@franklinrowland1093]

Nice to have you back, and uploading!

[@Florkl]

Moral of the story: Don’t lie to (and arguably with) anyone capable of magic.

[@EFJoKeR]

I truly love the story-telling-skills you have, my good sir. This was a really entertaining story, which also gave some real insight into marriage in those days. As for the "massive baseball penis" - Curse or not... Maybe he was just born with a massive member, and after having sex with the Queen mother (If she's used to men, as it would hint at) she may recognize that his massive tool, was indeed to big for a fresh virgin maiden, such as Unn. Maybe the curse lied in his ignorance towards what a "normal size penis" would look like, not realizing his "good fortune" was actually a curse. And the Queen mother was merely trying to warn him, before he sailed for Iceland to marry Unn. But i dunno... It's a beautiful story, open to many interpretations i guess... I certainly enjoyed the hell out of this video...

[@bezoticallyyours83]

I would probably hafta decline a baseball sized dong too. That's a little too much. 😅

[@rickardt1222]

Extremely well done and well put together as usual! I always apprechiate what you share. We all love your great work.

[@MegaTomPlays]

Always love learning more, thanks so much for making these videos!

[@garyrowland3606]

23:05 what an absolute unit.

[@bruisedhelmet8819]

See, we need more Norse myths turned into movies.

[@housevisand]

Yeah this would make a great play or series lol for sure. - Good story. Great telling!

[@anothername5272]

You should do more of the philosophy videos.

[@RazeAVillage]

You are a great story teller. It is so easy to get mixed up w/ sagas. I find it very difficult to sit and read through most any of them even though they are good stories. Your telling where names are repeated and emphasized helps me follow all of it. Are you saying "Hroot"? As in "I am Hroot."? :) Another name, are you saying Ulf or Oaf? It sounds like you are saying "unwashed oaf", and I'm wondering if there is some bit about the etymology of the word "oaf" (which I think actually relates to words like elf and alf) or if I'm just mishearing.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

This is enjoyable

[@antonia.westcoast]

Hello good Sir! I’m excited to catch up with your recent videos, as I’ve been away for a bit. I just wanted to pass along the title of a book I just ordered (I’m lucky enough to have a wee book selling job at my local indie) called “Myth, Materiality, and Lived Religion In Merovingian and Viking Scandinavia”, released by Stockholm University Press. I thought it might interest you, and I am about to dive into it myself. Take good care 💛

[@iainpearce6379]

What a fantastic story absolutely brilliant great video

[@Rataunderground]

Wow, this video extended a lot.

[@AerdernixLittleDragonMacDane]

Imagine The berserker being the only one not wanting to draw weapon when rejected

[@jamie5mauser]

I’d love a talk about gender identity. Since Christians are so adamant about two clear genders, unlike our gods that may be more ambiguous. It also makes me curious about traditional gender roles, as Christians traditionally believe “women should be silent” etc.

[@gavinrose1058]

Please explain the Norse concept of doom and how it differs from fate. Thank you!

[@johnhasalongmustache5025]

Good story. Once again, Willy is the main problem for society.

[@AedanTheGrey]

The queen is kind of familiar of Warhammer's Morathi, or some depictions of Morgan/Morgause.

[@thenewshaymetal666]

Why there isn't a movie about this?

[@kevincrady2831]

Norse soap operas are best soap operas! I'm honestly surprised that no one has mined the Sagas (especially this one, lol) for movies and TV series. Also: those character names! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@shadowofsparta4568]

I know this doesn't relate to the video. But I'm curious. Will you do more draugr stories seeing how we are nearing Halloween? 🎃 👻 I ask because I absolutely loved the two that you did and how you did them. I'll admit I watched quite a few times sense they were released.

[@MrBig913]

Love the content Ocean, keep it up.

[@ralphcrosby4051]

Hell has no furry like a woman scorn

[@KittyBatSasha]

Gunnhild.... Th OG.... CULTURAL APPRECIATOR... She learned for the Sami... Then had them UNALIVED.... So she could profit from their traditions...

[@rangerknight7438]

the funny thing about power, power can corrupt and absolute power can corrupt absolutely

[@kakashifuijin]

I have the Heimskringla and I don't remember this....balunns dic incident 😂

[@XenophonAnabasis]

"Temporal Big Dick Energy" - Ocean, September 2022, after quoting a historical document

[@Alphqwe]

"... in to a newt." Don't worry you'll get better. 😅

[@epayne]

"Olf the unwashed"😂😂😂That's brutal

[@jamesobsidian6924]

Bwahahaha. This tale just gets better and better. Poor fellow.

[@kellentheofficialdata1334]

“A newt!?”

[@OceanKeltoi]

well i got better

[@greywolfwalking6359]

@@OceanKeltoi lol,indeed,you did!! Thanks! 👍🧙‍♂️🐺!!

[@kevincrady2831]

Anyone else want to make fun of my fwiend, Biggus...Dickus?

[@Helzdottir2903]

Truly a Mim ir worthy tale....OK I'll see my way out

[@happy_panda.88]

Does anyone think it's a good idea to use time travel to bring a Viking to today in order to learn about the Viking region properly?

[@rustysglass]

That was great 😂😂😂

[@mattr2238]

This story reminds me of some of the emails I get from nigerian princes.

[@mishapurser4439]

Erik Bloodaxe was one of the last rulers of an independent northern England. He's an important figure in our history.

[@ElepticalJourney]

Who is the artist who made thumbnail art? She looks amazing

[@bforman1300]

I've missed hearing from you

[@benkarr6828]

It seems Han Solo was right , women always know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jamesobsidian6924]

Always the truth...when hrut doesnt admit the truth he is punished for it. Valuable lesson.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

The Pinnochio no one has the guts to make

[@anjairis]

Sounds like Gunnhild was a badass and not to be fucked with, unless she demands you to.

[@Kymerahx]

I adore Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir if im being hounest!

[@mgtmoviemaker]

Gunhild is an absolute legend 🤣

[@tristan9648]

It won’t let me join the discord. It says the link expired :(

[@mbyrd9223]

Soooo anyone know the details of this giant wang curse?... Asking for a friend.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

😆

[@Blackfox_Kitsune]

wow so.... not much has changed in divorce grounds there then.

[@Schrodingers_Cat557]

COMMENT FOR THE ALGORITHM!!!!!!!

[@xavierdoesntmatter]

I love the stories, my only issue is people use this stuff as proof about how the vikings and pagans lived but my understanding is that all of these were written hundreds of years after the viking era actually ended plus they were all written by people who had long been Christianized.

[@OceanKeltoi]

They were written much later, but they were often family stories passed down and written to preserve them. There is, however, occasional marks of an altered story.

[@xavierdoesntmatter]

@@OceanKeltoi I feel like some people put too much faith in oral traditions. In the US we often play a game in kindergarten meant to teach children that word of mouth is not trustworthy and I feel like many people have forgotten that game. That being said I do like the stories but I don't trust the people who wrote them down and I don't trust that what someone was telling as a story in like 1200 has any reliability to be telling a version of what happened in 800. I am happy I found your page though. Watched a couple videos of yours and think you're the most honest of a lot of people sharing this information. You tend to inform people that they need to take it with a grain of salt.

[@marocat4749]

Hopnetly i thought more of misandre the red witch from GOT cause she has sex magic?! But thats more soft power plus magic i guess. Alo its kinda foolih to not only tempt the powerful wueen knowing magic, but also lie to her. And its probably still a damaging now , not as such, i hope unn had at least fun with the money.

[@dylancampbell3304]

Thanks for another great video. Ahahah 🎈 🍆

[@hartwarg3051]

Rooms a mess, could you please give me some advice on how I should clean it, my first attempt at a youtube video, please.

[@Eagle621]

🤣🤣🤣😉

[@HeinzGuyYT]

Hey How would one make an offering to the gods from home and how would one know which god to worship

[@beckymcdonald9529]

The God is entirely up to you and what feels right or who you identify with or an aspect they represent or you know lots of things, once you figure that out it'll be easier to know what the offering should be, that's also deeply personal too so do what feels right

[@HeinzGuyYT]

@@beckymcdonald9529 thank you

[@lynnburke6951]

😆 քʀօʍօֆʍ

[@Pensive_Scarlet]

So it's not the story of a Texan catboy who accidentally overcooked a steak? "Sorry, it's burnt, ny'all!" ;3 ...I sincerely apologize.

[@MariusRomanum]

24th

[@GhostFox.]

I'm not supposed to enjoy such a good story - these people are distant relatives, and racism means if I appreciate this (and privately go, "well that explains a lot" from time to time) then I can't be what I am today. But here I am, because you tell it so well. And thank you for taking the time to do so.

[@raventalks3695]

Curses are interesting, because they never work. As the most powerful coven in Europe can attest to after their curse on Trump failed hahaha

[@OceanKeltoi]

I dunno man, when you're seeing what's happening to Trump right now with his world coming apart around him, I can't really say the curse =didn't= work

[@raventalks3695]

@@OceanKeltoi All I see is Trump getting stronger at the moment and I'm not even a Trump fan. But it's kind of hilarious. Maybe these witches just don't know how to cast curses correctly haha

[@OceanKeltoi]

@@raventalks3695 Interesting interpretation of what's going on. I'm obviously not a trump fan either but I wouldn't say that he's getting stronger. Maybe the attacks on him increase the fervor of his base, but the legal troubles he's experiencing are at the very least hindering his days. I can't say whether or not a witch coven in Europe had any effect, but I think broadly whether or not Trump comes out ahead will depend on how well he does in court.

[@marocat4749]

@@raventalks3695 I vthink desantis is ready to upsurb him crafty, an he is posibly worse. And even quanonr eem often nough turn on him. Not enough, but sems he is looing power an reteating in hi own platform. Not enough, and i srely wont make lik of archivists role, but yeah, he is loosing power. Irrelevant of cures, he is looing power i mean.

[@kevincrady2831]

John Michael Greer (Archdruid emeritus of the Ancient Order of Druids in America) wrote a post about that. He said that the witches made a big mistake, in that they _publicized_ their efforts, which gave their enemies (there are/were plenty of occultists on Trump's side, such as the Pepe cult) abundant opportunity for magical sabotage.

[@dylanbrady5926]

Very interesting story told in an entertaining way. Thanks for the vid

[@hitomisalazar4073]

I'd love to hear more about Bunnhild there myself. Now me? I have a lineage that can be traced to the Sapmi. My great-great-grandmother fled the homeland. Mostly because, according to her writing, Finnish people kind of wanted to steal her children and raise them as Finnish wards of the state in an attempted cultural genocide and shot anyone in the face who thought they rather not give up their children... ... so I perked up hearing them mentioned. Because, you don't hear much about the Sapmi in general. And a lot of it comes off as... kind of revisionist political speak. Like when the nation of Norway declared that no Sami ever lived in Norway so they shouldn't have to consider granting them land concessions in a government report. Or despite what my own relative wrote down in her journals... "oh no the Finns never tried to do anything even like that and never did anything to the Sami" as I've been told by some Scandinavians. Though it seems is also a blatant lie there when they say it from what little I can find out there. So so strange to hear them mentioned in a Saga like that even offhandedly. ... though I suppose fitting to the relations I have known of it ends with "And she killed them all".