A section from the Stora Hammar stone from Gotland, Sweden. The illustration shows a man lying on his belly with another man using a weapon on his back. There is a Valknut above him, and two eagles, one of which is held by a man to the right.

The Blood Eagle was reportedly a method of torture and execution that is sometimes mentioned in Norse saga literature. It was performed by cutting the ribs of the victim by the spine, breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings, and pulling the lungs out. Salt was sprinkled in the wounds. Victims of the method of execution, as mentioned in skaldic poetry and the Norse sagas, are believed to have included King Ælla (Ella) of Northumbria, Halfdan son of King Haraldr Hárfagri of Norway, King Edmund, King Maelgualai of Munster, and possibly Archbishop Ælfheah. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Stora Hammar image stone. ...   is a county, province and municipality of Sweden and the second largest island in the Baltic Sea after Zealand. ... Odin with Sleipnir, Valknuts are drawn beneath the horse (Tängelgarda stone) The valknut (Old Norse valr, slain warriors + knut, knot) is a symbol consisting of three interlocked triangles. ... For other uses, see Torture (disambiguation). ... Excerpt NjÃ¥ls saga in the Möðruvallabók (AM 132 folio 13r) circia 1350. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ... The human rib cage. ... Human respiratory system The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... For other uses, see Salt (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with skaldic poetry. ... Aelle sealing his own fate by murdering Ragnar Lodbrok Aelle II (died 867), king of the Northumbrians, became king about 862 on the deposition of Osbeorht, although he was not of royal birth. ... Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair (Old Norse: Haraldr hárfagri, Norwegian: Harald HÃ¥rfagre), (c. ... Edmund the Martyr (841–20 November 869) was a King of East Anglia. ... The name is derived from the Gaelic Goddess, Muman. ... For the first Bishop of Winchester of this name, see Alphege the Bald Saint Alphege is the commonly used named for Ælfheah (954 - 19 April 1012), the Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester and, later, Archbishop of Canterbury. ...

The act of performing this method of torture is phrased as "to cut the blood eagle".

Accounts

There are a number of accounts of the practice in Viking age sources. Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 800 to 1066 in Scandinavian History[1][2][3]. // The Vikings have been much maligned in European history, due in large part to their violent attacks on Christians in the first centuries of their excursions out of Scandinavia. ...

Orkneyinga saga

The Orkneyinga saga[1]: "Next morning when it was light they went to look for runagate men among the isles if any had got away; and each was slain on the spot as he stood. Then earl Einar took to saying these words: "I know not what I see in Rinansey, sometimes it lifts itself up, but sometimes it lays itself down, that is either a bird or a man, and we will go to it." There they found Halfdan Long-leg, and Einar made them carve an eagle on his back with a sword, and cut the ribs all from the backbone, and draw the lungs there out, and gave him to Odin for the victory he had won (10) then Einar sung this:". The Orkneyinga saga (also called the History of the Earls of Orkney) is an unique historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands from their capture by the Norwegian king in the 9th century onwards until about 1200 AD. The saga was written around 1200 AD by an unknown... Einar is an old and extremely popular Norse name deeply connected to the einherjar, the fallen warriors living in Valhalla (mythical home of the Norse Gods); meanings of the name: magnificent, unique warrior, one who fights alone, one man army and/or leader. ... North Ronaldsay is the northernmost of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. ...

Norna-Gests þáttr

Norna-Gests þáttr, as two stanzas of verse near the end of its section 6 "Sigurd Felled the Sons of Hunding", where a character describing previous events says: The death of Nornagest, by Gunnar Vidar Forssell Norna-Gests þáttr or the Story of Norna-Gest is a legendary saga about the Norse hero Norna-Gest. ... Sigurd sculpture in Bremen Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr, German: Siegfried) was a legendary hero of Norse mythology, as well as the central character in the Völsunga saga. ...

This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Raven (disambiguation). ...

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Some say that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the killing of king Ælla after a battle for control of York, thus: "They caused the bloody eagle to be carved on the back of Ælla, and they cut away all of the ribs from the spine, and then they ripped out his lungs." (Ivar the Boneless had captured Ælla, who had killed Ivar's father Ragnar Lodbrok.) But the relevant year of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says merely: The initial page of the Peterborough Chronicle. ... Aelle sealing his own fate by murdering Ragnar Lodbrok Aelle II (died 867), king of the Northumbrians, became king about 862 on the deposition of Osbeorht, although he was not of royal birth. ... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. ... Aella murdering Ragnar Lodbrok. ...

Her for se here of East Englum ofer Humbre muþan to Eoforwicceastre on Norþhymbre, ⁚ þær wæs micel ungeþuærnes þære þeode betweox him selfum, ⁚ hie hæfdun hiera cyning aworpenne Osbryht, ⁚ ungecyndne cyning underfengon Ællan; ⁚ hie late on geare to þam gecirdon þæt hie wiþ þone here winnende wærun, ⁚ hie þeah micle fierd gegadrodon, ⁚ þone here sohton æt Eoforwicceastre, ⁚ on þa ceastre bræcon, ⁚ hie sume inne wurdon, ⁚ þær was ungemetlic wæl geslægen Norþanhymbra, sume binnan, sume butan; ⁚ þa cyningas begen ofslægene, ⁚ sio laf wiþ þone here friþ nam; ⁚ þy ilcan geare gefor Ealchstan biscep, ⁚ he hæfde þæt bisceprice .l. wintra æt Scireburnan, ⁚ his lic liþ þær on tune.

Here the Viking enemy army went forth from East Anglia over the mouth of the Humber to York town in Northumbria, and there was there great discord of the people among themselves, and they had their king Osberht overthrown, and accepted a strange king Ælla; and they late in the year turned to fighting against the enemy army, and they gathered a great army, and they sought the enemy army at York, and broke into the town, and some of them got in, and there was an unmeasurable slaughter of Northumbrians, some inside, some outside; and both kings were slain, and the survivors made peace with the enemy army; and in the same year bishop Ealhstān died, who had the bishopric 50 winters at Sherborne, and his body lies in the town.

For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... River Hull tidal barrier. ... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... A silver styca of King Osberht, minted at York. ... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Knútsdrápa

Finally, some believe the blood-eagle is referred to by the 11th century poet Sigvatr Þórðarson who, some time between 1020 and 1038, wrote a skaldic verse named Knútsdrápa that recounts and establishes Ivarr the Boneless as having killed Ella and subsequently carving an eagle onto his back. Sigvatr Þórðarson was a court poet to the kings Olaf II of Norway, Canute the Great and Magnus the Good, by whose reigns his floreat can be dated to the earlier eleventh century. ... Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. ...

Sighvatr’s skaldic verse in old Norse:

Skaldic poetry, a common medium of Norse poets, was intentionally meant to be cryptic and allusive therefore the idiomatic nature of Sighvatr's skaldic verse, describing what has become known as the “blood-eagle”, is a matter of historical contention. This is all the truer in this case since, in Norse imagery, the eagle was strongly associated with blood and death.

Factuality

There has been debate as to the factuality of such accounts. Some credit the Gotland Stones [5] as archaeological evidence attesting to the factuality of the blood-eagle as presented in Norse literary traditions. Some have suggested that the "blood eagle" was never actually practiced, arguing that such accounts are based upon unsupported folklore or upon inaccurate translations. Ronald Hutton's The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy reports that "the hitherto notorious rite of the 'Blood Eagle,' the killing of a defeated warrior by pulling up his ribs and lungs through his back, has been shown to be almost certainly a Christian myth resulting from the misunderstanding of some older verse." (p 282) The Stora Hammar stone. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up translate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ronald Hutton is Professor of History at the University of Bristol and is an occasional commentator on British television and radio on the history of paganism in the British Isles. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ...

Roberta Frank writes in her article, “Viking Atrocity and Skaldic Verse: The Rite of the Blood-Eagle”, that “By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the various saga motifs - eagle sketch, rib division, lung surgery, and 'saline stimulant' - were combined in inventive sequences designed for maximum horror.” (p 334) She concludes that, reveling in the misdeeds of their pagan predecessors, the saga authors took skaldic poetry originally intended to made elliptical reference to defeat in battle (causing one's back to be scored by eagles, i.e. killing them and thus turning them into carrion) along with separate martyrdom tracts expressing the final tortures of worthy victims in terms reflective of the intended execution of Saint Sebastian (shot so full of arrows that their ribs and internal organs were exposed) and combined and elaborated them into a grandiose torture and death ritual that never was. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with skaldic poetry. ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Martyr (disambiguation). ... SebastiAn (born Sebastian Akchoté) is a French electro artist who came to prominence with his first releases on Ed Banger Records in 2005 entitled Smoking Kills(?) & H.A.L.. A string of remixes followed including Annie, Daft Punk, Cut Copy, Revl9n & label-mate Uffie. ...

If the procedure was performed, the condemned would have died of suffocation very soon after the lungs were pulled out (since breathing occurs via the diaphragm and chest muscles), and probably lost consciousness due to blood loss and shock before that.^{[citation needed]} In the anatomy of mammals, the diaphragm is a shelf of muscle extending across the bottom of the ribcage. ... This article is about the medical condition. ...

In fiction

• Seamus Heaney mentions the blood eagle in his work "Viking Dublin: Trial Pieces:" "With a butcher's aplomb/ they spread out your lungs/and made you warm wings/for your shoulders." [6]
• Thomas Harris mentions the Blood Eagle in his novel Hannibal. When Hannibal Lecter arrives back in the United States, he murders his 27th victim, a deer hunter, and arranges the corpse like the Blood Eagle.
• R.A. MacAvoy portrays a Blood Eagle performed on a sacrificial victim in the fantasy novel Book of Kells.
• Alan Moore mentions the Blood Eagle in his novel "Voice of the Fire", in the chapter entitled 'November Saints'. The Blood Eagle also appears in Edward Rutherfurd's novel Sarum and Annie Dillard's novel, The Living
• Craig Russell has written a detective novel Blood Eagle set in modern day Hamburg involving a serial killer who murders his victims in the style of the Blood Eagle
• The Night Lords Chaos Space Marines are known to tear open their POW's rib cages and crucify them to their tanks, as described in the Warhammer 40,000 novel Nighbringer by Graham McNeill.
• In the historical novel Conscience of the King by Alfred Duggan, the main character Cerdic relates how Gertrude, sister of King Oisc of Kent became pregnant which infuriated Oisc because of the potential threat to his own line. She was consequently branded with the Blood Eagle.
• Harry Harrison's Hammer and Cross series has at least one character killed by this means.
• Guy Gavriel Kay mentions the Blood Eagle in The Last Light of the Sun.
• There is a historical scene within Neil Gaiman's novel, American Gods, in which several Norse warriors who travel to America seize a Native American brave and perform the Blood Eagle upon him to mark their passage into the New World.
• There is a reference to this practice on the website for the film Pathfinder.
• In the horror film Saw III, Detective Kerry is killed in a trap similar to The Blood Eagle.
• The fantasy novel The Golden Compass mentions creatures called the "Breathless Ones", who are essentially living-dead victims of the Blood Eagle.
• In the crime fiction The Tunnels by Michelle Gagnon at least two of the victims found had the Blood Eagle performed upon them.
• In the fantasy novel, When Death Birds Fly by Andrew J. Offut and Keith Taylor, writing a continuation of Robert E. Howard's Cormac Mac Art character, the blood eagle is used at the end on the main antagonist.
• David Gibbins mentions the Blood Eagle extensively in his book Crusader Gold in reference to Halfdan son of King Haraldr Hárfagri of Norway. Also, one of the books characters has the Blood Eagle performed on him.
• Stephen Baxter mentions the blood eagle in his science fiction book Conqueror several times, including a detailed description of the ritual.

Seamus Justin Heaney (IPA: ) (born 13 April 1939) is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. ... Butcher shop in Valencia A butcher is someone who prepares various meats and other related goods for sale. ... This article is about the author Thomas Harris. ... Hannibal is a novel by Thomas Harris, a third part of a series involving his iconic psychopathic character Hannibal Lecter. ... Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character in a series of novels by author Thomas Harris. ... For other persons named Alan Moore, see Alan Moore (disambiguation). ... The hardcover version Voice of the Fire is the title of the first novel from Alan Moore, acclaimed comic book writer. ... Edward Rutherfurd is the author of a series of books chronicling the history of settlements through their development. ... Annie Dillard (born 30 April 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author, best known for her narrative nonfiction. ... Craig Russell (born April 3rd, 1951), is an American composer of classical music. ... The Night Lords are one of the traitor legions of Chaos Space Marines in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... The Cover of the new 4th edition Chaos Space Marines sourcebook, to be released in September 2007, Codex: Chaos Space Marines In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Chaos Space Marines or Chaos Marines, are Space Marines who serve the Chaos Gods. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K, WH40K, W40K or just 40K) is a science fantasy game produced by Games Workshop. ... Graham McNeill is a Games Developer in Games Workshop. ... A historical novel a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author. ... Conscience of the King (1951) is a historical novel by the English author Alfred Duggan. ... Evelyn Waughs Preface to Count Bohemond Alfred Duggans death on 4th April 1964 brought to an abrupt end a literary career of peculiar interest. ... Imaginary depiction of Cerdic from John Speeds 1611 Saxon Heptarchy. Cerdic of Wessex (d. ... Oisc (alternately Oeric or Aesc) was an early King of Kent who ruled from about 488 to about 516. ... At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12, 1925 in Stamford, Connecticut) is an American science fiction author who has lived in many parts of the world including Mexico, England, Denmark and Italy. ... Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay Guy Gavriel Kay (born November 7, 1954) is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. ... The Last Light of the Sun is a fantasy novel by Guy Gavriel Kay. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... American Gods is a novel by Neil Gaiman. ... Pathfinder is a 2007 action-adventure film involving a conflict between Vikings and Native Americans. ... Saw III is the third installment in the Saw series. ... Northern Lights (published in the US as The Golden Compass) is the first novel in the His Dark Materials series, written by British novelist Philip Pullman, and published in 1995. ... David Gibbins (born 1962) is an underwater archaeologist and a bestselling novelist. ... Stephen Baxter (born in Liverpool, 13 November 1957) is a British hard science fiction author. ...

References

• Roberta Frank. “Viking Atrocity and Skaldic Verse: The Rite of the Blood-Eagle.” The English Historical Review. Vol. 99, No. 391 Apr., 1984.