crazy/insane gradation

Amy West medievalist at W-STS.COM
Tue Mar 9 14:59:30 UTC 2010


>It partly correlates with the ON term, "berserker".

It depends on which one you're talking about. "Berserkr" in the
skaldic poetry is an elite retainer/warrior who forms the closest --
and most trusted - circle of defense around the prince (see
Haraldskvaedi/Hrafnmal); in the sagas they are "bad guys" who are
crazy in a bad way.

See Simek's Dictionary of Northern Mythology for more on the various
versions of "berserkers."

---Amy West

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