Berserkir e Óðinn: a dupla natureza dos guerreiros refletida no deus

Abstract

The norse warriors, semilegendary, have a notorious fame in the sagas, as feroucious combatents, in times wearing bear or wolf skins, with na unparallaled courage and equally unshaken. However, a second side of them also stands out in the narratives, the figure os the outlaw, bands focused on unhinged pillaging, abusers. Although, one of the most striking and continuos characteristics of them, is observed on their devotion to the god Óðinn, and equally their lives attachment to the deity. In this regard, the present article aims to comprehend the dual character, and even manichaeist in certain narratives, brings to light the same aspects sometimes obscured in the deity, such as dishonorable traits linked to treachery, breaking of vows, manipulation, atitudes that can be observed in the berserkir, since the gods, mainly in the pagan norse pantheon, in general, could be seen as antropomorphic, beings that assumed human characteristics.