In Norway and Iceland, ancient Norsemen used objects
called nithing poles to curse their enemies. They pointed
the pole at the enemy to curse them. This was a terrible
insult used only in the most serious situations.
A nithing pole is a long pole covered in ancient letters
called runes. A horse skull sat on top of the pole. A
nithing pole was said to
drive King Eric Bloodaxe
and his queen from Norway
to the British Isles in the
tenth century.
Some people still believe in
the power of the nithing pole.
Protesters in Iceland put fish
skulls on nithing poles in early
2016 and pointed them at
the prime minister’s home to
curse him for lying about his
finances. He soon left office.
Was that the nithing pole
at work?
A nithing pole was planted in the
ground and pointed at enemies to
curse them. This was considered a
serious insult.
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