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Scuba

(53,475 posts)

6. Some may be unaware of the origins of the expression "go berserk".

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 10:41 AM

Feb 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserker

Berserkers (or berserks) were Norse warriors who are primarily reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested to in numerous Old Norse sources. Most historians believe that berserkers worked themselves into a rage before battle, but some think that they might have consumed drugged foods.

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Highlight:

Human sacrifice, a female angel of death and why the Vikings were even more savage than you thought. [View all] dipsydoodle Feb 2014 OP

Wow JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #1

What was that British king who had a red hot poker shoved in his rear? Good god, his screams were CTyankee Feb 2014 #9

one died eating his straw mattress if I remember correctly and another roguevalley Feb 2014 #10

Was that nice? was that polite? geek tragedy Feb 2014 #11

No, Mel Brooks Throckmorton Feb 2014 #13

dammit, unforgiveable error on my part, nt geek tragedy Feb 2014 #14

Edward II, son of Edward I Longshanks, of 'Braveheart' fame (or infamy...) Aristus Feb 2014 #16

wow, they didn't mess around in those days... CTyankee Feb 2014 #18

I love 'real' history heaven05 Feb 2014 #2

Too bad the xstians managed to do away with all of our elders toby jo Feb 2014 #3

Just in time for Ragnarok! Champion Jack Feb 2014 #4

There are doubts about whether this ever really happened starroute Feb 2014 #5

Some may be unaware of the origins of the expression "go berserk". Scuba Feb 2014 #6

I highly recommend BBC History magazine Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2014 #7

Is the author trying to maintain that being thrown alive into a pit of poisonous snakes truebluegreen Feb 2014 #8

Or compared to being hanged, drawn, and quartered? geek tragedy Feb 2014 #12

I took a glance at some wiki pages for more background Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #15

The Daily Mail article is extracts from The Northmen’s Fury, by Philip Parker, dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #17

I heard that wife is derived from quif.... idendoit Feb 2014 #19