The oldest Parliament in the world is the Alþingi of Iceland which was founded in 930AD.
Dark Ages
Why are months so weird?
Calendars throughout history have struggled to be logical and maintain synchronism between the lunar cycle (about 29.5 days) and the solar year (about 365.25 days). Most systems include a bodge factor or intercalary months or days to bring things back into line, with varying degrees of accuracy. Sumerian The ancient Continue Reading
Norse Gods nearly every weekday
With the exception of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the days of the week are named after Norse Gods: Sunday Old English Sunnandæg meaning “Sun’s day”. Monday Old English Mōnandæg meaning “Moon’s day”. Tuesday Old English Tīwesdæg meaning “Tiw’s day”. Tiw (Týr in Norse) is a one-handed god associated with law and heroic glory. Continue Reading
Insulting a Viking
Insulting a Viking is comparable to taunting a teenage boy, but with greater consequences. The greatest insult was to suggest that a man was sansorðinn — “used in the position of a female (blauðr) by another man.” The consequence of this could be fullrettirsorð “full penalty,” in which the insulted man could kill Continue Reading