Blood eagle

Blood eagle is a ritual method of execution mentioned several times in Skaldic poetry. It also is mentioned in Vikingane by Orm and in Season 3, Episode 6: Scrotum Whipping by Hildur, where Orm should be executed by this method. The practice included placing the victims flat with their bellies on the ground and to cut their ribs from the spine. The ribs/lungs then were spread to both sides - thus creating the "eagle wings". It is not sure if this probably is a misinterpretation of the texts or if the practice was really executed.


 * Vikingane mentions this practice also in Season 1 in Episode 5: The Siege when the Viking crew returns to Norheim. Orm wants to keep the crew quiet about their last raid, so he threatens everyone on board to be blood eagled if they talked about it.
 * Later in Season 1 in Episode 5, Jarl Varg orders his men to tie up Orm and wants to execute the blood eagle on him to demonstrate strength.

More

 * Wikipedia article
 * Orkneyinga saga
 * Heimskringla
 * In he game "The Hellblade", the lover of main character Senua was sacrificed that way by Northmen - read more about it on The Hellblade Wiki.
 * The History Channel TV-Show "Vikings" also shows this execution in Season 2, Episode 7: Blood Eagle. There, Jarl Borg (played by Thorbjørn Harr who also portrays Jarl Bjørn in Norsemen) is executed that way by Ragnar Lothbrok. Same fate happens to King Ælle when the Lothbrok sons avenge their father's execution. You can join the Vikings Wiki here!.