our lucky viking sheep's knux gift.


NorsePlay was recently gifted a very well thought out belated birthday present: An authentic Viking Age lead weighted astragalus, or sheep's knucklebone, a predecessor to the modern 6-sided die we all game with today. The convex narrow side was counted as 1, the convex broad side as 3, the concave broad side as 4, and the concave narrow side as 6. Lacking hands, sheep don't actually have knuckles -- this is a pastern bone which sits above the hoof.

[Thanks to Kara Lynn for the artifact, the Valknut die bag, and the Norway map wrapping paper.]

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Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants at age seven. Since then he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the Map of Midgard project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. If you have employment/opportunities in investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer, do contact him.

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