WHAT’S IN A NAME?

"Ormsgard" is the modern, plural, Anglicised version of the Old Icelandic/Norse compound noun Ormgarðr, Serpent-garden i.e. Snake pit. The prefix 'Ormr' means 'serpent, snake' and 'garðr' literally translates as 'yard, gard or garden'. It is etymologically related to the name of the god Freyr's consort the giantess Gerðr, the 'Girder'. The Indo-European root of garðr is *gherdh - which conveys the meaning of 'surrounding, enclosing'.

This name was chosen because of the allusion to the mythological snake-pits that housed the death scenes of two great Norse heroes, Ragnar Loðbrók of Krákumál and Gunnarr from Völsunga saga.

Both these men faced violent and painful deaths with great courage, both brave in the clutches of implacable fate. We strive to emulate them, not only on the battlefield but in all that we do!

All members of Ormsgard are expected to have successfully completed a minimum probationary period of at least one year before becoming a full member of the Warband and taking on the mantle of a "Greyback". Like the serpents spoken of by our ancestors, as an individual develops and grows they will shed their skins many times over before at Yule they may dance the warband's Gothikon, pass under spears, accept a draught from the Valkyrja, be sprinkled with water and have their group name officially bestowed upon them...