Starkad The Viking – Legendary Norse Hero Who Was Both Blessed And Cursed By Gods

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Starkad, also known as Starkodder, is an Old Norse hero from several ancient legends that portray him as a great warrior who performed heroic deeds and committed notorious crimes.

“Blessed by Odin, cursed by Thor, Starkad is doomed to wander the world for three lifespans, committing a criminal deed in each. Hated by the people, loved by murderers and tyrants, he seeks only peace, but his destiny is endless war…” writes Gavin Chappell in his book ‘Starkad the Viking.’

There may have been several different heroes with the same name, but basically, there are two individuals named Starkad.

One of them was the descendant of giants with six or eight arms. Another Starkad, who had the last name Aludreng, was the grandfather of the most famous Starkad.

Aludreng was a divine hero and the foster son of Odin, the Norse god of war and magic. Starkad was of half-giant descent, and already, as a child, like the Jotuns living in Jötunheimr, he had a higher nature than ordinary humans usually have.