Some had hammered, metal plates on their helmets used to magically protect them. There is a carving from the eleventh century showing these warriors. It depicts a wolf-mask with a human head looking out and armed with a spear.
Similar masks are used by shamans, acting as spirit receptacles when worn. One of the by-names of Odin, Grim, means 'the masked one' and the old Norse warriors wore a literally grim visage when going about their business.
The Ulfhednar used the superhuman strength of the wolf as their basis for martial arts. Their techniques were fraught with dangers, especially for the uninitiated.
From the Volsunga Saga we can learn some secrets about the Ulfhednar. Sigmund and his son put on wolf skins, agreed to follow certain rules when they fought, 'They spoke in wolf-language,' both understood that speech. The wolf-language is a form of 'call' like the Kiai of oriental martial arts, which has a momentary lowering of the blood pressure of opponents, allowing the warrior to strike. "The Beserks bayed.....the Ulfhednar howled!"
The tradition of the wolf-warriors is not just Nordic. A wolf-like cult is also ascribed to the Celtic race. From the Irish book, "The Wonders of Ireland","For by an evil craft they can at will change themselves into the shape of wolves with sharp tearing teeth."
Feats of arms attributed to members of these warrior clans, and also others bearing names of wolf and bear, are legendary. The greatest Anglo-Saxon poem is about a wolf-cult warrior; "Beowulf". Beowulf is a compound name composed of the Saxon fertility god, Beow and the wolf.
Blessings,
Lory
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