The Nordic Roots Behind Our Viking Pet T-Shirts
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Updated Oct 23, 2025
Growing up in southwestern Sweden, history was never far away. Nearby runestones and ancient burial sites on school field trips captivated me from an early age. That passion eventually led me to become a high school history teacher and although I no longer teach history in the classroom, I’ve found a new way to use my passion for history — through design.
The Viking Runestone Near My Home
Just ten minutes from my home stands a runestone that has likely remained in its place for over a thousand years. Today it sits in the middle of a pasture (bull free, at least the day I visited...). The inscription speaks of loyalty, loss and friendship:
"Tord raised his stone in honor of his father, Funnen — a truly god thegn — and his brother Esbjörn, a very capable young man"
I was especially touched when the owner of the house next to pasture told me he and his wife were married at this runestone more than 40 years ago. To me, that moment reflected what these stones truly are — not just remnants of the past, but markers of continuity, meaning, and love — across generations.
Cats, dogs and Vikings: A True Story
While studying runestones and gravesites, you get a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived in that place. A name mentioned, traditions in that time, and findings about their companions. Among those companions were cats and dogs. Far from being just pets, cats and dogs held a special place in Norse society. They protected food stores from mice or your house from strangers, and were cherished members of households. They even held symbolic and spiritual significance. In Norse mythology, the goddess Freya — associated with love, fertility, and war — drove a chariot pulled by two mighty cats. Dogs and wolfs also play a central part in the mythology, as guardians of the underworld and greeters of their masters in Valhalla. Both cat-and dog bones have been found in Viking Age graves. These findings show that they were respected, useful, and even divine.
A Tribute to Pets Through the Ages
That rich legacy is part of what makes combining Norse themes and pets into appareol dssigns o meaningful to me. It’s not just playful — it’s rooted in a thousand years of history. Viking Creatures Co are therefore not only a tribute to our beloved pets today, or to my Norse ancestors (at least geographically). It's but also to all the cats and dogs who have been part of people’s lives over the past thousand years.
Curious for More? Here’s What’s Coming
In future posts, We’ll explore more Viking-age curiosities — including just how cats and dogs earned their place in Norse homes and hearts. We’ll also go more into our Norse mythology cat and dog designs and the inspiration behind them. Until then: may your pet rule your home like Freya ruled the skies.