First we ask the Viking Answer Lady

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/berserke.htm

Next ones' more indepth

http://www.florilegium.org/files/NORSE/Ber...ergang-art.html

And finally we have a self-proclaimed modern berserker, with instructions

http://www.winterscapes.com/uppsala/berserk.htm

So, what's the deal with these mythic characters?

Are they just dark age warriors in a consistent state of Rage?
Drunk, stoned....?
shape-shifters ?

They may have recently found the grave site of Egil Skalla-Grímsson

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview...w_0_a_id=148457

"Born around 910 A.D., Egil early showed considerable promise; he got drunk at three and killed at six. "

awsome thread, vikings kick ass, especially the berserkers, i dont have time to read it all but i surely will, thanks for the links.

They where viking's who went around killing people and taking what they wanted, They where not myth's but another group of vikings only meaner.

Maybe they were just ADHD (but hyperactive to Solicilates (sp?), rather than Artificial Colouring) and were thus incredibly agro if they had some Totamo Juice before they went off to do what good Vikings do...?

My understanding is that berserkers were perfectly normal citizens during times of Peace.

But in battlefield situations they "went berserk" and turned into veritable killing machines. Therefore they were placed in the front lines, where they wanted to be.

One of the most debonair, intelligent and "genuinely nice guy" Hollywood actors, British by birth and education, had the reputation of turning absolutely bloodthirsty in battle during World War Two, when he served (with distinction) in the British Army. As soon as the battle was over he immediately reverted to his normal friendly and genial personality.

If you want to get some more information on berserkers and Vikings in general I highly recommend "The Viking," by Alan Baker. Adam Douglas also has some info about berserkers and Ulfhednir in his book "The Beast Within," which details the legend and mythology of werewolves. And if you just want to research more information on Vikings, "Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga" is a great book.

When I was doing alot of research about the time for a Beowulf project one theory that I came accross which made pretty good sense was that they consumed a 'mushroom' tea (yes, THOSE mushrooms). which could explain why these guys could take an axe to the back and still keep fighting. on 'shrooms and mead im sure you would be pretty hard to control.