Tribal Totem

Animal totems played an important role in barbarian myths and legends. Many, like the pig or the serpent, were considered links between our world and the Otherworld. Some were seen as omens; a white stag for example was a sign of the ‘Wild Hunt’ - a group of ghostly hunters who rode through the sky looking for the spirits of the recently deceased. Others, like the bear, the boar and the bull were worshipped for their strength and power, and featured heavily in weapon and shield designs.