Okay, forget for a minute that the whole series is a mix of legend and 9th century(?) history. Forget that it's just a historical fiction TV series.
Where in the hell did they find all those snakes? Yeah, they were mostly constrictors so let's not focus on the biting, etc. I'm just curious how a king could apparently have a breeding program for snakes in sunny ol' England. There has to be one since I can't see finding volunteers to crawl down into that pit to retrieve them to use in the pit back at the castle. And why multiple pits? Greater seating capacity at the outdoor venue??
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The artist formerly known as AllenInWV
November 23, 2018, 05:16 PM
copaup
What did you think St Patrick did with all the snakes in Ireland. Had to go somewhere...
November 23, 2018, 06:04 PM
DSgrouse
well shit you ruined the whole show for me. Going to go watch the View reruns.
November 23, 2018, 07:17 PM
2000Z-71
I haven't watched since season 2, so not sure of the reference. But the legend was the English threw Ragnar into a pit of vipers and his sons took vengeance.
My daughter can deflate your daughter's soccer ball.
November 23, 2018, 07:45 PM
SevenPlusOne
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit"
November 23, 2018, 09:56 PM
AllenInAR
quote:
Originally posted by 2000Z-71: I haven't watched since season 2, so not sure of the reference. But the legend was the English threw Ragnar into a pit of vipers and his sons took vengeance.
That's pretty much it. Except the snakes in question were pretty obviously boas and pythons. I'm just wondering where they got "vipers" from. Europe is not really a hotbed for snakes!
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The artist formerly known as AllenInWV
November 23, 2018, 10:01 PM
P220 Smudge
quote:
The name 'adder' is derived from nædre, an Old English word that had the generic meaning of serpent in the older forms of many Germanic languages. It was commonly used in the Old English version of the Christian Scriptures for the devil and the serpent in the Book of Genesis.[5][9] In the 14th century, 'a nadder' in Middle English was rebracketed to 'an adder' (just as 'a napron' became 'an apron' and 'a nompere' changed into 'an umpire').
In keeping with its wide distribution and familiarity through the ages, Vipera berus has a large number of common names in English, which include:
Common European adder,[3] common European viper,[4] European viper,[10] northern viper,[11] adder, common adder, crossed viper, European adder,[12] common viper, European common viper, cross adder,[13] or common cross adder.[14] In Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the snake is known as hugorm, hoggorm and huggorm, roughly translated as 'striking snake'. In Finland, it is known as kyykäärme or simply kyy, in Estonia it is known as rästik, while in Lithuania it is known as angis.
In the sagas, Ragnar is thrown into a pit of vipers by king Aella. While this species of snake isn't as venemous as some others, if you were tossed into a pit of them and received multiple bites and had nowhere to go without stepping on a snake, I can't imagine one would survive back in those days.
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November 24, 2018, 06:17 AM
AllenInAR
I was just reading about that. According to Wikipedia, there are only three species of snakes in England, the adder being one. LOL Funny stuff.
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The artist formerly known as AllenInWV
November 24, 2018, 08:24 AM
DSgrouse
4 if you count black adder
November 24, 2018, 01:29 PM
corsair
quote:
Originally posted by DSgrouse: 4 if you count black adder
November 24, 2018, 07:15 PM
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"OP is a troll" - Flashlightboy, 12/18/20
November 25, 2018, 06:39 AM
Ragnar
Actually it was a pit full of wolves. I would know.
Live every day as if it is your last, for one day you’re sure to be right
November 25, 2018, 03:50 PM
P220 Smudge
______________________________________________ Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
