Prayers Before Battle - "The 13th Warrior"

My favorite scene from "The 13th Warrior", showing preparations and prayers of the remaining warriors before the final battle.

Muslim prayer: ""Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But, at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. ... For all we ought to have thought and have not thought, all we ought to have said and have not said, all we ought to have done and have not done, I pray thee, God, for forgiveness."

Viking prayer: "Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla where the brave may live forever."

FOOTAGE FROM "THE 13TH WARRIOR" © TOUCHSTONE PICTURES, PROPERTY OF TOUCHSTONE PICTURES

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• The 13th Warrior
• Antonio Banderas
• prayer
• Viking
• Muslim
• battle

[Ovrkyl]

"A little religious communications might not be a bad idea at this stage of the game. Now myself, I don't take any chances. I talk to Muhammad, Buddha, Mr. Jesus H. Christ, and any other religious honchos I can come up with. There is no such thing as an atheist in a combat situation. Now we don't have a chaplain here, but I don't see that as any major setback. You can rest assured you will not go in that bag until I have said a few appropriate words over you." - R. Lee Ermey

[9sunlotionisgay9]

"Lo der ser jeg min far, Lo der ser jeg min mor, mine søstre og mine brødre, Lo der ser jeg min slægt tilbage til begyndelsen, Lo de kalder på mig, de byder mig at tage plads mellem dem i Valhalla's haller, hvor de modige skal leve forevigt"

The danish translation of the viking prayer, and though danish today is nowhere close to the old viking language, I felt it was the right thing to do.

[Ovrkyl]

@9sunlotionisgay9 Very nice. Thanks for the translation, though I have no idea how to actually pronounce it.

[Mabelreign]

Epic movie, and great performances all round. I don't care about the supposed inauthentic prayer and the anachronistic weapons and armour; it is a great and timeless story of brave men in battle and that proclamation we see here sums up neatly what we imagine they thought in those days. Love the movie, and especially love this clip. Thanks for posting it.

[Ovrkyl]

@Mabelreign My pleasure.

[hashashin821]

I was at Epcot a couple months ago with my wife and we were at the Norway exhibit looking at viking artifacts. I began this prayer and to my surprise several men in the room joined in :) We all then got some mead and exchanged emails.

[Ovrkyl]

@hashashin821 That would've been so cool to witness/be a part of.

[Ovrkyl]

A great quote from "Kingdom of Heaven".

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion' I've seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God. I've seen too much religion in the eyes of too many murderers. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. And goodness, what God desires, is here (points to the head) and here (points to the heart). By what you decide to do every day, you will be a good man. Or not."

[Rhyas9]

He could have been praying to [name]. Not important. What is important is he found strength in his faith. Otherwise why even pray?

I'm not going to join in the "my religion's better than yours" argument. It's an argument that has no winner, but many losers.

[TheHellgame]

This whole scene is made to feel proud for being a human.

[Rhyas9]

@dizzypilots1 [You're] free to have [your] own opinion on the subject. Doesn't help [your case] though if [you're] trying to force [your] opinion on others with insults.

C wat I did thar?

[dizzypilots1]

@Rhyas9 your an idiot,death settles who is a winner and a loser.your guessing like the rest.

[MgoNoob]

Buliwyf = Beowulf