blood eagle

blood eagle (plural blood eagles)

1. A method of Viking ritual execution, in which the ribs are opened from the back, and the lungs pulled out and arranged to resemble wings.
   • 2019, “Blood Eagle”, performed by Periphery:

     Blood eagle
     Blood eagle is the destroyer
     Blood eagle will set the wicked free
     Rip the body from the bone now
     Spread the heavens' wings
     Show Valhalla glory and memory
     Let ‘em, let ‘em
     Let the Christians sing

• Some historians maintain that blood eagle executions were actually never carried out, and that the concept is based on misinterpretation of the Norse sagas.