ferlaskipan

Ferlaskipan is a term of Old Norse origin, literally translating to "ship of the dead." It refers to a type of vessel associated with funeral rites and mythological beliefs in Norse culture. While not a distinct shipbuilding type in the same way as a longship or knarr, ferlaskipan represents a conceptual or ritualistic vessel used in burials or as a mode of transport in the afterlife.

Archaeological evidence sometimes suggests that graves, particularly ship burials, may have been intended to facilitate the journey of the deceased to the next world. These burials, often involving the interring of a ship or boat with the individual, could be interpreted as a form of ferlaskipan, providing the means for a voyage. The most famous examples come from Scandinavia, such as the Oseberg ship burial.

In Norse mythology, gods and heroes sometimes used ships for their journeys, and it is believed that the deceased were also expected to embark on a similar passage. The concept of a ship of the dead reflects a deep-seated belief in a continuation of existence beyond mortal life and the importance of a proper transition. The precise nature and form of a ferlaskipan, whether a literal ship, a symbolic representation, or a purely mythical construct, varied across different regions and time periods within Norse influence.