Why You Should Visit Heorot Before You Die

The mighty Beowulf recently traveled to Geatland to help the Geats in a match against Grendel, to settle the outcome in single combat. He often found himself in the famed mead-hall "Heorot" , which means "hart," which is a male deer or a stag. The hall was the sight of much merrymaking and drinking and festivities, before and after the defeat of Grendel. The hall has immense significance in its name and is a beautiful historic building with a view.

Hrothgar's lavish, wealthy hall—where his warriors gather to drink and feast and where he holds court —is named for this proud, majestic animal.

Of course, deer aren't just any kind of animal: they're prey animals, hunted by men and other predators. Perhaps this reminds us that Hrothgar's hall was destined to be attacked, again and again, by the (un)friendly local man-eating demon, Grendel.

Heorot represents the brotherhood and unity of the warriors in the tribe.The mead-hall becomes a symbol of power, a place for warriors to display their gold, jewels, armor, wealth, and even their manpower—the number of "thanes," or followers, that they can boast. The mead-hall doubles as a location for feasts and as sleeping quarters for the warriors.

Beowulf and his men went to Heorot first for a formal audience with Hrothgar, second for a feast and wild party, and third, at the end of the night, for a place to bed down with their armor and weapons right beside them, ready for action. The mead-hall is a palace, a cafeteria, a bar, and a barracks all in one—a visible symbol of the intense life of formality, excess, and brutal warfare that medieval warriors led. This historic symbolism of the mead-hall and the fact that the incredible warrior Beowulf was there himself is more than enough reason to visit Heorot once in your lifetime.

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