Blood Eagle

The "Blood Eagle" is an infamous form of execution / human sacrifice reportedly committed by the ancient Norse, especially those who would become known as Vikings: however historians have debated for some time whether or not the practice truly occured or whether it was the invention of later writers.

According to legend the "Blood Eagle" involved cutting a victim open and spreading their ribcage out, like the wings of a bird - the victim's entrails would then be forced through the spaces of the ribcage: supposedly the victim would also be offered to Odin, the chief god of Norse mythology.