Boars and Pigs
Common to the southern portions of Scandinavia was the pig. Pigs of the Viking Age were descended from the Eurasian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Although pigs were known throughout Scandinavia, pig farming was particularly important in the south, especially in southern Sweden and Denmark.
Pigs were esteemed within the Viking religion as well, within the cults of the Vanic gods Freyr and Freyja. Freyr's steed was the magical boar Gullinbursti ("golden-bristled") whose bristles were golden and shining like the sun. Not only a god of fertility and plenty, Freyr was also a warrior god, and thus Viking Age warriors believed that wearing the symbol of Freyr's boar upon their helmets would protect them in battle.
Freyja, the sister of Freyr, also had a magical boar-steed, Hildisvín ("battle-swine") that she rode when she was not using her cat-drawn chariot. It is interesting to note that the Swedish kings were said to own a legendary helm, also called Hildisvín.