Viking visits to Scarborough are highlighted by two brothers called Thorgils and Kormak. Thorgils was known to his brother by the nickname "Hare Lip", or in Viking "Skarthi". The brothers were in the service of the king of Norway, Harold Grafeld (960 - 965AD). They were involved in expeditions to Ireland, Wales, and Northern Russia (966AD), before establishing a Strong hold in Scarborough.

Kormak died in England in 967AD suggesting that there visit to Scarborough was around 966AD - 967AD. There is not much known of the indigenous inhabitants of Scarborough at this time.

Scarborough, as a place, is first mentioned in Viking sagas. In the Kormaks saga , "Flateyjarbok" Scarborough is known as Skarthborg, and in the Orkneyinga saga Scarborough is referred to as Skarthabork.

It is from the Vikings that we gain our first practical understanding of the religious beliefs of the Germanic tribes. It can be deduced (based on the names of places, "Christian" religious dates, and the writings of Bede (an Anglo-Saxon scholar and monk of the eight century) that the Anglo-Saxons of Great Britain held many of the same Viking beliefs until they were converted to Christianity in the late 6th century by missionaries and monks under the direction of St. Augustine who was sent to England to convert the pagan English by Pope Gregory I .

What is apparent is that the Germanic tribes believed in gods, demigods (progeny from god/human relations), and giants. They had expansive sagas of these super-beings with heroes such as Odin, Thor and Eostre. These gods required sacrifices both human and animal and various rituals were performed to appease/invoke their support.

It is interesting to note that the belief in gods, demigods and giants has its roots in Sumerian civilisation , and expanded into Egyptian, Greek, Roman and even pre-diluvian Judaeo-Christian (reference: Genesis) religion and legends.