BERSERKER, in Scandinavian mythology, the name of the twelve sons of Berserk, grandson of the eight-handed Starkadder and Alfhilde (from the "sark" or shirt of bearskin worn by them) . Berserk was famed for the reckless fury with which he fought, always going into battle without armour. In Old Norse the term berserker was later applied to the bodyguards of several of the Scandinavian heroes.