Who would be a Murdoch? The name was once synonymous with power: a few weeks ago Rupert et al could not be referred to without the phrase "the Murdoch empire" following closely behind. Now, as the empire teeters, "Murdoch" signals dirty dealings, the murky machinations of a multinational and an old Australian man losing control.

The Murdochs originally came from Scotland (say the name in a thick Scottish accent, with a big rolling "r" in the middle - it makes more sense and becomes much more fun). Rev Patrick John Murdoch, Rupert's grandfather, moved from Cruden in Scotland to Australia in 1884. Look at Cruden on the map, right up on the north-east coast about 20 miles above Aberdeen, and you get a sense of what old Rupes is made of. I don't know if you've been to Aberdeen, but I have - it's a beautiful place, but cold, so very cold. And wet. You have to be a sturdy sort to survive an Aberdonian winter.

There's plenty of Scot still left in Rupert, if you think about it: he's resilient, and doesn't seem to feel the icy winds of fear that plague the rest of us. He's probably got some residual tough-nut Norse in him, too (they invaded Scotland in the 8th century). The name Murdoch comes from the Gaelic Murchad, meaning "sea-warrior". And there suddenly you have it: a vision of Rupert Murdoch as a ruthless Viking, blond locks beneath horned helmet. The wrangling inside News International is just the modern, corporate equivalent of a Norse war; phone-hacking is the new pillaging, Rebekah Brooks the fallen warrior queen.

Rebekah, in case you were wondering, comes from the Hebrew (in the Bible, she was the wife of Isaac, a sort of early version of Ross Kemp) and means "connection", or more literally "tied up". It's apt: think how Brooks bound herself to the mast of the Murdoch Viking ship to see out the engulfing storm (pushed all the oarsmen overboard while she hid in the captain's cabin, more like). Brooks even used ship lingo in her resignation when she said her "desire to remain on the bridge" had made her a focal point. Now she's overboard, too, and it's only Rupert left, the ageing captain, clinging on to the wheel. l