Category Archives: Features

The Norse people never had a word for the soul until they converted to Christianity. Shortly after that we don’t really refer to them as Norse anymore, and terms like Nordic come into being or the national identities of Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish as we leave the period traditionally known as the Dark Ages. WeContinue reading “A Sense of Self: The Norse Identity”

Today we’re going to look at some of the Viking hoards that have been discovered! It is a dream of mine to discover a Viking or Anglo-Saxon hoard (or anything of historical significance, to be honest!) Some of these boards are truly incredible… The Vale of York Hoard The Vale of York Hoard, also knownContinue reading “Famous Viking Hoards”

We often hear of the heroes of Greek Mythology in everyday life and popular culture. Most people will be familiar with at least one of Achilles, Perseus, Hector or Theseus. But do they know of Sigurd, the main hero of the Norse sagas? How about Gunnar and Hogni, Hrolf Kraki or Brunhilde? I’d wager peopleContinue reading “Heroes of the Sagas”

Translated with commentary and notes by Rowdy Geirsson In 2019, an abandoned smartphone was found partially buried beneath layers of sediment and urine behind a dive bar in a South Boston alleyway. This forgotten relic was soon revealed to contain a remarkable audio text recorded by an anonymous poet who describes in great detail theContinue reading “A LOST TALE FROM THE IMPUDENT EDDA:THOR AND LOKI GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING”

By Joshua Gillingham This article is based on Peter Hallberg’s 1975 publication ‘Old Icelandic Poetry: Eddic Lay and Skaldic Verse’ as well as Haukur Þorgeirsson and Óskar Guðlaugsson’s ‘Old Norse for Beginners’. #Norsevemeber is well underway and the internet is abuzz with all things Viking. But who were these pagan Norse that colour our imaginationsContinue reading “Wielder of Words: On Vikings & Poetry”

As you’re looking into the Æsir and the Norse mythology and perhaps finding out more during Norsevember, you may come across a theory that the Æsir Gods were real kings and warriors from history. Here’s a short post having a quick look at this. The term euhemerism doesn’t just apply to the Norse Gods, butContinue reading “Euhemerism; The Gods as Real People!?”

Many people today see Vikings with the mythical romanticism shared by knights, samurai and ‘swashbuckling pirates’ of the 17th century. DNA tests to find out if you have Viking DNA are increasingly popular. Although I include myself among those who’d find it cool to have some viking ancestry, the Anglo Saxons, Normans (Norsemen who settledContinue reading “The Anglo Saxons & The Norse”

Erik Bloodaxe, or Eiríkr Haraldsson, is probably one of the best-known names in Viking history! He was known in Old Norse as Eiríkr blóðøx, and reigned for a short time as King of Norway and twice as King of Northumbria (c. 947-948 and 952-954). Erik was the son of the Norwegian King Harald Fairhair, theContinue reading “Erik Bloodaxe”

I almost started this post making some Dad joke about Vinland being a disappointment because it wasn’t full of wine. Turns out however, that this is exactly why it was named Vinland. The Norse name for the land they discovered reflected reality. Archaeological discoveries at L’Anse aux Meadows proved that the Norse travelled to this place whereContinue reading “Vinland”