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Book review: Echoes of Valhalla – The Afterlife of the Eddas and Sagas by Jón Karl Helgason
What do a wall at the Sorbonne in Paris, the comic book Journey into Mystery #83, and the obscure Swedish 1990s band Bathory have in common? This isn't the start of a bad joke – all three show the fingerprints of the long cultural reach of the Old Norse sagas and eddas.1 year ago — Reviews -
Book review: Muslims on the Volga during the Viking Age – In the Footsteps of Ibn Fadlan
Worlds collide in this collection of more than 19 essays that detail interactions between the Islamic world, people from Viking societies, and a myriad of other cultures along the Volga River during the 10th century.1 year ago — Reviews -
Where can people learn Old Norse today?
Ever wanted to speak like a Viking? Here's how you can begin today!2 years ago — Culture and religion -
Book review: God's Hammer by Eric Schumacher
God's Hammer is a thrilling romp that explains the "backstory" and formative years of one of Norway's most consequential kings, Håkon the Good.2 years ago — Reviews -
Bragi: The divine poet of Norse mythology
The rich tapestry of sagas and poems that Viking societies left behind extends well beyond their reputation as fierce warriors. In fact, in the world of early medieval Scandinavia, poetry was held in such high regard that it was worshipped in the form of a god, Bragi.2 years ago — Culture and religion -
Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir: Mother to kings in Norse sagas
The daughter of one Viking king, wife to another, and the mother of at least two more, Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir was an influential woman in an era of hyper-masculinity and entrenched patriarchy.2 years ago — History -
The skalds of Scandinavia: Viking poets and their legacy
Whilst their martial prowess and naval skills dominate popular imagination, people from Viking societies also had a softer, more cultured set of skills. Skalds, the fabled poets of the Viking Age, were known for their unique and complex poetic forms and were also crowd-pleasing entertainers.2 years ago — Culture and religion -
Book review: Fin Gall by James L. Nelson
Titled after the Gaelic term for Vikings of Norwegian descent, this first installment of the series introduces us to the "White Strangers," who raid Ireland in 852.2 years ago — Reviews
