Five new books for those interested in the sagas and society of Iceland during the Middle Ages.
Shapeshifting in Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
July 22, 2017 by
This article aims to cast a light upon the colorful yet largely unknown shapechanging motifs found in Old Norse-Icelandic literature as well as in related literary works conceived from Classical times until the middle of the 16th century
Popular Culture and Royal Propaganda in Norway and Iceland in the 13th century
May 4, 2017 by
Do the kings presented in Strengleikar appear as the European Christian rex justus kings, which was the dominant medieval royal model, or do they convey another image – an image that may be interpreted to explain both the intended function and the popularity of the translations in Norway and Iceland
The use and the abuse of history, national heritage and nationalism
March 29, 2017 by
‘Icelanders or Norwegians? Leifur, Snorri and national identity then and now’ followed by a panel discussion
Book Review: A Medieval Woman’s Companion by Susan Signe Morrison
March 8, 2017 by
Susan Signe Morrison’s book, “A Medieval Woman’s Companion” brings the contributions of medieval women, famous and obscure, to the forefront in this fantastic introductory text.
Environmental Scarcity and Abundance in Medieval Icelandic Literature
February 28, 2017 by
Can medieval literary texts tell us anything about the environmental conditions and the availability of natural resources in premodern times?
The geography of a cemetery – the early Christian cemeteries of Skagafjördur, North Iceland
February 20, 2017 by
In the last decade early Christian churches and cemeteries in the region of Skagafjördur, North Iceland, have been the object of extensive archaeological research.
From Heroic Legend to ‘Medieval Screwball Comedy’? The Origins, Development and Interpretation of the Maiden-King Narrative
February 15, 2017 by
New types of popular texts emerged, bringing with them new images of women, especially the maiden-king or meykongr, a figure that features prominently in many of the late-medieval indigenous romances or (frumsamdar) riddarasögur.
Historical Oddity: The Birth of a Commonwealth in Medieval Iceland
November 21, 2016 by
Iceland is an odd place with an odd history. Despite being ranked among the wealthiest nations today, for much of its history it was left out of the growth and development of culture and technology throughout the Medieval period. It has never been a particularly hospitable environment for human habitation. Wind-blasted, cold, and rocky, it was an island left unsettled by humans long after it was discovered.
Was it for walrus? Viking Age settlement and medieval walrus ivory trade in Iceland and Greenland
November 11, 2016 by
The Norse expansion into the North Atlantic is remarkable testimony to the maritime transformation of the early medieval world.
Norse North Atlantic Textiles and Textile Production: A Reflection of Adaptive Strategies in Unique Island Environments
October 6, 2016 by
Textile production was a key industry for the Norse colonies of the North Atlantic during the late Viking and Medieval period.
Landscape, Maternal Space, And Child Exposure In The Sagas Of Icelanders
September 17, 2016 by
A survey of these episodes, then, suggests that maternal space in the sagas reasserts itself generally—and particularly reasserts itself onto the northern landscape—during instances of child exposure, where this mode of attempted infanticide takes on a variant meaning in Northern societies than it would from more Southern ones.
Kings, Wars, and Duck Eggs: Interpretations of Poetry in Egil’s Saga
September 9, 2016 by
Although Egil’s Saga is memorable enough for its bloodshed, feuds, and comically disgusting mead-hall scenes, the one characteristic which most distinctly sets it apart from the other Icelandic sagas is its extensive use of poetry.
Horse-fights: the Brutal Entertainment of the Icelanders in the Middle Ages
August 6, 2016 by
For medieval Icelanders, horses were among the most important animals. It should come as no surprise, as they were used for transport, in pagan rites, eating, and also for sports.
Pulling the Strings: The Influential Power of Women in Viking Age Iceland
January 28, 2016 by
Icelandic women during the Viking Age managed households, raised their children, tended to the animals, and wove the cloth, along with a host of other duties overlooked by their male counterparts.
Snorri Sturluson: Viking Mythographer and Historian
December 29, 2015 by
I shall first tell you briefly about Snorri’s background and his education and discuss his Edda, where he appears as mythographer, among other things, and then tell you about his career as a politician and discuss his Sagas of the Norwegian Kings.
Did People Ice Skate in the Middle Ages?
December 19, 2015 by
How did medieval people pass the time during the coldest part of the year? I came across several instances of medieval people strapping on skates and taking a twirl (or a tumble!) on the ice. Here is how it all began!
7 Things One Should Know When Dealing with Kings: The Icelander’s Version
November 29, 2015 by
Here is MaryAnn R. Adams’ winning advice on how to deal with Norse kings.
Skriðuklaustur monastery: Medical Centre of Medieval East Iceland?
November 5, 2015 by
Skriðuklaustur monastery was the youngest of nine cloisters operated in Iceland during the Catholic period of the Middle Ages.
‘Hann lá eigi kyrr’: Revenants and a Haunted Past in the Sagas of Icelanders
October 28, 2015 by
From Antiquity to the present day, the idea of the dead returning to interact with the living has greatly influenced human imagination, and this has been reflected in literature — the product of that imagination.
Dental Health in Viking Age Icelanders
September 30, 2015 by
The purpose of the study was to evaluate dental health in Iceland 1000 years ago.
30 Sagas in 30 Days on Twitter
September 22, 2015 by
This month, a scholar is using Twitter to tell the stories of thirty lesser known tales written by Icelanders.
Telling the Story of the Ivory Vikings
September 13, 2015 by
One book leads to the next. It’s a truism among writers, and particularly apt for explaining how my latest book, Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them, published by St Martin’s Press in September, came to be.
Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them
September 8, 2015 by
Read an excerpt from the latest book by Nancy Marie Brown
Last Laughs: Torture in Medieval Icelandic Literature
August 29, 2015 by
Medieval Icelandic literature is full of violence, calculated and reasoned violence, narrated in such a way as to focus largely on issues of personal honor and justice, less so on the spectacle of blood so common in the modem Hollywood action film.
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