Vikings! ‘Tis But A Scratch: Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages
In this episode of the podcast “‘Tis But A Scratch”: Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages, co-hosts Richard Abels and his wife Ellen Abels explain who and what “Vikings” really were, what historical factors contributed to the advent of the Viking Age.
The Viking Blood Eagle: Horrific Ritual or Horrific Metaphor?
As described in a number of sagas, the “blood eagle” was a particularly gruesome form of ritual sacrifice of high-status captives to the god Odin. Historians have debated whether this ritual was an actual practice or an invention of thirteenth-century saga writers based on a misunderstanding of an eleventh-century skaldic poem.
New Medieval Books: The Book of Icelanders
The Book of Icelanders (Íslendingabók) by Ari Thorligsson is a twelfth-century history of Iceland, including its settlement, Christianization and its first bishops. This book includes the Old Norse text and two kinds of translation: a literal one and a regular English translation.
The Most Important Quality of a Viking Warrior
What qualities defined a great Viking warrior?
Intriguing Skull Modifications Discovered in Viking Women
A recent study delves into the discovery of three women from Viking-Age Gotland who underwent skull elongation. This investigation sheds light on the fascinating tradition of body modification prevalent among the Norse and Vikings.
Vikings and Cats
Did the Vikings keep cats as pets? A recent study reveals that felines were much more part of Norse society than previously believed.
Ship burial discovered in Norway predates Viking Age
A burial mound explored last June in Norway holds the remains of a ship that predates the Viking age. Archaeologists believe this is Scandinavia’s oldest known ship burial.
Why Viking clothing was so bold and colourful
How did the Norse dress in the Viking Age? It might surprise readers to find out that the Vikings wore vivid colours, flowing silk ribbons, and glittering bits of mirrors.
Medieval and Viking-Age artifacts discovered in Norway
A very rare Byzantine coin is among dozens of medieval and Viking-era objects discovered in eastern Norway last year. Officials with Innlandet County Municipality have released details of items found by metal detectorists, including buckles, seals and pieces from swords.
The early Vikings of Dublin and why some of them moved to Wirral
Clare Downham talls about why Vikings came to the Wirral and why the area would have been attractive to them.
The Battle of Nisa (1062)
It is a clash between Viking kings, as Harald Hardrada of Norway faces off against Sweyn II of Denmark. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this naval battle and how it was told by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson.
Glaurung, Heir of Fáfnir: Tolkien’s Reading of Old Norse Dragon Myth
In Old Norse legend and literature, Fáfnir is the quintessential dragon, present in numerous sources through the ages, influencing all other narratives. This paper looks at that influence on Tolkien as he created the dragon Glaurung in his fictional world of Middle Earth.
Oral Health of the Vikings detailed in new study
Widespread caries and toothache – but also some dental work and filing of front teeth. Viking Age teeth from Sweden bear witness to surprisingly advanced dentistry.
New Medieval Books: The Vanished Settlers of Greenland
There was a small Norse colony in Greenland during the Middle Ages. Centuries later, Danes and other Europeans came to this region to search for what happened to these people, leading to new encounters with the Inuit and much speculation about the fate of this colony.
New Medieval Books: American Vikings
The first part of this details the Norse arrival in North America, incorporating the latest research on the topic. The second part examines how Americans have been fascinated by the Viking mythos and its effects on culture and politics in the United States.
St Olaf: An International Norwegian Saint
Seven papers from the Dublin Festival of History, International Viking Seminar 2023
American Vikings?
In my book American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America, I explore the evidence for this in the literary sources and archaeology; and, also, in the way this idea has fed into the cultural DNA of North America and especially the USA.
Nearly 500,000 Dirhams were buried in Viking-Age Scandinavia, study finds
A new study reveals that silver coins from the medieval Islamic world were incredibly prevalent in Viking-Age Scandinavia. In fact, Scandinavian museums possess almost 500,000 dirhams, more than any other place in the world and shows that the Norse had an intense desire for silver.
American Vikings with Martyn Whittock
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Martyn Whittock about Vikings and their influence on American culture.
Runestones reveal story of Viking Queen
Archaeologists have used 3D scanning to investigate inscriptions carved on two groups of runestones, in Denmark revealing that four stones were likely made in dedication to a powerful Viking Queen from the tenth century.
Glass windows could be found in Viking-Age Denmark and Sweden, study finds
New research has revealed that the Vikings had windows with glass panes as early as the 9th century. While glazed windows are associated with medieval churches and castles, we have plenty of examples from Viking-age Denmark and Sweden.
Viking-age bronze buckle discovered in Gotland
Two medieval buckles were discovered this summer on the southern part of the Swedish island of Gotland. The first one was spotted by an 8-year-old boy.
The Norse and the Sea: the Maritime Cultural Landscape of Scandinavian Scotland
This paper presents early results of the ongoing research project The Norse and the Sea with particular emphasis on the fieldwork carried out on the Isle of Eigg in September 2022.