Today I chat with Professor Gísli Sigurðsson of the University of Iceland about Laxdæla saga. We discuss the origin of this well-known Icelandic saga, the key characters it features, and whether it should be considered a historical source.
Referenced in Today’s Episode:
Libromania – A Podcast for Book Lovers
Medieval Icelandic Saga and Oral Tradition: A Discourse on Method.
Gaelic Influence in Iceland
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Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr


Laxdæla Saga: Origins of the Icelandic Sagas w/ Dr. Gísli Sigurðsson

A podcast featuring scholarly discussions about Vikings, Norse myth, & the history of medieval Scandinavia. Hosted by Noah Tetzner.
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Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofviking Visit my friend and Swedish blacksmith, Philip Lufolk: https://lufolk.com Medieval Scandinavians and other Germanic peoples celebrated a holiday called Yule during the time of year when days became longer and winter was at its peak.  What was this holiday and how was it celebrated? Do we have surviving evidence for what happened at Yule celebrations during the Viking Age?  In today’s holiday-themed episode, I’m joined by Dr. Terry Gunnell, Professor Emeritus of Folkloristics at the University of Iceland and returning podcast guest. Dr. Gunnell was kind enough to answer my call for his expertise when it comes to the winter holiday of Yule. Be sure to check out his previous interviews on The History of Vikings, which are the episodes titled ‘’Norse Mythology & a Pantheon of Gods’’ and ‘’Historical Worship of the Norse Gods’’. Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofviking Visit my friend and Swedish blacksmith, Philip Lufolk: https://lufolk.com

Viking Yule: The Norse Winter Holiday & the Wild Hunt w/ Dr. Terry Gunnell

Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofviking During the Middle Ages, seafaring Scandinavian marauders wrought havoc in lands both near and far—from Iceland to Finland, and Córdoba to Constantinople. These were warriors who belonged to an altogether violent society. They are known to us today as Vikings.  One may read about their military exploits in Old Norse sagas and the chronicles of Christian monks; walk across the remains of warships and ring fortresses, or behold their carefully preserved weapons in some of Europe’s finest museums.  Yet, it has always been unclear to me how the Vikings fought. Did they use battle tactics? Were young warriors formally trained for battle? How should we understand warfare as it relates to the Viking way of life?  Today on the podcast, we’ll be addressing all of this and more in an exciting episode about Viking combat.  Joining me to discuss this topic is William R. Short, manager and lead researcher of Hurstwic, a New England-based organization devoted to Viking culture. In addition to co-authoring his latest book, William wrote Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques along with Icelanders in the Viking Age.  I’m also joined today by Reynir A. Óskarson, an Icelandic martial arts instructor and combat researcher at Hurstwic. Reynir has been recognized by the Wrestling Association of Iceland for his study of glíma, the Viking-age empty-hand combat that evolved into Iceland's national sport. William and Reynir authored a book entitled Men of Terror: A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat. Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofviking

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Today I chat with Dr. Christian Cooijmans, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Liverpool and author of Monarchs and Hydrarchs: The Conceptual Development of Viking Activity across the Frankish Realm (c. 750–940) Referenced in Today’s Episode: Monarchs and Hydrarchs ''Down by the River: Exploring the Logistics of Viking Encampment across Atlantic Europe'' Follow Dr. Christian Cooijmans on Academia.edu Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr

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Today I chat with Dr. Leszek Gardeła, a Researcher at the National Museum of Denmark and author of multiple books on the Viking Age.  Support this podcast by visiting our sponsor, Atlas VPN: https://get.atlasvpn.com/Vikings Referenced in Today’s Episode: Women and Weapons in the Viking World: Amazons of the North Follow Dr. Leszek Gardeła on Academia.edu Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr

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Today I chat with Dr. Tom Shippey, a renowned British scholar and leading academic on the works of J.R.R. Tolkein.  Support this podcast by visiting our sponsor, Atlas VPN: https://get.atlasvpn.com/Vikings Referenced in Today’s Episode: Beowulf and the North Before the Vikings Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr

Laxdæla Saga: Origins of the Icelandic Sagas w/ Dr. Gísli Sigurðsson

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