Vatnsdal chieftains and their family over six generations. In this episode, we

clumsily attempt to trace the final three generations of this remarkable

family.  We’ve crammed a lot into this

episode and we barely scratch the surface.

Thorsteinsson (led by the bickering brothers Thorstein and Jokul) as they seek

revenge against their father’s killer and begin a career as luck-favored

witch-killers. Along the way, they encounter a particularly impressive villain

named Thorolf Sledgehammer and his clowder of ornery cats.  With the district safe from evil-doers, the

saga shifts to the next generation.

Ingimundarson, Ingolf and some other guy. 

Ingolf Thorsteinsson is the important one.  He’s the handsome Don Juan of Iceland who

melts hearts and enrages menfolk across the north of Iceland. Ingolf may be a

bit narcissistic, but he backs up his boasts with impressive feats of derring-do

(see picture above, and note the rock strapped to his chest).

who we discussed briefly in Hallfred’s Saga Troublesome-poet.  Despite his humble origins as an illegitimate

son abandoned to the elements as an infant, Thorkel Scratcher rises to become

one of the great figures of Iceland. But great men often have jealous enemies…

half-giants, demonic pumas, missionaries, witches, outlaws, legendary swords,

legendary lovers, and the occasional bloodbath. How does one man with twenty

enormous black cats keep the litterbox clean? What are the three tests of a

chieftain hero? Can one man singlehandedly take out eighteen bandits if he has

big enough stones? Is there room for two berserkers in a single family? And can

a Norwegian companion ever survive a saga battle?

in the name of saga violence, we’ve created a special shirt in our Saga Thing

store.  Get one for your own Norwegian companion.

The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal tells the story of one family over 5 generations (though John will insist on counting 6).  We begin with Ketil the Large challenging his son, Thorstein, to find out what's lurking in the woods and killing everybody.  Thorstein turns out to be a very lucky fellow who is soon married to the daughter of a famous earl in Gotland.  Thorstein's son, Ingimund, is the central figure of this episode of Saga Thing.  We follow Ingimund from his noble youth, through his glory days as a Viking, all the way to his eventual death in the Vatnsdalur region of northern Iceland.  Will he go peacefully or will he suffer a violent death?  There's only one way to find out. This episode features giants, witches, and transcendental Laplanders.  We've also got epic battles, or at least references to epic battles, seduction, or at least attempts at seduction, and bloodshed...there's definitely bloodshed.

After a brief discussion of betrothal customs in medieval Iceland, John and Andy put Viglund's Saga on trial.  Will Viglund's axe juggling skills win him an award? Or will he be upstaged by his own horse? Who will be outlawed?  Who will earn a spot as thingman?  And how does Viglund's Saga compare to the other Warrior Poet sagas we've covered?  What value does it have as a saga?  So much to think about, so much to learn.  Stop wondering and download the Judgments episode now.

After a brief discussion of betrothal customs in medieval Iceland, John and Andy put Viglund's Saga on trial.  Will Viglund's axe juggling skills win him an award? Or will he be upstaged by his own horse? Who will be outlawed?  Who will earn a spot as thingman?  And how does Viglund's Saga compare to the other Warrior Poet sagas we've covered?  What value does it have as a saga?  So much to think about, so much to learn.  Stop wondering and download the Judgments episode now.

The story of Viglund the Fair and his lady Ketilrid is a saga for lovers.  This fifteenth century tale, the last of our warrior poet's sagas, covers several generations.  Each generation features a case of true love coming up against the secular tradition of arranged marriage.  Can Viglund and Ketilrid overcome the obstacles set in their way and join at last in wedded bliss?  It never worked out for the other warrior poets, so why would this one be any different?  Listen to find out, if you dare!  This is a remarkable, if somewhat late, work of saga literature.  While the passage of time has clearly affected the style and structuring of the warrior poet genre, in some ways this is the warrior poet saga you've been waiting for.  Join us as we examine the romance of Viglund and Ketilrid on this episode of Saga Thing.

The story of Viglund the Fair and his lady Ketilrid is a saga for lovers.  This fifteenth century tale, the last of our warrior poet's sagas, covers several generations.  Each generation features a case of true love coming up against the secular tradition of arranged marriage.  Can Viglund and Ketilrid overcome the obstacles set in their way and join at last in wedded bliss?  It never worked out for the other warrior poets, so why would this one be any different?  Listen to find out, if you dare!  This is a remarkable, if somewhat late, work of saga literature.  While the passage of time has clearly affected the style and structuring of the warrior poet genre, in some ways this is the warrior poet saga you've been waiting for.  Join us as we examine the romance of Viglund and Ketilrid on this episode of Saga Thing.

Krákumál is an autobiographical poem of the legendary Viking hero Ragnar Loðbrók, composed and spoken while Ragnar awaits his death in the snakepit of King Ælla.  We discuss the content and form of the poem, compare it to the Saga of Ragnar Loðbrók and His Sons, and examine the place of the History Channel's Vikings in the literary tradition of this legendary figure.  There's also some discussion of kennings, quirks of early modern scholarship, and the evolution of literary fads throughout history.  We also tackle the question "Unicorns: Fact or Fiction?" in a nearly serious manner.For more information, including links, translations of the relevant passages from the poem, and other cool stuff, visit our blog page: Saga Thing Podcast

Champion of the Hitardal People, John and Andy discuss the merits of the text,

argue over the size and ferocity of the dragon, investigate Thord’s ill-fated

encounter with a stranded seal, and share some interesting tidbits from

Icelandic law codes about pornographic sculptures and naughty poetry.  We also outlaw a rather deserving villain, choose

our thingmen, and offer our thoughts on the saga’s overall quality.  It’s a full episode with a nice balance of

humor, scholarship, and speculation.

legal definitions of níð and ýki as they relate to Bjorn’s Saga, follow this

link to Alison Finlay’s excellent article on the subject:Monstrous Allegations: An Exchange of ýki in Bjarnar saga Hítdælakappa.  

The title is a mouthful, but some might call this saga an

underappreciated gem of medieval Iceland. 

Like the other warrior poet's sagas, we’ve got a love triangle.  This time Bjorn, a dashing swashbuckler who

sports the impressive title “Champion of the Hitardal People,” loses the girl

to his conniving rival, Thord Kolbeinsson. 

But this isn’t your average warrior poet saga.  Rather than a series of duels and fights,

these men trade verbal barbs in some of the raunchiest poetry saga literature

has to offer.  It isn’t all taunts and

insulting verses, however.  This saga has

some depth and strong characterizations that make it an instant favorite for

the men of Saga Thing.

In this episode, John and Andy discuss the problem of Thorveig's curse, Kormak's efforts to woo Steingerd, and the excellence of Bersi the Dueller.  It's time to judge Kormak's Saga.  Who will be chosen as thingman?  Who will be outlawed? Will the Scottish giant get the recognition he deserves for his brief cameo?  Download the episode and find out now!