That JORVIK Viking Thing Podcast

Join us on a captivating walking tour through the historic streets of York, known in the Viking Age as Jorvik. On this immersive tour, you'll meet Viking characters who bring the city's 200 years of Viking History to life. Starting at St Helen’s Square, where the Viking invaders first crossed the river Ouse, we'll travel to iconic locations like York Minster, King's Square, and the Ouse Bridge.

Through vivid storytelling and historical insights, you'll explore how the Viking legacy is still present in York's streets, language, and people. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a curious traveller, this tour promises to enlighten and entertain. Tune in, walk with us, and step back in time to Viking Age York.

Please Note: For the best experience, pause the audio at each designated location and resume once you've arrived. Enjoy your journey through Viking history!

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Join Miranda and Max as they delve into the fascinating world of Viking medicine, exploring remedies for ailments ranging from joint pain to the fear of being struck by lightning. Delving into ancient texts like the Lacnunga Manuscript, Bald's Leechbook, and The Old English Herbarium, we uncover the remedies that were available to people a thousand years ago.

Help to examine the effectiveness of these remedies, from bramble baths to buttery concoctions, shedding light on what might have worked and what might have been mere superstition.

Travel back in time as we explore the practical and mystical aspects of Viking healing, and see how they compare to more modern medicine.

A more in depth analysis of the Coppergate Woman can be found here:
JORVIK Viking Centre Gallery Walk Through: Skeletons 

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

In the latest episode in our Viking Bestiary series, we're shifting our focus from the enchanting world of Elves (who we spoke about a few episodes ago) to the realm of Dwarfs. Join us as we delve deep into the Norse sagas, exploring the multifaceted nature of these diminutive yet formidable beings.

Dwarfs in Norse mythology are far more than just stout, bearded craftsmen dwelling in mountain halls. We'll unravel the complexities of their character, their interactions with gods and humans, and their pivotal role in shaping the Norse cosmos. We'll explore their connections to the gods, from forging divine weapons like Thor's mighty hammer Mjölnir to engaging in riddle contests with Odin himself. We'll also unpick the interactions between dwarfs and humans, from the forging of legendary weapons to tales of mutual aid and cunning. 

Join us as we journey through the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, uncovering the fascinating tales of dwarfs and their enduring legacy in the pantheon of ancient lore.

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Join Miranda and Max as they continue their stroll around the JORVIK Viking Centre.
This time they're discussing a display case filled with some smaller and more ornate personal items worn by the people of Viking age York for adornment, status and practical purposes.

For our past Gallery Walk Throughs check out:
JORVIK Viking Centre Gallery Walk Through: Travel and Trade
JORVIK Viking Centre Gallery Walk Through: Skeletons
JORVIK Viking Centre Gallery Walk Through: Brooches, Buckles and Blades
JORVIK Viking Centre Gallery Walk Through: Trade with the East

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Thank you all who partook in JORVIK Viking Festival 2024, whether in person or online! We had so much fun that we need a small hiatus to recover, so this week we'll take a look back at a saga from last year:

Gather 'round once more, dear listeners, as That JORVIK Viking Thing Podcast revisits the legendary tale of Loki and the Golden Apples in an enchanting encore presentation! Join the ever-curious Silly History Boys as they spin the yarn of a mischievous trickster, a mystical bird, and apples that bestow immortality.

In this reawakening of divine mischief, immerse yourself in the whimsical world of Norse mythology as the gods partake in a peculiar dating show! But the adventure doesn't end there! Lucas and Miranda then take a dive deep into the morally ambiguous character of Loki and ponder the logistical intricacies of those coveted immortality apples.

If you want to continue enjoying the JORVIK Viking Festival 2024, check out our video series about the Herefordshire Hoard (now on display at JORVIK Viking Centre).
Or you can watch the recording of some of the festival livestreams, like In Conversation with... The Viking Museum in Stockholm, or The Richard Hall Symposium Presents: Fedir Androshchuk. 

We'll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode - see you then!

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Discovered by metal detectorists near Leominster in 2015, the Herefordshire Hoard consists of silver coins,  gold jewellery and a single silver ingot. It was buried between AD 870 and AD 879 and is likely connected with the presence of the Viking ‘Great Army’ in the Kingdom of Mercia during that period.
The Hoard reveals new information about politics in the late 9th century, demonstrating the movement and activity of the Viking army and an alliance between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex at a time when the unification and of England was taking shape.
It is believed that most of the Hoard, discovered in 2015 by metal detectorists in a field near Leominster, has been sold on the black market, with the current collection only representing 10% of the original find.  The perpetrators have since been sentenced to over 23 years in prison, but the items illicitly sold have not been recovered.  The remaining items from the Hoard – which as ‘treasure’ was owned by the Crown - returned to Herefordshire following a fundraising appeal.

In this episode we hear from Tim Hoverd, Archaeological Projects Manager for Herefordshire Archaeology, Judy Stevenson, Team Leader for the Herefordshire Museum Service, and Gareth Williams, Curator of Anglo-Saxon coins in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum. 

To see the Herefordshire Hoard for yourselves, book your tickets now for the JORVIK Viking Centre. Or, you can watch our videos about the hoard here. 

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

The annual JORVIK Viking Festival will be returning to the streets on York from 12th-18th February 2024.

In this minisode Miranda chats through some of the events that will be taking place during the Festival week, both in person and online.

A full programme of events check out the JORVIK Viking Festival website

Digital content can be found at That JORVIK Viking Thing website

In Conversation with… The Viking Museum, Stockholm hosted by Lucas, will be available to watch for free on Tuesday 13th February at 6pm at: In Conversation with... The Viking Museum in Stockholm

Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture 2024, with Gareth Williams: The Herefordshire Viking hoard: Discovery, recovery and interpretation, will be available to watch online for £6 on Thursday 15th February at 7pm. Buy your tickets at: Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture 2024

The Richard Hall Symposium Presents: Fedir Androshchuk, will be available to watch for free on Sunday 18th February at 2pm at: The Richard Hall Symposium Presents: Fedir Androshchuk

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Explore the captivating world of Elves in Norse mythology, from mischievous folklore creatures to epic, magical beings. 
We are again joined by Max, a JORVIK Viking Centre veteran, as we navigate through Old Norse literature, wading through the complexities of Alfheim, Elf-Women, and confusing Elven connections with gods and warriors. 
We delve into the Prose Edda's baffling descriptions of Light-Elves and Dark-Elves that  blur the lines between Elves and Dwarves. From Volund's intricate tale to Loki's dealings with Dwarves, this episode seeks to unravels the confounding tapestry of Norse cosmology (in regards to elves anyway)!

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Join us this New Year's Day for an intriguing exploration of Viking riddles!

Today were joined by Max, a seasoned JORVIK Viking,  who unveils the world of Viking riddles, from clever kennings to the downright silly.

Explore the artistry of kennings in Viking poetry and dive into the Saga of Hervor and Heithrek, where "Gestumblindi's" (read: Odin in disguise) riddles range from clever to comically bizarre. We also go through a few Anglo-Saxon riddles, which quickly go from quite highbrow and religious, to salacious and a bit ridiculous.

Tune in for a unique blend of linguistic wit, intelligence, and a touch of silliness as we unravel the tapestry of riddles in Viking and Anglo-Saxon cultures. 

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

In the spirit of the season, we're taking a short break for Christmas, but fear not – we have a special treat for you. Join us for a nostalgic revisit of one of our favourite episodes: "The Tale of Audun and the Polar Bear", formerly titled "Troll the Ancient Yuletide Carol: Viking Yule."

Our resident skald, Lucas , weaves a tale of adventure as a Viking embarks on a daring quest to gift the King of Denmark a polar bear. The story unfolds against the backdrop of icy landscapes, filled with bravery, cunning, and a friendship.

As we take a break to celebrate the holidays, we extend our gratitude to our wonderful listeners for a fantastic year of support. We'll return in the new year with more sagas, interviews, and Viking chitchat. Until then, may your Yule be filled with warmth and  merriment.

Thank you for a year of Viking tales, and here's to many more in the coming year! 

Listen and enjoy, and please consider leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!