Scandinavian History

Norse

  • Ragnarok – end and beginning

    In troubled times, when threats seem to be looming from all directions, a dark thought may slip in and dwell on the possibility of doom. This is not unique to our times; in most cultures, the idea that everything can… Continue reading

    Ragnarok – end and beginning

  • They died south in Särkland

    In 1036, what is believed to be the last major Viking expedition left what is now Sweden to head east in search of riches and possibly fame. Fame came, but certainly not in the way the participants had imagined.As it… Continue reading

  • Völvan – the Norse seeress

    Regarding the Viking Age, it is not known with absolute certainty how the religious ceremonies were organised. That blot – sacrifices, in other words – took place, we know, and that these sacrifices were directed to various of the ancient… Continue reading

  • Egil Skallagrimsson, Viking poet

    Not all names in the Norse or Icelandic sagas and secular myths refer to people who actually existed. An exception is the Icelandic poet Egil Skallagrimsson; he lived once and has gone down in history as not only Iceland’s but… Continue reading