The Norse sagas often feel like modern soap operas when you read them, with the characters trapped in a cycle of love, betrayal, and vengeance. This is particularly true for the Volsunga Saga, probably the best-known of the Norse sagas, especially since it inspired Wagner’s Viking operas and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.…
We often talk about the importance of symbols in the Viking world and have articles dedicated to explaining the meanings of symbols such as the Valknut (symbol of Valhalla), Vegvisir (the Norse compass), and Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer). These symbols inspire many of the designs in the VKNG Collection. The VKNG Collection also features Celtic jewelry,…
The Ynglinga Saga is one of the most important Old Norse sagas. It is one of the works composed by the Icelandic Christian scholar Snorri Sturluson in the 12th century. It is part of his Heimskringla and is based on a 9th-century Skaldic poem called the Ynglingatal by Thjodolfr of Hvini. The saga tells the…
The Viking sagas are full of powerful warriors who called themselves kings as they raided across Europe. Written centuries after the fact by Christian authors looking back at a now-foreign pagan world, the accounts of many legendary Vikings are more myth than history. When these larger-than-life characters are reimagined for modern audiences through shows like…
If, like me, you are a fan of Old Norse symbols, then you have probably come across the “Web of Wyrd” described as a Viking symbol linked with ideas of fate and destiny. However, if you search for examples of the Web of Wyrd symbol from the Viking Age, you will be disappointed. The Web…
While the Vikings are often portrayed as brutal warriors, they were also innovators, with advanced ship technology, weapons, and craftsmanship. It should be no surprise that they developed techniques to bring down large sea mammals, which were highly valued as sources of protein and oil. However, most of what we know about Viking Age whale…
As well as being warriors that terrified and raided their neighbors, the Vikings had a rich culture with elaborate religious beliefs, sophisticated literature, stunning art, and, of course, traditional music. Our knowledge of Viking age music, like our knowledge of the traditional music of many cultures, is limited. We do not really have any idea…
Every year in the Danish city of Odense, named after the Norse god Odin, there is an annual flower festival. This reflects the importance of flowers in Scandinavian culture. You are unlikely to enter a home in Sweden or Norway without finding potted plants with carefully cared-for flowers. But were flowers equally important in the…
Any Viking enthusiast will be familiar with the Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok and the idea that Ragnarok is the story of the end of the world in Norse mythology. But Marvel takes significant liberties for the sake of entertainment and the continuity of their timeline. What really happens in the story of Ragnarok, and why…
Today, Norway is famous for its distinctive medieval wooden stave churches. These were once constructed throughout the Viking world as they transitioned from the Old Norse religion to Christianity. Elements of the Old Norse religion found their way into these new houses of worship. Stave Church Construction These churches are named stave churches because they…
