As an historian, one of the most common questions I get about warfare is what happened to the bodies of the dead after battle. In the case of the Vikings, this is a complicated question to answer, as it is not addressed by contemporary sources. We must infer what probably happened based on what we…
If you are a student of Viking history or Norse mythology then you have probably come across the name Snorri Sturluson. He is one of our main sources for both the legendary stories of the gods and the history of the Norwegian kings. But considering just how important Snorri Sturluson is as a source, it…
While the surviving Norse sources have a lot to say about the exploits of Odin, Thor, and Loki, relatively little information survives about most other Norse deities. Instead, we are left to piece together profiles of these gods from the etymology of their names, passing references in the surviving prose, and rare depictions. Sigyn is…
We are extremely excited to be attending the International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF) World Championship as one of its sponsors! The Championship will be part of the Bispens Market, which sees the Middle Ages recreated at Spøttrup Borg Castle in Denmark from July 20-26 (2026). This is a whole week of living history with stalls…
If you are a content creator or otherwise have an audience that aligns with the VKNG brand, did you know that you can earn real money as a VKNG Affiliate Partner? We have a robust Affiliate Program with 15% commission on all confirmed sales, which is one of the highest rates in the jewelry space.…
Based on a conversation with Arith Härger, a former archaeologist and now independent researcher with a special interest in Scandinavian and Nordic studies, this post asks the question that we have heard frequently following the popularity of the History Channel’s “Vikings.” Was Ragnar Lodbrok real? Ragnar wasn’t invented for the show. His stories are found…
As we watch the Norwegian football team battle it out at the World Cup – led by the Viking-sized Erling Haaland – and appreciate the Viking-inspired support offered by the fans, I find myself asking: what does it mean to be a Viking in the 21st century? As someone who spends a significant amount of…
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.…
The Vikings are infamous as ferocious warriors who burned and pillaged their way through Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries AD. Just the sight of a Viking ship in the horizon could strike fear in the heart of their neighbors, and many of them towered over opponents on the battlefield (the Vikings were taller…
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.…
How Did the Vikings Retrieve and Treat Their Dead After Battle?
How Icelandic Author Snorri Sturluson Preserved Norse Mythology
Sigyn the Norse Goddess of Victory and Protector of Loki
What To Expect from the Medieval Combat World Championship (& VKNG Will Be There!)