History

Who Was Snorri Sturluson?

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 histories of the Norwegian kings. But considering just how important Snorri Sturluson is as a source, it…

History

Gunnhild – The Original Viking Witch

The appearance of Icelandic actress and former swimmer Ragga Ragnars as Gunnhild on the TV show Vikings has inspired a lot of interest in this powerful woman. In the program, she is a mighty shieldmaiden who was married to Jarl Olavsson. Following her husband’s death, she fell for and married Bjorn Ironside and returned as…

History

Samhain: Pagan vs. Norse Halloween

You have probably heard somewhere that modern Heathens and followers of the old Norse ways celebrate Halloween as an important holiday but under the traditional name of Samhain. This is only partly true. The end of the harvest system at the end of October and the start of November was certainly an important time for…