Tag: History
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Vegvísir and Medieval Icelandic Magic
Anonymous asked: Hi. I’ve read somewhere that Vegvisir and other Icelandic “magical” staves were made by Christians in the 19th century. Yet they seem to always be associated with the Vikings and the Viking Age. Can you confirm this, or do you have any other information about it? Thanks! This is quite complicated a subject,…
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Norse Mythology: Gods and Races, Part 2
This week’s lesson is a wrap-up of the major gods of Norse mythology (part 3 will be the various races). If I did not include a god that you thought should have been included, send me a message or an ask and I will gladly make a post to mend it (either as an answer…
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Norse Mythology: Gods and Races, Part 1
This Friday I hope to give a concise breakdown of the major gods and races of Norse mythology. Keep in mind that this lesson only provides a glimpse into a complex subject, but still it should be enough to understand certain figures and their roles in the mythological realm. There are definitely other gods and…
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Norse Mythology: Creation
This Friday’s lesson delves into the realm of myth itself, however, it is mainly to provide a general understanding and not an in-depth study. I will summarize the story of how the worlds were formed. See “Sources” below for the material I used for this purpose. The Story of Creation Before the creation of the material worlds,…
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Norse Mythology: Sources
Norse and Germanic mythology are full of rich traditions that have been preserved in only a few sources (at least directly). Many other sources contain bits and pieces of the mythological material, but only a few solely focus on it. This lesson aims to discuss those sources that directly address the old traditions of Norse…
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The Origins of the Viking Age
Many people across Europe saw the coming of the Vikings as divine punishment, but what really caused the people of Scandinavia to take Europe by storm? What made them capable of pulling off these raids? There are many possible explanations, although much is speculation. Some key candidates to be discussed in detail are: For now,…
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The Geography and People of Medieval Scandinavia
As one might guess, Scandinavia is a cold place. It is no wonder why Hel is a cold place, and Niflhel even colder. Stretching upwards along the Scandinavian peninsula is The Keel, a vast mountain range between Norway and Sweden that stretches into Finland. The famous fjords were formed by ancient glaciers. The coast, particularly Norway’s west coast, was known as the “Northern…
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The Viking Age and Our Sources
Starting today (25th of March, 2016), I will begin a series of posts regarding Viking History. I have noticed that I have failed to present Viking History in a more condensed and unified way, and so I hope these posts will help solve that. I will do my best to post a lesson each Friday…
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Viking Age Dublin
The story behind Dublin is a fascinating tale of integration, conflict, politics, and economics. The coming of the Vikings and their settlement of Dublin changed the Irish political landscape dramatically. As this settlement grew, the kings of Ireland sought control over its wealth and prosperity. Many Irish and Scandinavian rulers fought over this settlement. To…
