50 Viking-Age Sayings You Need to Know
Ever wondered what kinds of sayings and expressions were used in the Viking Age? The medieval sagas written in Iceland capture a wealth of intriguing phrases that offer a glimpse into Norse culture....
View ArticleIcelandic Saga Now Available in English for the First Time
Medieval Icelandic literature enthusiasts have a reason to celebrate—a saga, previously inaccessible to English readers, has been translated for the first time. Even better, it’s available to read for...
View ArticleMedieval DNA Reveals Skeleton’s Link to Norse Saga
A passage in the Sverris Saga, an 800-year-old Norse account, describes a military raid in 1197 during which a body was thrown into a well at castle in Norway. Now, a new study published in iScience...
View ArticlePeasant Heroes and Troll Ancestors: A New Look at Icelandic Sagas
A new study by Valerie Broustin, a Scandinavian Studies expert from the University of Bonn, sheds fresh light on a lesser-known collection of Icelandic sagas. Her work on the Hrafnistumannasögur...
View ArticleWho Was the Man in the Well?
The bishop’s men plundered the king’s fortress. Then they threw a dead man into the well to poison it. Now we know more about the deceased.
View ArticleA Medieval King’s Speech on the Dangers of Drunkenness
One of its gripping moments in Sverris Saga recounts a speech Sverre delivered in 1186, addressing his followers on the dangers of overdrinking—a timeless warning wrapped in medieval drama.
View ArticleSearching for hidden medieval stories from the island of the Sagas
Hidden and forgotten traces of Iceland’s history can be found in medieval, reused parchments.
View ArticleNew Medieval Books: Vikings, Half-Trolls and Saga-Authors
Medieval Icelanders had a deep fascination with their ancestors, a theme vividly reflected in the sagas they wrote. This book explores four sagas set in Iceland’s early days, examining how these...
View ArticleNew Medieval Books: Story, World and Character in the Late Íslendingasögur
The Icelandic sagas written after the year 1300 tend to get classified as being not as good as the more famous Family Sagas. However, this book explains why these 'rogue sagas' are also very...
View ArticleNew Medieval Books: The Hrafnista Sagas
Translations of four legendary sagas centred on Ketil Trout of Hrafnista and his family. These tales follow heroic figures who face dragons, trolls, and other fantastical foes—stories that continued to...
View Article50 Viking Sayings That Still Hit Hard Today
Discover 50 striking sayings from Viking-Age Icelandic sagas—expressions of Norse wit, wisdom, and worldview that still resonate today.
View ArticleNew Medieval Books: The Sagas of Icelanders
This book offers an introduction to the Icelandic sagas, detailing various aspects of the genre. It then provides mini-descriptions of 40 sagas, explaining their content, dating, and transmission.
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