By James Osborne Who was the legendary Viking warrior Thorkell the Tall, and precisely how tall was he? From his links with the Jomsvikings to his role in the shifting Anglo-Saxon history leading up to 1066, his story has more twists than you might expect The late Anglo-Saxon period was defined by ever-shifting struggles for supremacy. AcrossContinue reading “Who was Thorkell the Tall? The pragmatic Viking warrior who fought for (and against) all sides”
Category Archives: old norse blog
Ragnar Lothbrok: Everything You Need To Know About the Viking Legend And His Epic Saga
By Jackson Sawa More myth than man, Ragnar Lothbrok is considered to be a hero of Viking legend, regardless that his actual existence has been under debate by scholars for generations. Nevertheless, Ragnar is remembered by history as one that successfully raided the British Isles, the Holy Roman Empire, became a king to his people,Continue reading “Ragnar Lothbrok: Everything You Need To Know About the Viking Legend And His Epic Saga”
The Best-Preserved Viking Ship in the World Just Survived Its Treacherous Final Journey
For more than ten years, experts have been painstakingly planning to move three 1,000-year-old vessels—the “Oseberg,” “Gokstad” and “Tune”—about 115 yards to their new home in Oslo. By ELLEN WEXLER First, the Viking ship’s prow emerged: a serpent’s head curved into an intricately crafted swirl. The vessel approached an audience of workers in yellow safetyContinue reading “The Best-Preserved Viking Ship in the World Just Survived Its Treacherous Final Journey”
First Known Viking Portrait Unearthed From Danish Museum Archives
by Jo Lawson-Tancred The long-lost treasure had been forgotten in storage for over two centuries. We all have an image in our heads of what a Viking looks like: a big, strong figure with long blonde hair in braids and a thick beard. But it turns out we may have got it all wrong. TheContinue reading “First Known Viking Portrait Unearthed From Danish Museum Archives”
A thousand years ago, the Vikings had a shock encounter with Native Americans that ended in disaster
When Old Norse explorers reached North America, they made history. But their brief, violent encounter with its indigenous peoples shows how cultural collisions could end in chaos. Historian and Viking expert Eleanor Barraclough explains the story. When Old Norse explorers reached North America, they made history. But their brief, violent encounter with its indigenous peoplesContinue reading “A thousand years ago, the Vikings had a shock encounter with Native Americans that ended in disaster”