sagasfromthesea

Alfred the Great, King of Wessex

In my final undergraduate year, I studied the work of JRR Tolkien, and it acted as a violent intellectual catalyst, for it was here that I first discovered Old English, Icelandic and Scandinavian literature, mythology, poetry and history. It was a gateway into a previously hidden world, and I was instantly hooked. I ransacked theContinue reading “Alfred the Great, King of Wessex”

An Arrow to the Knee: Skyrim & the Northern World

Glossary DLC – An acronym for Downloadable Content, this is additional content released by a studio after the game’s release Dungeons & Dragons –abbreviated to ‘D&D’, this is a cooperative tabletop role-playing game. One person is the Dungeon Master, controlling the world, the enemies and its inhabitants, while the others play as characters in theContinue reading “An Arrow to the Knee: Skyrim & the Northern World”

Vengeance, Voyage & Adventure: Reading the Icelandic Sagas

Listen! The voice calls through the hall. The wind howls outside, and the fire crackles. The family gather round on benches. The speaker, maybe a parent or skald, by this single word has captured your attention, and they unfold their tale… This article is about the Icelandic sagas, the great tales that beganContinue reading “Vengeance, Voyage & Adventure: Reading the Icelandic Sagas”

Setting the Record Straight: Viking Warriors

Glossary Who Would Win in a Fight Between… On 2nd February this year, the Swedish games studio Iron Gate released Valheim, a survival and crafting game set in an imagined Viking afterlife. As of 3rd March, despite the game being still in early access, it has attracted more than 5 million players worldwide. This isContinue reading “Setting the Record Straight: Viking Warriors”

The Old That is Strong: Tolkien & the Anglo-Saxons

Glossary Churl – the OE word Ceorl, meaning common freeman, the lowest class of free citizen in Anglo-Saxon society Danegeld – money paid to Viking raiding armies to leave a territory, or to enlist them as mercenaries against other Viking forces; ‘set a thief to catch a thief…’ Old English – the language spoken byContinue reading “The Old That is Strong: Tolkien & the Anglo-Saxons”

Worn & Wielded: The Sutton Hoo Helmet

The Sutton Hoo helmet is perhaps the most iconic image of the Anglo-Saxon age. It is a fascinating object with a fascinating history, so let’s take a look at an item ‘worn and wielded’ by the Anglo-Saxons. Glossary Bretwalda – a term used to denote Anglo-Saxon kings whose influence was recognized across large swathes ofContinue reading “Worn & Wielded: The Sutton Hoo Helmet”