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Discover what Vikings did when they were at home in this fun medieval history and literature podcast about the Icelandic sagas. Hosted by two medieval literature professors with beards.
Episodes
34 minutes ago
34 minutes ago
This special Saga Brief interview with Anna Melsteð (of the Eyrbyggja Saga Society) was recorded at the foot of Helgafell on a drizzly afternoon following a full day of exploring key sites from Eyrbyggja Saga with Anna, Eyberg, and Guðlaug as our guides.
Our day began with a quick viewing of the original site of the Þórsnessþing, mainly to get a view of where drítsker might be.
We followed that up with a rugged hike to Vigrafjörður, where the Thorbrandssons and Thorlakssons famously clashed on the ice in chapter 45 of the saga.
From there, we trekked to Bólstað on Álftafjörður to pay our respects to Andy's thingman Arnkell. We were even greeted with a rainbow, a generous gift from the best man in the saga.
But the biggest highlight was walking the paths carved (allegedly) by the Swedish berserks Halli and Leiknir, followed by a brief rest at the overgrown ruins of Killer-Stýr’s sauna, where their tale ended in steam and the tip of Stýr's spear.
It was, of course, one of the most rewarding days we’ve ever spent in Iceland. The stories of Eyrbyggja Saga came alive in a powerful new way as we stood in the places where they unfolded.
The day concluded at Hraunháls, where we enjoyed Icelandic hospitality, a tasty homemade cake, and a glimpse of the proofs for the incredible Eyrbyggja Saga tapestry.
Can you tell who these two lovebirds might be? Also note the way the upper and lower registers contribute to the story.
As evening approached, we finally drove over to the base of Helgafell to sit down with Anna for a chat about her work, the power of landscape in the sagas, and the growing community of saga enthusiasts on Snæfellsnes. We also got some more help with our Icelandic pronunciation.
Be sure to check out what the Eyrbyggja Saga Society is up to on their webpage and follow them on Facebook.
You can also stay at Hraunháls through Airbnb and enjoy the hospitality of Eyberg and Guðlaug.
Music Credits:
Opening song – “Rúnatal” by An Danzza
Introduction – from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
In this special Saga Brief, we visit historic Reykholt, once home to Snorri Sturluson, for a fascinating conversation with Sigrún Guttormsdóttir Þormar, department manager at Snorrastofa. This interview is the second installment in our four-part series recorded on-site during our recent trip to Iceland.
Sigrún generously met with us on a Saturday to talk about Snorri’s life, legacy, and the important work being done at Snorrastofa to continue the long tradition of learning at Reykholt on the site. Along the way, she shared insights into Snorri's role as a chieftain, writer, and political figure in 13th-century Iceland, offering a more nuanced portrait of the man we often call “infamous.”
If you're planning a trip to Iceland, we can’t recommend a stop in Reykholt highly enough. In addition to its rich history, the Snorrastofa cultural and medieval studies center offers an engaging exhibition on Snorri’s life, an inviting research library, and an exceptional gift shop.
For more about Snorrastofa, including visitor info, exhibitions, and ongoing research, visit: https://snorrastofa.is
Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think about Snorri’s legacy after hearing from someone who engages with it every day.
Music Credits:
Opening song – “Rúnatal” by An Danzza
Introduction – from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur
Friday May 16, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
With Þórir Helgason freshly outlawed, Guðmund inn ríki (the Powerful) turns his attention to Þorkell hák (Bully) to sate his thirst for revenge. Speaking of thirst, Þorkell lands one of the sickest burns we've heard in a long while at Guðmund´s expense.
After butting heads since the first chapters of the saga, these two finally come to blows in a thrilling and hilarious climax. Who comes out on top? You'll just have to listen to find out.
Along the way, you'll meet some interesting characters, like Þorbjörn rindill (Wren?), a no-account assassin from the Eastfjords, and Drauma-Finni (Dream-Finni), who excels at John's favorite profession: dream interpretation.
We also close the book on the first half of the saga, and on Guðmund inn ríki as well. How will Guðmund's life come to a close? Will he go out in a blaze of glory? Or will he pass peacefully with a hot cup of milk in hand?
Listen and share your thoughts on our social media:
Saga Thing’s unofficial official Discord
Music Credits
Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Saturday May 03, 2025
Saturday May 03, 2025
On our recent trip to Iceland, we had the pleasure of speaking to a variety of fascinating people about their interest in the sagas. Our goal was to get a sense of how these individuals read and engage with these medieval texts in a modern context.
Saga Brief 27, a 4 part interview series, is the result of those efforts.
In this first episode, we chat with Björn Júlíus Grímsson, an Icelandic tour guide who loves to share the stunning landscapes and rich culture of his country on sightseeing tours and excursions all over Iceland. He's also a regular Saga Thing listener!
Though the interview itself is regrettably brief, we spent a great deal of time at lunch and after the interview chatting with Björn and his lovely wife Zoe about the sagas, about the logistics of running a tour in Iceland, about audio production, and about life in Iceland and America. It was such a pleasure getting to know them, being welcomed into their home, playing with their son, and sharing that time together.
And Björn was kind enough to join us for a walk through Þingvellir the following day. By the end of our visit, it felt like we'd known them for ages even though we had really just met right before this interview.
As we begin working on our official Saga Thing tours, we plan to take full advantage of Björn and Zoe's expertise and talents.
If you can't wait for the Saga Thing tour, you can get in touch with Björn through his website www.allovericeland.com and follow him on Instagram.
You should also check out Zoe's music on Spotify. We're all big fans now!
Music Credits:
Opening song – “Rúnatal” by An Danzza
Introduction – from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tensions have been building in Eyjafjörður as nearly everyone in the north seems to have it out for Guðmundr inn ríki. Across the last few episodes, Guðmundr has taken loss after loss when pitted against some of the region’s heavy hitters. Perhaps things will turn out differently for him when he embarks on a campaign of legal vengeance against Þórir Helgason, a rival chieftain whose been spreading rumors about Guðmundr’s masculinity (or lack thereof). Guðmundr being Guðmundr, he will stop at nothing to . . . prosecute his opponents in court.
You’re in for a treat with this one, dear listeners. Things are finally starting to pop off in chapters 13-17 of Ljósvetninga Saga! Oh, and this episode has some steamy goats in it.
Also, this episode marks the occasion of our 200th episode and a moment when we cross the 3 million download boundary for the podcast. Not bad for such a niche subject! Thank you to everyone out there who is listening, re-listening, and spreading the good word about Saga Thing.
Listen and then share your thoughts on our social media:
Saga Thing’s unofficial official Discord
Music Credits
Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/