Exploring the Viking Age31 Dec 2025

#22: Tonicha Upham - The Story behind the 13th Warrior

In this episode, we explore one of the most extraordinary eyewitness accounts of the Viking Age, written by the 10th-century Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan. Best known today through the movie "The 13th Warrior", Ibn Fadlan was a real historical figure who encountered Viking merchants along the Volga River in 922 AD.Together with our guest, we break down what Ibn Fadlan actually saw, what he was told, and where later interpretations may have gone too far. We examine the infamous ship cremation funeral, the role of the so-called “Angel of Death,” the question of human sacrifice, and how much of this account reflects Viking-Age Scandinavia versus the culture shaped by trade, migration, and local traditions among the Rus and other Scandinavians encountered in the east.We also discuss how Arabic and Persian sources differ from European ones, why these texts have been underused in Viking studies, and what they reveal about violence, belief, and identity in the Viking world, without romanticizing or sanitizing the past.Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(26)

#26: Heavy Metal and Vikings with JB Christoffersson

In this episode, we sit down with the powerful voice behind the heavy metal band Grand Magus to talk about heavy metal, mythology, and what actually makes music powerful. We dive into vocal techniques...

30 Apr 1h 35min

#25: Einar Selvik is back

In this episode, Einar Selvik (Wardruna) breaks down the ideas behind their latest album “Birna” — and why modern life is fundamentally out of sync with the natural world.We talk about:* Why humans ha...

1 Apr 1h 44min

#24: Sailing and Maintaining Viking Longships

What does it actually take to sail and maintain a Viking longship?In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age with Grimfrost, we sit down in the longhouse with our own shipwright and captain, Erik “Tu...

1 Mars 1h 23min

#23: Cecilia Ljung - How Scandinavia Became Christian

In this episode, we sit down with archaeologist Cecilia Ljung from Uppsala University to explore one of the biggest transformations of the Viking Age: the shift from Norse pagan traditions to Christia...

1 Feb 1h 19min

#21: Anders Kaliff – Heathen Yule

What do fire rituals, the dead returning home, and Odin riding through the night sky have to do with heathen Yule? Do the old ways find their way into our modern day celebrations?In this special midwi...

1 Dec 20251h 59min

#20: Veronica Björkman

What does it take to preserve one of the most iconic Viking sites in the world — while also keeping it alive and relevant for new generations?In this episode, we speak with Veronica Björkman, site man...

1 Nov 20251h 29min

#19: Giles Kristian & Philip Stevens: Viking Books, Movies and Games

For our first ever double-guest episode, we’re joined by bestselling historical novelist Giles Kristian and award-winning director and actor Philip Stevens. Together they’ve rowed the world’s largest ...

30 Sep 20251h 55min