This time we dig into a rarely discussed aspect of Norse mythology: stealing your enemy's power by eating their heart or drinking their blood. But just who's power can be stolen by way of this gory ritual? Animals? Monsters? Humans? Let's find out together.Sources:“Heimskringla Volume 1, The Beginnings to Óláfr Tryggvason” transl. by Alison Finlay and Anthony Faulkes, 2011“Gesta Danorum” transl. by Karsten Friis-Jensen and Peter Fisher, 2015“The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki” transl. By Jesse Byock, 1998“The Dating of Eddic Poetry: Evidence from Alliteration” by Haukur Þorgeirsson, 2016“Dating the Old Norse Poetic Edda” by Christopher Sapp, 2022"Eaten hearts and supernatural knowledge in Eiríks saga rauða" by Andrea Maraschi, 2018“The Poetic Edda”, transl. by Edward Pettit, 2023“The Prose Edda”, transl. by Anthony Faulkes, 1995Contact:Write in: waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) comJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Nvw5hmkRsWMusic:Celebration by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Episode 37 - Dead Women in Black
After a nice, long break, NMTUG is back to cover a relatively obscure topic in Norse mythology: the dísir. What makes the dísir distinct from valkyries, norns, and other death-entangled women? Let's find out.Sources:“The Merseburg Spells” by Joseph S. Hopkins, 2023“Dísir” by John Lindow in Pre-Christian Religions of the North volume III, 2020 “Dictionary of Northern Mythology” by Rudolf Simek, 2007“Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs”, by John Lindow, 2002“The Poetic Edda”, transl. by Carolyne Larrington, 2014“The Prose Edda”, transl. by Anthony Faulkes, 1995Contact:Write in: waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) comJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Nvw5hmkRsWMusic:Celebration by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Episode 36 - Blue as Hel
Time for another deep dive! This time into the mysterious origins of the one called Hel: the daughter of Loki and the sister of two giant monsters. Who does she own upon death? The answer may not be quite as simple as you think.
Sources:
“Dictionary of Northern Mythology” by Rudolf Simek, 2007
“Gesta Danorum” transl. by Karsten Friis-Jensen and Peter Fisher, 2015
“Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs”, by John Lindow, 2002
“The Road to Hel” by Hilda Roderick Ellis, 1968
“Worlds of the Dead” by John Lindow and Anders Andrén in Pre-Christian Religions of the North volume II, 2020
“The Poetic Edda”, transl. by Carolyne Larrington, 2014
“The Prose Edda”, transl. by Anthony Faulkes, 1995
Contact:
Write in: waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) com
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/Nvw5hmkRsW
Music:
Celebration by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Episode 35 - Volsunga Saga Part III: The Fearless Heart
In our final installment of Völsunga Saga (for now), it's what you've all been waiting for: We finally cover the tale of Sigurðr, the most famous of all Norse heroes who slew the dragon Fáfnir, and his tragic love with the valkyire Brynhildr. There's fire, murder, mayhem, and one ring to curse them all. Don't miss it!
Sources:
“Dictionary of Northern Mythology” by Rudolf Simek, 2007
“The Saga of the Volsungs”, transl. by Jesse Byock, 2004, supplemented by some of my own translations from the source text
“The Poetic Edda”, transl. by Carolyne Larrington, 2014
"The Prose Edda", transl. by Anthony Faulkes, 1995
Contact:
Write in: waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) com
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/Nvw5hmkRsW
Music:
Celebration by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Episode 34 - Volsunga Saga Part II: To Serve the Boatman
Story time continues with our second installment of the Saga of the Volsungs wherein another character goes to Valhöll without dying in battle, a valkyrie causes countless deaths for her own gain, and Sigmund's magic sword finally receives a name. Don't miss it!
Sources:
“The Saga of the Volsungs”, transl. by Jesse Byock, 2004, supplemented by some of my own translations from the source text
“The Poetic Edda”, transl. by Carolyne Larrington, 2014
"The Prose Edda", transl. by Anthony Faulkes, 1995
Contact:
Write in: waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) com
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/Nvw5hmkRsW
Music:
Celebration by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
What makes Norse mythology "norse"? Why does Thor kill giants? What do the myths tell us about Loki's gender identity? The world of popular media is always happy to provide a modernized re-telling of ancient stories with a heavy scoop of creative license, but on "Norse Mythology: The Unofficial Guide", we'll dive into the original tales directly from the sources and learn together from experts in the field about what these stories really mean and how they would have affected the lives of the ancient people of the pagan north.
Contact me any time at waelhraefn (at) gmail (dot) com!
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