Show Notes
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
More from Exploring the Viking Age
Exploring the Viking Age by Grimfrost is taking a short break while Johan is on tour with Amon Amarth during October and November. The podcast returns on December 1 with a brand-new episode. Until then, take care—and perhaps catch Johan on the road!
What motivated people to leave their homes and risk their lives on Viking raids?In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we welcome historian and Viking Age specialist Terri Barnes to discuss the people, motivations and social structures behind the Viking expansion. Using Walter White from Breaking Bad as an unexpected comparison, Terri explores what happens when people discover that they are good at something—and that it pays.We talk about:• What Breaking Bad can teach us about the Vikings• Wealth, reputation and status as motivations for raiding• Viking groups as criminal networks, cartels and businesses• Slavery and its role in the Viking economy• How Viking raids were organized and supported• Adaptability as a defining feature of Scandinavian society• Common misconceptions and the romanticization of the Vikings• Terri’s research, teaching and Vikingology podcastWhether you’re interested in Viking history, archaeology, Norse culture or the psychology behind the Viking expansion, this episode offers a thought-provoking perspective on what may have driven the people of the Viking Age.
We are taking a short break for the summer. We're releasing a special summer edition episode on August 1, and we'll be back in full force with our regular episodes on September 1.
What is it like to finally visit the land of the Vikings after years of historical reenactment? In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we welcome two Viking reenactors from Canada who share their first impressions of Sweden after visiting places like Birka, Old Uppsala and the Historical Museum archives.
Did Beowulf really live on Gotland? In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we sit down with Hans Wanneby and Rikard Evertsson to explore one of the most fascinating theories surrounding the Beowulf poem. Together, we dive into: • The theory that Beowulf originated on Gotland • Ancient place names connected to the saga • Archaeological finds and reconstructed migration period environments • Picture stones, dragons, and celestial events • The catastrophe of 536 and its possible connection to the poem • Tolkien’s fascination with Beowulf • The search for what may be Beowulf’s final resting place We also explore how myth, oral tradition, archaeology, and landscape may preserve fragments of a story that has survived for over 1500 years. Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost