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Side view of a Viking warrior holding a sword and a shield

Freydís Eiríksdóttir: The Viking Woman Two Sagas Remember as Both Hero and Murderer

Freydís Eiríksdóttir, daughter of Erik the Red and half-sister of Leif Erikson, is remembered in one Viking saga as a pregnant hero who fought off an attack in Vinland — and in another as a woman who orchestrated a massacre. Here's both sides of the story.

Replica of a Viking longship used to explore the North Atlantic, evoking the voyages of Leif Erikson and Erik the Red

Articles Vikings

Famous Viking Explorers: Leif Erikson and Erik the Red

Erik the Red was exiled from Iceland for manslaughter and founded Greenland out of spite and ambition. His son Leif Erikson went further still, reaching North America five centuries before Columbus. Here's the real story behind the Vikings' most famous explorers.

A furry grey wolf standing in white snow, evoking Fenrir of Norse mythology

Articles Mythology Vikings

Fenrir: The Monstrous Wolf Fated to Kill Odin

He shows up in the Loki, Odin, Valhalla, and Ragnarök stories, but the wolf fated to kill Odin has never had his own article — until now. The full story of Fenrir: his birth, his binding, Týr's sacrifice, and his role in the end of the world.

Elegant black cat in shadow, evoking Freya's chariot cats in Norse mythology

Articles Mythology Vikings

Freya: The Norse Goddess of Love, War, and Magic Who Rivalled Odin

Meet Freya, the Norse goddess of love, war, and magic — the Vanir deity who taught Odin his sorcery, rules her own hall of the honoured dead, and refused a giant's marriage proposal so fiercely it shook Asgard.

A Viking warrior holding a sword and shield, representing the Valkyries of Norse mythology

Articles Mythology Vikings

The Valkyries: Who Were Norse Mythology’s Fearsome Choosers of the Slain?

Who were the Valkyries? In Norse mythology, these fearsome warrior maidens served Odin as the Choosers of the Slain — riding across battlefields to select the bravest fallen warriors and escort them to Valhalla. Discover the meaning behind the name, the most famous Valkyries, and how they continue to inspire culture today.

Articles Mythology Vikings

What is Norse Paganism? An Introductory Guide

Norse paganism is an interesting religion, dating back hundreds of years. However, thanks to the popularity of Nordic mythology in...

Dark, textured ocean waves evoking the depths where Jörmungandr the Midgard Serpent lies coiled

Articles Mythology Vikings

Jörmungandr: The Midgard Serpent Fated to Kill Thor at Ragnarök

Odin threw it into the sea to be rid of it. Instead it grew until it circled the entire world. The full story of Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent fated to kill — and be killed by — Thor at Ragnarök.

A woman posing with an ornate sword and shield, evoking a Viking shield-maiden

Articles Vikings

Shield-Maidens: Did Viking Women Really Fight in Battle?

Shield-maidens like Lagertha and Hervor fill the Viking sagas, but was there any truth behind the legend? Here's what the Birka warrior grave and other archaeology actually show about Viking-Age women in battle.

Blazing fire at night against a dark background, evoking the chaos and fire-giant heritage of Loki in Norse mythology

Articles Mythology Vikings

Loki: The Trickster God Who Started the End of the World

Loki is Odin's blood-brother, Asgard's most useful troublemaker, and the father of the monsters fated to destroy the gods. Here's the full story of Norse mythology's trickster, from the death of Baldr to his final stand at Ragnarök.

Weathered Nordic runestone carved with runes standing in a blooming countryside field

Articles Mythology Vikings

Odin: The Complete Guide to Norse Mythology’s Allfather

Meet Odin, the Allfather of Norse mythology: the god who sacrificed an eye for wisdom, hung from Yggdrasil for the runes, and kept two ravens as spies across the nine worlds — all while preparing for the death he knew was coming at Ragnarök.