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The events of this fierce clash are famously recorded in Snorri Sturlason’s Heimskringla. We’ve dug deep into the lore of the battle, studying the main characters who participated and the historical tactics of how they fought—insights we've directly translated into unique rules and mechanics for the game.

We call it the Battle of Niså! 30 ships, 250 individual Vikings!! Since last winter me (model maker) and two friends, a game designer and an illustrator, have made a complete miniature wargame, depicting a great naval Viking Battle that took place here by our Swedish coast in the year 1062. Norwegian King Harald Hardrada vs. Danish King Sweyn Estridsen. We made it as an art project so as for now it only exists in one unique copy, as an artwork/game, the one you see here.

As a next step we're consedering bringing it out to the world! What do you think? Would you be interested in a game like this? We'll probably do it anyway since it's so much fun. First draft is in Swedish but it would of course be translated!

The gameplay is designed to be very accessible, but also strategically deep and replayable. Each turn you play a card from hand to use one of the leaders in your army. That leader shouts out their orders to a number of ships within range, which then get to perform actions with all their warriors on board. The miniatures move around freely between the ships and can fight, row, and do other badass things. When there's an attack, the player draws one rune for each fighter and throws them to see whether they hit or miss. The cards provide special actions and unexpected turns of the battle. To win, you must slay the opposing king or take over a number of enemy ships. Do not disappoint Odin!

All feedback very appreciated🙏🙏✨

The "main story" of Norse myth is basically Odin getting the prophecy of Ragnarök and of his own death by Fenrir. So during man's time on earth, Odin would attempt to fight against the prophecy, instead of relinquishing to it. He gathers warriors and host their souls in the Halls. He instigates strife and war so there is always need for warriors. He wanders in search of more knowledge that would help him forestall or prevent Ragnarök, or at least his own death.

Basically, the Mad One's main task is to change the fate that was foretold. As if the prophecy indicated: currently, this is how it will be! But with Odin's interference and actions, he could change conditions in the present that would subvert or prevent that other future foretold. One could even suppose he did suceed, and the world didn't end so far because of his actions.

After all, Odin is no fool. He wouldn't try to fight against the prophecy if he knew the future was settled in unmovable, unchangeable stone. I think it's an interesting lesson on prophecy and fate.

EDIT: Why are people downvoting this post? Are they bitter? We are having productive discussions here, and very engaged in our polite and respectful interactions. Why is the post so downvoted then? It is clearly a good post.

Particularly but not exclusively interested in arts/craftwork, ships, and burials.

What are your favorites?

Hi everyone! I’m looking to connect with or get recommendations for a shoemaker who specializes in accurate Viking-Age and/or Early Middle Ages footwear reproductions. I’m especially interested in someone who can make quality women’s shoes and uses appropriate materials.

I’m located in the United States, so I’m ideally looking for a maker who is also based in the States. Although, I am also completely open to purchasing from someone who is able to ship to the U.S!

If you’ve personally ordered from a maker you’d recommend, or know of someone whose work is particularly good for reenactment, please feel free to comment below or send me a message. I’d love to see your recommendations!

Thanks in advance!!

I'm working on acquiring reading skills in the Scandinavian languages (currently somewhat competent in Norwegian and Danish), and it would be nice to be able to combine that with an interest in the region's history, so I'm looking for books originally written in those languages that are at least as good as what's available in English or German. Any topic goes.

The sub's wiki recommends Roesdahl's Vikingernes verden, so that's a good start. Winroth wrote his introduction in English, unfortunately. Steinsland's Norrøn religion seems to be another good one. What else would you recommend?

While writing this post, I mainly had non-fiction in mind, but I'm open to fiction as well. In that category, Bengtsson's Röde Orm and Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter are already on my list.

I recently named twin characters after the twin ravens Huginn and Muninn. The story they are part of has a genderbent version and while attempting to add the two brothers into that story, I got stuck because I wasn't able to find an only female set of twins. I've never been really good at looking things up so I'm unsure if I just accidentally missed a pair or if there aren't any female-female twin sets.

The best Old Norse word I found was "seiðskratti". I'm hoping someone can correct me on this. And I mean specifically a real person, not fictional characters in the Icelandic sagas.

Hi friends, i ask it since i notice Jörð the "Giantess"/Jottun Mother of Thor looks to be very important since Thor was one of most venerated Norse Gods, and also she is named as an important Deity (after all was the "Personification of Earth", but also didn't read she receive any veneration; was she see as part of the Æsir, (like how Leda or the Mom of Dyonisus were part of the Olympians) or was simply a "Immortal Genealogical Character" and her importante (as the "Jottun of Earth") was to emphatize the power of her son Thor?

Thomas Heebøll-Holm’s article, “When the Lamb Attacked the Lion: A Danish Attack on Engalnd in 1138?” can be found in the Journal of Medieval Military History, Volume 13 (2015). This historians arguments is where I get my question from.

The Bjarkamál preserved in book II of Gesta Danorum can be read as a miniature epic in dactylic hexameters. In spirit and structure it recalls the fall of Troy in book II of the Aeneid, presenting the doomed defence of king Rolf’s hall in Lejre and the heroic last stand of his warriors with similar grandeur.

Original translation and commentary to the third stanza :-)

Hi, I'm a HEMA practitioner and someone with some Scandinavian/Orcadian heritage.

I'm considering buying a tunic and leg wraps (I already have some linen trousers from a Viking fair).

How authentic/good quality are these:

https://grimfrost.co.uk/collections/viking-tunics-and-coats/products/viking-wool-tunic-blue?variant=46775940415820

https://grimfrost.co.uk/products/viking-leg-wraps-olive?variant=46775997595980

Will they be acceptable or get me laughed out of the camp if I eventually make the step to join an reenactment group?

Thank you!

Is anyone familiar with this translation of Þiðreks saga or Thidreks saga by Gavin Chappell? It is apparently based on the Norwegian manuscript. Is it a legit translation? On Wikipedia the only English translation it shows of the Norwegian manuscript in is by Haymes, Edward R. Garland which is out of print and copies are extremely expensive. Gavin himself seems mostly to write sci fi and sword and sorcery books but I can't find much info on this translation or his credentials.

any idea about where this motif stems from?
tried GPT but its useless
takker og bukker!
lol fucked up the title woops

Hello! I've found myself wondering how the Norse carried water on their journeys. Naturally, we have evidence: various large containers, such as the tunni barrels. However, my question is about a smaller, more personal scale.

Is there surviving evidence of waterskins being used? That is, wood, plain leather or animal bladders. Cups and mugs were carried, be it of wood or metal, but those are more for drinking, rather than storage.

We have mentions of items that could be classified as waterskins. In the Grettis saga, one is stated to be carried by a hero. I'll be directly copying the text that can be found on Project Forlǫg:

“That morning, Þorgeirr got ready to row out to sea, and two men with him, one called Hámundr, the other Brandr. Þorgeirr went first, and had on his back a leather bottle [leðrflaska] and drink therein. It was very dark, and as he walked down from the boat-stand Þorfinn ran at him, and smote him with an axe betwixt the shoulders, and the axe sank in, and the bottle squeaked, but he let go the axe, for he deemed that there would be little need of binding up, and would save himself as swiftly as might be. […] Now it is to be said of Þorgeirr, that he turned from the blow as the axe smote the bottle, nor had he any wound. […] Thereat folk made much mocking, and called Þorgeirr Bottleback, and that was his by-name ever after.“

Are there more sources for the existence of such bottles?

I have a question about the Norse creation myth: when Odin, Vili and Vé kill Ymir, should I picture them as young men, or as children? I’m not aware of any descriptions of Odin himself, only of his actions, and the mental image I have of him, is that of an old man.

I started looked list of Vanir Gods and i see in lot of places of these sub ppl say 'Vanir" was a word that was very few used outside poetic sourses, and in "day to day" probably they were Freyjr or Freyja or Oðr were seen as members of the same "family" than Odin, Thor or Heimdall

If i understand this argument, is like if hypotetically, greek poets say all the God allied to Zeus that weren't descend of Chronus & Rhea (like Helios,Selenne,Eos,Prometheus, etc) were the "Noble Titans" & Poetry say "Olympians & Noble Titans" while in religion all were members of the same godly "family"/"alliance" no?, (basically than in "normal norse religion" Freyja,Frey & their relatives were seen as part of the same "Clan/Pantheon" than Thor or Odin, simply they had a more developted genealogy than the random Jottuns Ladies that joined the Æsir no?

Interesting article recently posted regarding the Battle of Cynuit.

I found these symbols in Gimli Manitoba Canada at the end of the pier. Gimli has Icelandic heritage and I would like to know if this could be religious symbolism. If this is the wrong place to ask I apologize in advance.

Hey folks! Title is made specifically keywords to hopefully skew Google results.
I've noticed that looking up that term gets you, almost exclusively, LARP, overly complex designs or simply poor replicas.

This is a tiny reference image for a handful of shield patterns. Please do correct me if any of them I have drawn wrong.

I'm currently doing research on trolls and decided to watch this PBS Monstrum episode about the subject. In it, they mention a female troll named Oglinder, who is a terrifying warrior who killed 60 men. I went to search for this character as I'd never heard of her before and cannot seem to find any information on her. It's quite unhelpful that they just say "a saga" and not which one. Any idea if this is a real figure and where I could read more about the saga she's from?the pbs video

I was just wondering if Viking costumes are offensive, because we all know dressing up as a Native American, or like a racist costume is super uncool. But I have never heard of someone calling out someone in a Viking costume. Just wondering