388. Viking Mythology: Thor, Ragnarok, & Jesus Christ (Ep 6)
Summary
Hosts Anita Anand and William Durrant join guest Eleanor Barraclough to explore the cultural and religious syncretism between Norse paganism and Christianity in 10th-century Britain. They analyze artifacts like the Gosforth Cross, which blends Christian imagery with Norse myths of Ragnarok, illustrating how communities negotiated these belief systems. The discussion covers Norse shamanic practices, the influence of Sami traditions, and the enduring legacy of Viking culture in medieval English art and language.
Topics discussed
Introduction and sponsor message
The Gosforth Cross and Norse-Christian imagery
Ragnarok, Yggdrasil, and the Nine Worlds
Odin's sacrifice and theological parallels
Christianization strategies and Thor's hammer pendants
Viking artifacts and cultural mixing in Yorkshire
Sources of Norse mythology: Snorri and the Eddas
Promotion of live podcast events
Norse shamanism, Seidr, and the Völva
Connections between Norse and Sami shamanic traditions
Freyr, fertility, and gender fluidity in Norse myth
Magic in Britain, the Hebrides, and Iceland
Syncretism on crosses and the limits of historical knowledge
The Tostig sundial and conclusion
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