We leave behind the well-trodden paths of Paris, Dublin, and the Great Heathen Army to ask a simpler, more frustrating question: who was Ragnar’s father? For centuries, popular culture has settled on Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye as the patriarch, but the primary sources tell a different, messier story. In this episode, we dive into the two competing genealogies found in the Gesta Danorum and the Ynglinga saga. We examine how Saxo Grammaticus constructed a legendary lineage connecting Ragnar to the god Odin, while Snorri Sturluson tried to fit him into a semi-historical Norwegian royal framework. We also look at the enigmatic figure of Kráka, often translated as Aslaug, and explore why her presence in these sagas feels less like historical record and more like literary myth-making. By untangling these conflicting narratives, we uncover not just the truth about Ragnar’s origins, but what medieval Scandinavians valued most in their heroes: divine pedigree or earthly conquest.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Fexingo. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Fexingo och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
