The Eastern Way I
- 2 minsThe Eastern Way I
In this episode we begin our exploration of the Baltic Sea region by examining two very different sources of evidence which point to early Viking activities in the Eastern Baltic. First we discuss a dramatic tale which has come down to us from the pen of everyone’s favorite Icelandic author, Snorri Sturluson. This story centers around a certain Yngvarr, King of the Svear, and traces his dramatic demise at the hands of the Eistr.
We then step out of the world of literature and into the dirt to explore a remarkable archeological find which was recently uncovered on the Estonian island of Saaremaa. We talk monumental graves, ancient ships, informative skeletons and even discuss how we really are what we eat.
I hope you enjoy.
Sources
General
In Austrvegr: The Role of the Eastern Baltic in Viking Age Communication across the Baltic Sea by Marika Mägi
The Emergence of Rus 750 - 1200 by Simon Franklin and Jonathan Shepard
The Age of the Vikings by Anders Winroth
The Baltic Region, Russia, Byzantium and the Caliphate in The Vikings by Else Roesdahl. Translated by Kristen Williams and Susan Margeson
Chapter 6 - Across the Baltic in The Vikings: A history by Robert Ferguson
Part V: The Vikings in the East in The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood
Scandinavians in European Russia by Thomas S. Noonan in The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings edited by Peter Sawyer
The Viking Age in Finland by Torsten Edgren in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price
The Vikings and the Eastern Baltic by Heiki Valk in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price
The Viking Rus and Byzantium by Jonathan Shepard in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price
Ynglinga saga
Ynglingatal edited by Edith Marold with the assistance of Vivian Busch, Jana Krüger, Ann-Dörte Kyas and Katharina Seidel, translated from German by John Foulks in Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages Volume One
Heimskringla I translated by Anthony Faulkes and Alison Finley.
The notes and introductions in both of these sources were essential references.
Salme
Rescue Excavations of A Vendel Era Boat-Grave in Salme, Saaremaa by Marge Konsa, Raili Allmäe and Liina Maldre
Isotopic Provenancing of the Salme ship burials in Pre-Viking Age Estonia by T. Douglas Price, Jüri Peets, Raili Allmäe, Liina Maldre and Ester Oras
Estonia: Salme Ship Burials by Emma Watts-Plumpkin
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