Viking Women: wives, weavers and warriors

维京女性:妻子、织工与战士

You're Dead to Me

2025-08-29

57 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Scandinavia by historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough and comedian Chloe Petts to learn about the fascinating women of the Viking age. The popular stereotype of the Vikings is pretty macho: bearded men on boats, heading out to raid, pillage and burn down monasteries. There are some famous images of Viking warrior women: shieldmaidens, Valkyries and various goddesses. But what about the lives led by ordinary women in medieval Scandinavia and across the Viking world? In this episode we look at the real history behind the myths and stereotypes, exploring daily life for Viking women: their roles as wives and mothers, the work they did as weavers and healers, the gods they prayed to, the archaeological traces they left behind, as well as the sad reality that many women in the Viking world were enslaved. We also look at women who lived lives out of the ordinary – as queens, sorceresses, and warriors. If you’re a fan of feminist history, the intimate details of daily life in the past, and fantastical myths and legends, you’ll love our episode on Viking Women. If you want to know more about the Vikings, check out our episodes on Leif Erikson and Old Norse Literature. And for more fearsome warrior women, there’s our episode on Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba. You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Clara Chamberlain Written by: Clara Chamberlain, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: Philip Sellars
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • This is History's Heroes.

  • People with purpose, brave ideas and the courage to stand alone.

  • Including a pioneering surgeon who rebuilt the shattered faces of soldiers in the First World War.

  • You know, he would look at these men and he would say, don't worry,

  • Sonny, you'll have as good a face as any of us when I'm done with you.

  • Join me, Alex von Tunzelman, for History's Heroes.

  • Hello, Greg here.

  • Just a reminder before we get going that episodes of You're Dead to Me are released on Fridays wherever you get your podcasts.

  • But if you're in the UK,

  • you can listen to the latest episodes 28 days earlier than anywhere else, first on BBC Sounds.

  • Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously.

  • My name is Greg Jenner.

  • I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster.

  • And today we are loading our loom weights and launching our longship

  • as we sail back to medieval Scandinavia to learn all about Viking women.

  • And to help us, we have two very special guests.

  • In History Corner, she's a historian, writer and broadcaster based at Bath Spa University,

  • where her research focuses on the cultures, literatures and languages of the medieval North.

  • You may have read her sensational new book, Embers of the Hands, Hidden Histories of the Viking Age.