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Course begins August 18, 2026
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Live sessions each week from 3:00 - 4:30pm Eastern U.S. time
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All sessions are recorded and available to view for up to 2 weeks after the last live session
Saga of Hervor and Heidrek 1
Chapters 1-7
We follow in the footsteps of the shieldmaiden Hervor and her berserker father up until she recovers a cursed heirloom and weds a chieftain. The story continues with her troublesome son Heidrek, who is hungry for land and glory.
Saga of Hervor and Heidrek 2
Chapters 8-16
We join Heidrek on his travels to the Rus where he becomes the most popular king only to be bested in a riddle contest by the mighty Odin. Under the shadow of the cursed sword, we witness the clash of Heidrek’s sons.
Saga of Hrolf Kraki 1
Chapters 1-17
The first two tales concern the vengeance of the princes Helgi and Hroar on their evil uncle, followed by the very disturbing fate of King Helgi.
Saga of Hrolf Kraki 2
Chapters 18-35
In these chapters we encounter the hero Svipdag and Bodvar Little-Bear who join the court of King Hrolf. Enjoy the Beowulf vibes of Bodvar’s adventures.
Saga of Hrolf Kraki 3
Chapters 36-52
After one more hero story, the saga chronicles Hrolf Kraki’s journey to Sweden to avenge his father. Finally, we take part in the larger-than-life battle between Hrolf and his half-elf sister Skuld, packed with lively action and supernatural characters.
From enchanted swords to gruesome witches and meddling gods, these two medieval Icelandic sagas carry us with grace through a realm as rich in legend as it is naturally supernatural. While none of them truly mirror myths and beliefs from the Viking Age, they can still refract them into entertaining stories toying with memories of ancient days.
Meet your Instructor
Irina-Maria Manea
Irina-Maria Manea is a medievalist with an M.A. in ancient history and Ph.D. in Viking Studies from the University of Bucharest, Romania, complemented by study stays in Göttingen, Aachen, and Uppsala. She formerly researched the reception of Norse mythology in metal music and is currently mainly interested in Viking Age burials and the afterlife, the paranormal, and material culture in Norse literature. She teaches various modules at Signum University (New Hampshire) and is a research affiliate with the University of Chester (UK). She previously also taught Swedish, Norwegian, and K12 history. Her passion for Viking Studies has led her on the path to public history, running a Substack and YouTube channel fatefully named Shield of Skuld.