The Untold Stories of the Vikings: Illustrated Accounts of their Original Voyages!

An Ancient Legacy Unveiled

The Vikings, the legendary seafarers of the past, have long fascinated historians and adventure enthusiasts alike. These extraordinary explorers from the Norse civilization embarked on captivating voyages, seeking new lands, trade routes, and conquests. The tales of their daring expeditions have survived the test of time, and it is through original narratives that we truly grasp the magnificence of their journeys.

The Sagas: Chronicles of Viking Expeditions

The Sagas, ancient Icelandic texts written in the 13th century, form the basis of our understanding of Viking exploration. These captivating narratives recount the exhilarating adventures of famous Viking figures such as Leif Erikson, Erik the Red, and Bjarni Herjólfsson.

Original Narratives of the Voyages of the Vikings (Illustrated)

by Charles River Editors (Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3949 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	59 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The Sagas of Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson, the famous Norse explorer, led one of the most significant Viking voyages. According to the Sagas, Erikson set sail from Greenland, eventually reaching a mysterious land known as Vinland. This discovery marked the first known European exploration of North America, centuries before Christopher Columbus.

The Saga of Erik the Red

Erik the Red, the father of Leif Erikson, also ventured into uncharted waters. Banished from Iceland, Erik the Red sailed westward, ultimately discovering Greenland. His account of the harsh climate, icy landscapes, and the perils faced during his voyage provides valuable insights into the challenges Vikings confronted.

The Saga of Bjarni Herjólfsson

Bjarni Herjólfsson, a lesser-known but significant Viking figure, stumbled upon unknown lands during his journey from Iceland to Greenland. Although he didn't actively explore these newfound territories, his account of their existence sparked curiosity and influenced subsequent Viking expeditions.

Illustrating the Viking Sagas

To truly immerse ourselves in the Viking world, illustrations play a vital role. Several artists and historians have brought the Viking Sagas to life through their intricate drawings and paintings, capturing the essence of their voyages.

Peter Nicolai Arbo: The Norse Mythology Painter

Peter Nicolai Arbo, a renowned Norwegian painter, dedicated his art to Norse mythology and Viking history. His detailed illustrations of Viking ships, battles, and exploration are considered masterpieces, capturing the essence and spirit of the Norse seafarers.

Vikings: War of Clans - Gaming Meets History

For those seeking a more interactive experience, the game Vikings: War of Clans allows players to immerse themselves in the Viking world. With its stunning graphics and attention to historical accuracy, the game captures the sense of adventure and conquest associated with the Vikings.

The Influence of Viking Voyages

The Viking voyages left an indelible mark on history, shaping the world as we know it today. Their exploration and trade routes opened up new possibilities, connecting cultures and fostering the exchange of knowledge and goods.

The Vinland Map: A Controversial Artifact

One of the most intriguing pieces of evidence supporting Viking voyages to North America is the Vinland Map. This controversial artifact supposedly depicts parts of North America, suggesting that the Vikings left a lasting impact on the continent long before Columbus's arrival.

Scientific Discoveries: Unveiling Viking Voyages

Archaeological excavations, shipwreck findings, and genetic studies have also contributed to our understanding of Viking voyages. The uncovering of Viking settlements in countries such as Ireland, Scotland, and England solidify the historical accounts of their presence and expeditions.

Embrace the Viking Spirit

The legacy of the Vikings lives on, inspiring countless stories, works of art, and our modern-day fascination with their awe-inspiring accomplishments. By delving deep into the original narratives and illustrated accounts of their voyages, we can truly appreciate and honor the indomitable spirit of these legendary seafarers.

Original Narratives of the Voyages of the Vikings (Illustrated)

by Charles River Editors (Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3949 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	59 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

THE important documents from Norse sources that may be classed as “Original Narratives of Early American History” are the Icelandic sagas (prose narratives) that tell of the voyages of Northmen to Vinland. There are two sagas that deal mainly with these voyages, while in other Icelandic sagas and annals there are a number of references to Vinland and adjacent regions. These two sagas are the “Saga of Eric the Red” and another, which, for the lack of a better name, we may call the “Vinland History of the Flat Island Book,” but which might well bear the same name as the other. This last history is composed of two disjointed accounts found in a fine vellum manuscript known as the Flat Island Book (Flateyjar-bok), so-called because it was long owned by a family that lived on Flat Island in Broad Firth, on the northwestern coast of Iceland. Bishop Brynjolf, an enthusiastic collector, got possession of this vellum, “the most extensive and most perfect of Icelandic manuscripts,” and sent it, in 1662, with other vellums, as a gift to King Frederick III. of Denmark, where it still is one of the great treasures of the Royal Library.
On account of the beauty of the Flat Island vellum, and the number of sagas that it contained (when printed it made 1700 octavo pages), it early attracted the attention of Old Norse collectors and scholars, and hence the narrative relating to Vinland that it contained came to be better known than the vellum called Hauk’s Book, containing the “Saga of Eric the Red,” and was the only account of Vinland that received any particular attention from the scholars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries The Flat Island Book narrative was also given first place in Rafn’s Antiquitates Americanæ (Copenhagen, 1837). This ponderous volume contained all the original sources, but it has given rise to much needless controversy on the Norse voyages, for many of the author’s s were soon found to be untenable. He failed to winnow the sound historical material from that which was unsubstantiated or improbable. And so far as the original sources are concerned, it was particularly unfortunate that he followed in the footsteps of seventeenth and eighteenth century scholars and gave precedence to the Flat Island Book narrative. In various important respects this saga does not agree with the account given in the “Saga of Eric the Red,” which modern scholarship has pronounced the better and more reliable version, for reasons that we shall consider later.
The Flat Island Book consists of transcripts of various sagas made by the Icelandic priests Jon Thordsson and Magnus Thorhallsson. Very little of their lives is known, but there is evidence to show that the most important portion of the copying was completed about 1380. There is, however, no information concerning the original from which the transcripts were made. From internal evidence, however, Dr. Storm of the University of Christiania thinks that this original account was a late production, possibly of the fourteenth century. It is, moreover, evident that this original account was quite different from the one from which the existing “Saga of Eric the Red” was made, so that we have two distinct accounts of the same set of events, both separately derived from oral tradition, a fact which, on account of the lack of harmony in details, has been the source of much confusion, but which nevertheless gives strong testimony concerning the verity of the Vinland tradition in its general outlines.