Viking Women: Between Theory, Text, and Materiality

This volume offers an interdisciplinary exploration of gender relations in medieval Scandinavia, focusing on the roles of women in Old Norse society. Despite decades of research, this topic continues to attract critical attention, a reflection both of its enduring relevance in medieval studies and of the ways in which it intersects with contemporary cultural discourse. Bringing together eight contributions by leading specialists, this book combines archaeology, history, literary analysis, and legal studies to shed new light on established debates and to offer insights into emerging perspectives. The chapters draw on both methodological and theoretical approaches, variously tracing connections between legendary heroines such as Brynhild and the enigmatic women of the Oseberg and Birka graves, exploring gender in the mortuary landscape, and assessing the role played by women in creating and promulgating skaldic verse. Highlighting the interplay between text and material culture, this collection presents a coherent yet multifaceted picture of women's roles in Viking Age societies.