S5E15: Ragnar Lodbrok V: Ragnar and the Snake Pit
From Between Two Ravens: A Norse Mythology Podcast by David Alexander and Shawn Gaich
February 10, 2025 · 1h 9m · Season 5 · Episode 15
About this episode
Shawn and David discuss Ragnar Lodbrok's mid-life crisis and his ill-fated invasion of England as depicted in chapter 15 of 'The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok'.
In this episode, Shawn and David discuss chapter 15 of "The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok". Despite his absence in the previous episode, Ragnar knows full well about the successful military campaigns of his sons. Despite his past of slaying a dragon/serpent and being a great king among men, Ragnar sees his son's exploits beginning to exceed his own. In what seems to be a dark age mid life crisis, Ragnar decides to go to England with only 2 ships in an effort to take the land (with the justified lack of support of his wife, Aslaug). However, seeing she cannot change his mind, Aslaug give Ragnar a hair shirt that would prevent him from taking harm on the battlefieldArmed with the hair shirt and the spear he used to slay the dragon and win over his first wife, Thora, Ragnar embarks on his journey. However, his voyage quickly takes a disastrous turn when he wrecks on the eastern shores of Northumbria. The hosts dive into the aftermath of Ragnar's ill-fated invasion. Did Ragnar truly believe he had a chance to conquer England, or was he already aware that his actions would set the stage for an even greater destiny, one that would elevate the legacy of his sons? Ways to support us:If you have…
People in this episode
Hosts: Shawn, David
Topics covered
- Norse mythology
- Ragnar Lodbrok
- military campaigns
- family legacy
- dark age
- invasion
- personal crisis
Keywords
- Ragnar Lodbrok
- Aslaug
- Northumbria
- military campaigns
- Norse mythology
- Saga
- invasion
- dark age
- legacy
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok
Places: England, Northumbria
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