#if someone has any suggestions for an annotated version of Norse myths pleaseeeeeee lmk

[spiritofthespork]

So while I don’t do much of any research into Roman history, I do actually have some good suggestions for people looking for Norse (esp Viking era) history sources. There’s a book that came out a few years ago called Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price. It’s basically an overview of Viking Era culture and how they lived with academic sources including the most recent revelations and corrections from archaeology. I really liked that it pushed back on the fascist wet dream version of the Norse but did not sugar-coat the fucked up things that they did (ie. Slavery was pretty much universal in the Norse world and SA during raids, but they also had extensive trading with other areas of the world and therefore would have people from all over living there). It is definitely denser than skimming a website or wiki page but it’s written in a way that is useful for people both in the field or just interested (like me).

For Norse mythology I don’t have any amazing suggestions for academic accuracy or commentary, I personally use the Neil Gaiman retelling if you’re looking more at the main myths and to get a vibe on characterization. However, it is just an authors retelling and doesn’t necessarily reflect how the Norse saw their deities and definitely cuts out or elaborates on certain parts of the mythos (additionally I would recommend getting it from your local library if interested instead of buying it given the recent allegations).

Lastly, while I said I didn’t have any sources for Roman history, if you’re just interested in hearing about it but don’t need specific info on cultural norms or details, I watch a lot of Overly Sarcastic Productions on YouTube. Blue has a whole compilation on there on Roman history. It’s more just to get you started/interested and while they will sometimes provide sources I wouldn’t rely exclusively on them, I just find them fun.

*Disclaimer: I am not a historian or archaeologist*

If you want to do research into ancient and medieval European cultures my advice to you is to always double check that the websites you’re reading from aren’t run by new age spiritual people who don’t cite their sources or fascists. Especially the fascists. Look out for them. Keep your head on a swivel.