The Frenzied Warband as Odinic Cult

During the Migration Period and Viking Age there were groups of frenzied warriors associated with the worship of god Odin. Believing themselves to be recipients of a divine fury from Odin, these warriors formed important parts of a lord's retinue.

This talk addresses the fragmentary source base on this and argues for an ideology of poetically inspired madness that drove these "Odinic Warbands".

Tom Kaye is a master's student in Viking and Medieval Studies, doing his second year at UiO. He is currently working on a thesis addressing the role of madness and divine inspiration within pre-Christian Scandinavia. 

The entrance to the talk is included in the ordinary museum ticket.

In cooperation with Midgard Vikingsenters Venneforening

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