The Yggdrasil Mobility Programme is a research grant for international PhD students and young researchers to fund research stays in Norway. The programme is currently suspended.
It demonstrates the use of the World-Tree symbolism in an initiative…
This statue of a troll stands outside the visitor centre at Geysir, and is a popular place for tourists to take photos. Trolls are a supernatural being (usually antagonist) featuring in Old Norse mythology, but since adopted and adapted in a variety…
Boat names in Scandinavia often make references to the Norse past, and particularly to the seafaring culture of the Vikings. It is less common to come across boats with Viking names elsewhere - this one is registered in Elburg in the Netherlands and…
The Zetland Window depicts Haraldr Hárfagri (Harald Fairhair), first King of Norway, who conquered Shetland in around 870, and Rognvald Eysteinsson, who was offered the first Earldom of Shetland but declined in favour of his brother Sigurd. For more…
Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre), who rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
Depiction of Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre) arriving in Shetland. He rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
Rognvaldr, Earl of Møre and of Orkney, is said to have gifted Shetland (the Earldom of which he was offered by Harald fairhair) to his brother, Sigurd Eysteinsson (Sigurd the Mighty), who ruled c. 875–892. He is depicted here being invested with…
Stained glass window depicting the third Bishop of Trondheim, Eysteinn Erlendsson and the first bishop of Ornkey and Shetland, William the Old, who probably acceded to the Bishopric around 1102. He is pictured here with a model of St Magnus…
Detail from the Thoms Window, depicting the coronation of King Magnus Erlingsson of Norway in 1162. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Thoms-Window.asp
The Olaf and Thyra Window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts the Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason (Óláfr Tryggvason) who officially brought Christianity to Shetland in 995. See item 624 for Thyra and…
Thyra of Denmark (Tyri Haraldsdatter) was daughter of Harald Bluetooth of Denmark, and final wife of Olaf Tryggvason, who she married against the will of the Danish King. More information about the window can be found at…
This window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) who ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. On the right is Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði),…
Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. The Cathedral in Kirkwall was dedicated to him after his death at the hands of Hákon Pálsson.
Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði) was King of Norway from 1046 until 1066 and led an unsucessful invasion of England in 1066. He was killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge. This…