Sagas & Historical texts

A group of medieval people gathered around a fire inside a wooden hall, with one man standing and speaking to the others while gesturing with his hand.

The sagas and historical texts of medieval Iceland are our richest sources for understanding the Viking Age. Written between the 12th and 14th centuries, they preserve not only heroic tales and family feuds, but also chronicles of kings, explorers, and the shaping of nations.

The sagas bring the ‘Viking world’ to life with vivid storytelling recording honour, rivalry, voyages, and fate.. while the historical texts, such as the Heimskringla, set these stories against the broader backdrop of politics, rulers, and real events. Together, they reveal how Norse people saw themselves: as both participants in myth and makers of history.

In this section of the blog, we’ll explore legendary sagas like the Saga of the Volsungs, family sagas rooted in Iceland’s early settlements, and historical works that recount the deeds of kings and warriors. Whether read as literature, history, or cultural memory, these texts remain a vital key to understanding the Norse legacy.

Painting of a man with long hair and beard sitting on a throne, speaking to a group of children and soldiers in a wooden hall with a window overlooking mountains in the background.
A historical painting depicting a scene from Norse mythology or history, with a bearded man in a crown and armor standing before a group of seated and standing men inside a wooden hall. The man points accusingly at a bearded man with long hair and a helmet, who stands confidently holding a sword. The scene shows intense expressions and a mountainous landscape visible through a window.