How dark really were the Vikings? How much of a part did human sacrifice play in their world? And what was their relationship with magic? Joining Anthony and Maddy in today's episode is historian, author and all-round Viking expert Dr Eleanor Barraclough, to take us back to darkest corners of the Viking era. 0:00 The Vikings: More Than Bloodthirsty Pagans? 2:16 Defining the Viking Age: When Did it Start and End? 6:24 Norse Diaspora: Where Did the Vikings Travel and Settle? 11:37 Viking Belief Systems: Unpacking the Norse Gods and Mythology 18:49 Material Culture vs. Written Texts in Viking History 22:59 How Accurate is the Viking Violence Stereotype? 25:44 Human Sacrifice and Ritual in Viking Burials 37:03 Seiðr: The Fluidity of Magic and Gender in Norse Culture 45:50 The Myth of the Female Viking Warrior (Shield Maiden) 53:40 Greenland: The Best Place to Experience Authentic Viking Culture This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith and McKenna Fernandez. Edited by Anna Brant. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #AfterDark #Vikings