You're Dead to Me Viking Women: wives, weavers and warriors
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Aug 29, 2025 
In this entertaining discussion, historian Eleanor Barraclough and comedian Chloe Petts dive into the often-overlooked lives of Viking women. They debunk the macho Viking myth, revealing the daily realities of these women as wives, weavers, and warriors. The conversation explores intriguing topics like the societal roles, marriage customs, and the agency of women in Viking society. With humor, they uncover the complex stories of figures like Gudrun and challenge stereotypes, shedding light on both the struggles and strengths of Viking women.
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The Deep‑Minded: Widow Who Led To Iceland
- The saga of the settler "The Deep-Minded" shows a widow leading family and followers to Iceland, freeing enslaved people and founding a community.
- Saga anecdotes portray elite women acting as matriarchs and movers in colonisation stories.
Childbirth Rituals Mixed Magic And Saints
- Childbirth was high-risk and involved protective runic inscriptions, pagan prayers (e.g., to Freyja) and later Christian saints like St Margaret.
- Rune-sticks and prayers reveal intimate rituals blending magic, religion and medicine around pregnancy.
Dyngja: Weaving, Healing And Social Space
- Women managed medicine, healing and practiced seiðr (magic), while textile spaces (dyngja) functioned as social hubs for craft and gossip.
- Archaeology and sagas show women combined practical, ritual and social roles within household economies.