Ragnar Lothbrok and the Legend of the Snake Pit Death

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the most famous story about Ragnar Lothbrok's death: being thrown into a pit of snakes by King Ælla of Northumbria. They examine the earliest sources—the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus, and the Old Norse Ragnars saga loðbrókar—to untangle legend from history. The conversation delves into the symbolism of snake pits in medieval literature, the possible historical basis for Ælla's execution of a Viking leader, and how the story was shaped to justify the Great Heathen Army's invasion. They also discuss the archaeological evidence at York and the political uses of martyrdom narratives. Finally, they consider whether the snake pit motif borrowed from earlier myths, including the Volsunga saga and the story of Gunnar in the snake pit. A fresh angle on a foundational Viking legend.

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