Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The two terms "valkyrie" and "shielmaiden" are not as interchangeable in Old Norse as they are in pop culture.
· Videos I mention here: Verner's Law ( youtu.be/Jc_x-n5e_xg ), the on-site discussion of the shieldmaiden's grave at Birka ( youtu.be/16HMA6HPtJ8 ), plus I have fond memories of making something like a decent point about the Valkyrie's role in this video ( youtu.be/VMrYEq_jNVs ).
· I mention three of my books here: my translation of the Poetic Edda ( amzn.to/3JdQNny ), and my translations of the Saga of the Volsungs ( amzn.to/4rEtYJB ) and two other sagas of mythical heroes, including the Saga of Hervor and Heidrek ( amzn.to/41fsmLB ). You can also order signed copies mailed to you from Boulder Book Store (as long as you live in the US, Canada, or Australia) at boulderbookstore.net/signed-jackson-crawford-books
· A relevant course I'm teaching on Zoom in April-May 2026 is a deep reading of Vǫluspá and Hávamál in Old Norse (though you don't have to know Old Norse to participate; you can read it in translation and I'll explain the difficulties and nuances of the original). Enroll at eventbrite.com/e/original-stories-of-norse-mythology-readings-w-translator-dr-j-crawford-tickets-1984726280733 (or check out something else, like Intro. to Runic Studies, at eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-runic-studies-april-may-2026-tickets-1984727629768 or Intermediate Old Norse at eventbrite.com/e/intermediate-old-norse-april-may-2026-tickets-1984823931810 ).
The two terms "valkyrie" and "shielmaiden" are not as interchangeable in Old Norse as they are in pop culture.
· Videos I mention here: Verner's Law ( youtu.be/Jc_x-n5e_xg ), the on-site discussion of the shieldmaiden's grave at Birka ( youtu.be/16HMA6HPtJ8 ), plus I have fond memories of making something like a decent point about the Valkyrie's role in this video ( youtu.be/VMrYEq_jNVs ).
· I mention three of my books here: my translation of the Poetic Edda ( amzn.to/3JdQNny ), and my translations of the Saga of the Volsungs ( amzn.to/4rEtYJB ) and two other sagas of mythical heroes, including the Saga of Hervor and Heidrek ( amzn.to/41fsmLB ). You can also order signed copies mailed to you from Boulder Book Store (as long as you live in the US, Canada, or Australia) at boulderbookstore.net/signed-jackson-crawford-books
· A relevant course I'm teaching on Zoom in April-May 2026 is a deep reading of Vǫluspá and Hávamál in Old Norse (though you don't have to know Old Norse to participate; you can read it in translation and I'll explain the difficulties and nuances of the original). Enroll at eventbrite.com/e/original-stories-of-norse-mythology-readings-w-translator-dr-j-crawford-tickets-1984726280733 (or check out something else, like Intro. to Runic Studies, at eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-runic-studies-april-may-2026-tickets-1984727629768 or Intermediate Old Norse at eventbrite.com/e/intermediate-old-norse-april-may-2026-tickets-1984823931810 ).
