The Viking Chronicle Issue 2 August 2009

Transcription

1 1 of 6 The Viking Chronicle Monthly Free Prize Draw Monthly Competition News from the Viking era. The Saga of Leif Asbjornssonar Chapter 1 Andvari's Gold The tales that Tolkien took. The Gallery Events Dear {{{firstname}}} Welcome to the second edition of 'The Viking Chronicle'. Thank you to everyone that sent us messages of support and for letting us know how much you are looking forward to reading future editions. In this month's edition we have the results of last month's Free Prize Draw and Competition and details of what you could win this month. More news from the Viking era. The saga of Leif Asbjornssonar. A review of Adrian Spendlow's audio book "Andvari's Gold" and a chance to win a signed copy. We also have a feature on how to get your pictures onto our online gallery and a list of Viking and Anglo-Saxon events. If you know someone who you think would like a FREE subscription to 'The Viking Chronicle' please forward this to them. If someone has forwarded this to you please visit and sign up to 'The Viking Chronicle' to enter the monthly Free Prize Draw and receive next month's edition. Monthly Free Prize Draw Win a family pass to the JORVIK Viking Centre which can be used when ever you want during the next 12 months. Once a month all of the subscribers to The Viking Chronicle are automatically entered into our Free Prize Draw. July's Free Prize Draw winners are: Mrs Krystal Smith Jarl Paul Red-Beard Mr Stephen Banks Mrs Helen Iles Miss Ellie Beal August's Free Prize Draw, which will take place on the 25th of August, is brought to you by the

2 2 of 6 JORVIK Viking Centre. One lucky subscriber will win a family pass for the JORVIK Viking Centre which can be used when ever they want during the next 12 months. The winner will be announced in the September edition of The Viking Chronicle. If you would like to sponsor our Monthly Free Prize Draw please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website: Monthly Competition Win a signed copy of Adrinskald Samsson's (aka Adrian Spendlow) audio book 'Andvari's Gold The tales that Tolkien took'. This months competition is a quiz and all the answers can be found in this edition of The Viking Chronicle. Please CLICK HERE to go to the Dismorphia contact us Viking Chronicle competition web page and answer the following five questions correctly for your chance to win a signed copy of Adrian Spendlow's audio book 'Andvari's Gold The tales that Tolkien took' What is Miklegaard known as to those across the sea? How old was Leif Asbjornssonar when he first went to sea? What is the total combined run time of the Andvari's Gold audio book CD's? What is the name of the female Viking whose picture appears in this edition of The Viking Chronicle and the Dismorphia Viking York online Gallery? St Wilfrid's 1300th Anniversary Conference will be held where? You can also go to the Dismorphia website, click on the 'contact us'' button and select Viking Chronicle competition from the message type list to enter the competition. The answers and winner will be announced in the September edition of The Viking Chronicle. The answers to July's competition are: What is being forged in Jorvik 975AD? Penningr What is Sigwulf Silver-Tongue's date of birth? 9th April 947 The Festival of British Archaeology 2009 begins on what date? 18th July 2009 July's competition was won by Ms. A. Berdanier If you would like to suggest or sponsor a competition please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website:

3 3 of 6 News from the Viking era. By Sigwulf Silver-Tongue Sigwulfsson (aka Neil Tattersall) IT'S TIME TO GO A-VIKING The Season is getting late already it is time to go a-viking. Headed by Captain Lief and his ship Sig-skegg, Sigwulf is seeking more men to join their raiding party. If you have a ship yourself; all the better. The winter will not hold off forever and will be here before you know it. Let's set sail to riches and adventure! We set sail by the end of the month and aim for Danmark, perhaps we will over-winter there. We shall see. CHRISTIANITY COMES TO JORVIK The new belief of Christianity appears to be on the increase sweeping throughout the Viking world, sometimes at the tip of a sword. It would seem it is no longer only being followed by those down south any more. What's it all about? Can this one God really measure up to our many beautiful, wise and mighty Gods? Time will tell. HAVE YOU BEEN DOWN TO THE STAITHES TODAY? There is a host of new trade goods arriving daily in Jorvik. It is always worth walking down by the Staithes to see if there is anything worth haggling for. Why not treat your wife or yourself to some exquisite silk cut from the bolts all the way from Miklegaard, known to those across the sea as Byzantium! PROTECTION FROM EVIL You might be interested in buying an Egg Cowrie all the way from the Red Sea. Some say these shells used as amulets will protect you from evil, trapping the malicious spirits inside, personally I think they look nice and the gods will protect you. HONOUR YOUR LOVED ONES If you are looking for a sign or commemorative runestone in honour of a loved one or perhaps a fallen comrade, seek out your local Runemaster. If you can afford it you may even be able to get one carved by Jarl Sigwulf though don't count on it. Only his very dearest friends are honoured with Runestones erected by him personally. Perhaps you could find another Runemaster who might teach you the secrets of the carvings. If you have a news story from the Viking era that you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website: The Saga of Leif Asbjornssonar Chapter 1 By Leif Asbjornssonar (aka Lawrence Edmonds) Leif was born in midsummer, 952, amidst the tumult and uncertainty of King Eirík Blóðöx's rule in Jorvik. Leif's father, Ásbjörn, was a favourite of the king, ever since he had presented him and his queen, Gunnhildr, with costly gifts from his numerous trading voyages overseas. He had also stood in Eirík's shieldwall against the army of King Eadræd at Ceaster forde and helped his lord gain the victory that day. Even though the people of Jorvik later expelled their king, Ásbjörn was still held in high regard for the part he had played defending the north against the ambitions of Eadræd and his West Saxons, who wanted to bring the whole of England

4 4 of 6 under their power. Ásbjörn was not a native of Northumbria, rather a Dane from the city of Árós in Jutland. As soon as he was old enough he had left his home and gone upon voyages of trade and exploration, much as his son Leif would do in the future. He travelled widely and saw many strange sights and had an abundance of tales that he recounted to his children around the hearth in Jorvik, where he eventually settled down. None listened to these stories more intently than Leif, his second son by his Northumbrian wife, Hróðwyn. From an early age he begged his father to take him on a trading voyage abroad, but had to be content with looking after the family stall on Kopparagata while Ásbjörn was away during the summer months. Life in Jorvik wasn't so bad though. When there wasn't work to be done there was time to play down by the wharves with the other children. Almost every day a new ship would arrive for Leif and his friends to marvel at. Truly, it seemed that all kinds of men came to Jorvik to trade, bringing with them curious and valuable wares to sell from their homelands. There were Norwegians with bearskins, Arabs with costly silks and other bright cloths, Franks with their razor-sharp sword-blades and a multitude of other races down by the wharves. Leif and his friends enjoyed jumping aboard the ships when no one was looking and pretending they were on the high seas, being battered by waves or fighting a sea battle against a great host. At the age of fourteen Leif had had enough of these games and wanted to travel for real, beyond the walls of Jorvik, down the Ouse and away into the wide world. He had never even been to Denmark and seen the land of his father's birth, even though he spoke Danish on a daily basis with his family, friends and Danish merchants in the city. Ásbjörn had promised to take his son abroad with him as soon as he was fifteen winters old, but Leif was the impatient and stubborn sort and resolved to take action. In the early summer months, after his father had sailed away, Leif kept a close watch on the ships that arrived in the city. He was used to talking to the merchants and the crews of these vessels and knew many of them from his days spent playing on the wharves. He begged many of them to take him with them on their travels, but none agreed. In desperation, Leif left his home at the dead of night and concealed himself amongst a pile of animal skins on board the first ship he came across. He expected to be caught but miraculously the crew failed to notice him until he revealed himself once they were upon the open seas. The crew were all for throwing him overboard but luckily the captain, Hákon, was an old friend of his father and spared him. He did not make life on board easy for the youngster though, ordering him to prove his worth as a sailor or be taken straight back to Jorvik. Fortunately, Leif picked up the art of seamanship quickly and soon proved himself to be an able addition to Hákon's crew. The days on board ship were long, hard and wet and the food was far from appetizing, dried fish mostly, but finally Leif was doing what he had always dreamed of: exploring the outside world. If you have a saga you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website: Andvari's Gold The tales that Tolkien took. By Adrinskald Samsson (aka Adrian Spendlow) 'This riveting double CD, telling the tale of a cursed ring, a young hero, a dragon's greed and doomed love, follows the Viking Sagas bringing them to life as only Adrian can'. Adrian is a performer who recreates the experience of sitting around the camp fire sharing stories of Viking myths and legends. I could have listened to these CD's in my car or put them in my ipod but I decided I wanted to get near to the experience Adrian tries to create so one evening I turned off the lights, turned on our real effect fire, curled up on the

5 5 of 6 settee with my girlfriend and one of our cats and put the first CD into our surround sound system. Adrian begins his story as the introductory music fades and you may miss the opening lines if you are not listening for them. Initially the CD is like someone talking to you but as the story progresses Adrian takes on the voices and personalities of the characters and you begin to feel the emotion behind the story. This draws you into a world of Viking myths and legends and if you have either read or seen The Lord of the Rings it's surprising to find out just how much of Tolkienh's work is based upon Viking Sagas. Both CD's combined last for 94 minutes and if you are like me you will listen to the first CD and save the second CD for another night. Being a fan of all things Viking and Tolkien I enjoyed the CD's and I've put listening to them around a real camp fire with a group of friends on my to do list. My girlfriend enjoyed all the different voices and picking out the similarities with The Lord of the Rings. Our cat fell asleep, well you can't win them all. One word of caution to parents with very young children. All those different voices, especially when they are confronting each other, may be a bit too scary for very young children. You can learn more about Adrian and Andvari's Gold at his website: The Gallery Do you have a photo of yourself dressed as a Viking or have you created a Viking or Anglo-Saxon themed picture you would like to share with others. If you do then please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website and your photos and pictures could be displayed in our online gallery and may even be featured in 'The Viking Chronicle'. Events Behind the Scenes at Conservation York Archaeological Trust York UK 5th August 10 am am Free. PRE BOOKING REQUIRED - Call Meet at the York Archaeological Trust front gate at 10am (47 Aldwark, York, YO1 7BX). Find

6 6 of 6 out what happens to artefacts after archaeologists have unearthed them with this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of York Archaeological Trust' s renowned Conservation Department. Teatime Tours The Hungate Dig York UK 20th August 5:30 pm 7:30 pm Adults 11.50, Concessions PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL - Call See real-life archaeological discovery in action as the Hungate Dig reveals new areas of the historic city, then experience JORVIK Viking Centre guided by one of the archaeologists who originally dug the Coppergate dig more than 25 years ago. St Wilfrid Public Lecture York Archaeological Trust York UK 9th September 7:30pm 5. The St Wilfred 1300th Anniversary conference will be preceded by a Public Lecture (St Wilfrid - a European Anglo-Saxon) by Professor Richard Bailey (Emeritus Professor of Anglo-Saxon Civilization, University of Newcastle) in York Minster. St Wilfrid th Anniversary Conference York Archaeological Trust York UK 10th & 11th September 9am 5pm 50. The Conference, will be held in St William's College, York. For more details please go to: St Wilfrid Excursion York Archaeological Trust York UK 12th September 8:30 am 6 pm 20. The conference will be followed by a coach excursion to Wilfrid's foundations at Ripon and Hexham, and also to Escomb church, leaving York Memorial Gardens coach park at 8.30 am and aiming to return by 6 pm Expert guides will be on hand to introduce and comment on features of particular interest. Participants to provide their own snacks/provisions! Halloween for Creepy Kids JORVIK Viking Centre York UK 31st October 7pm Adults 5, Children 9. PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Call Late night spooky tour, including scary stories, gruesome ghouls, goody bags and refreshments. Creepy Kids in 2009 promises to be JORVIK's spookiest event ever! The spirits of JORVIK's past return once more to haunt its galleries and corridors. Dangerous Vikings lurk at every turn of the JORVIK ride, waiting to ambush the unsuspecting children as they pass! If you have an event you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia Viking York website: Top of Page Terms of Use Privacy Policy Contact Us Copyright 2009 Dismorphia Limited