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What do the Sagas of the Icelanders and Game of Thrones have in common? Dr. Zarka answers this question and explores how the draugr, Nordic undead monsters, bear a striking resemblance to the White Walkers—and more importantly, how these monsters connect to the history of Ancient Nordic peoples.
The concept of medieval-era and older undead beings fighting and terrifying the living isn’t new; it’s a part of Nordic, particularly Icelandic, history. The Draugr Myth, popularized by games such as Skyrim and God of War, offers insight into the burial practices, religious beliefs, cultural attitudes, and gender roles of Vikings and other Ancient Nordic people. #whitewalkers #zombies #MonstrumPBS
Written and Hosted by: Dr. Emily Zarka
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Illustrator: Samuel Allen
Editor: Sara Roma
Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
Special thanks to:
Dr. Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir: @sagaknitter
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Baier, Katharina and Werner Schafke. “When the Dead No Longer Rest: The Religious
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Chadwick, N.K. “Norse Ghosts (A Study in the Draugr and the Haugbúi).” Folklore, vol. 57, no. 2, 1946, pp. 50–65.
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https://sagadb.org/grettis_saga.en.
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