saga

Also known as sagas

Sagas are prose stories and histories, composed in Iceland and to a lesser extent elsewhere in Scandinavia.

AI overview

Sagas are prose stories and histories written in Iceland and other parts of Scandinavia that provide valuable records of medieval Norse culture, society, and events. They matter because they are among the oldest and most important sources we have for understanding the Viking Age and early Scandinavian history.

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Commons category: Sagas
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Article

17 sections

Contents

Etymology and meaning of ''saga''
Genres
Kings' sagas
Sagas of Icelanders and short tales of Icelanders
Contemporary sagas
Legendary sagas
Chivalric sagas
Saints' and bishops' sagas
History
Explanations for saga writing
Editions and translations
Popular culture
See also
References and notes
Sources
Further reading
External links

Sagas are prose stories and histories, composed in Iceland and to a lesser extent elsewhere in Scandinavia.

The most famous saga-genre is the sagas of Icelanders, which feature Viking voyages, migration to Iceland, and feuds between Icelandic families. However, sagas' subject matter is diverse, including pre-Christian Scandinavian legends; saints and bishops both from Scandinavia and elsewhere; Scandinavian kings and contemporary Icelandic politics; and chivalric romances either translated from Continental European languages or composed locally.