IMC 2025: Sessions
Session 1208: A Viking in the Sun: Women and Power in the World of Harald Hardrada, I
Wednesday 9 July 2025, 14:15-15:45
| Sponsor: | Centre for Late Antique, Islamic & Byzantine Studies, University of Edinburgh / Snorrastofa, menningar- og miðaldasetur í Reykholti / Svenska forskningsinstitutet i Istanbul |
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| Organiser: | Gianluca Raccagni, School of History, Classics & Archaeology, University of Edinburgh |
| Moderator/Chair: | Gianluca Raccagni, School of History, Classics & Archaeology, University of Edinburgh |
| Paper 1208-a | When Harald Met the Empress Zoe (Language: English) Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Women's Studies |
| Paper 1208-b | Roman Politics, Byzantine Intrigue, and Dangerous Women (Language: English) Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Women's Studies |
| Paper 1208-c | Cherchez la Femme: The Role and Place of Viking Women in Haithabu, 770-1066 (Language: English) Index terms: Gender Studies, Women's Studies |
| Abstract | The Viking in the Sun project (more on which can be found here: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/hardrada/) explores Harald Hardrada’s status as a frontier-crosser extraordinaire and uses it as a common thread to explore themes related to the Mediterranean, the Nordic world, and their connections in Harald’s times. The project is subdivided in yearly themes, with the current one being that of women and power, reflecting the role that powerful women played in shaping Harald's formative travels, but also discussing how women experienced power across the varied cultures with which Harald interacted. Harald spent several years in Byzantium, which is the focus of this session. |