The Saga Heritage Foundation

03/04/2025

🎬 New Short Film: COSCAN in Copenhagen – Reviving the Legacy of the Sagas

I’m excited to share this short film that captures the heart of what we’re building through COSCAN (Collegium Scholare Antiquitatis) — a new international forum bringing together scholars, cultural leaders, and storytellers working to preserve the deep cultural memory of the North.

Behind the now world-famous Viking characters in shows like Vikings: Valhalla lie much older stories — carried forward by people who are almost forgotten today.

✨ The scribes, translators, and storytellers who once safeguarded the sagas are the true stewards of a civilization's enduring lessons.

At the Saga Heritage Foundation, we believe these voices deserve to be heard again.

🌍 If you care about cultural identity, heritage, and the wisdom carried through generations — this is for you.

🎥 Watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/1072204655/a11ec12d38
📢 Feel free to share with anyone who might resonate with this mission.

COSCAN: Collegium Scholare Antiquitatis This video presents the vision and work of COSCAN, an international advisory council dedicated to preserving and promoting…

31/01/2025

New blog post up which explains the unique historical role Danish King Frederick III had in relation to the Norse saga tradition.

This was the speech Saga Heritage Foundation chairman, professor Torgrim Titlestad gave at the Roskilde Cathedral 27. January 2025, in connection with the Foundation’s visit to the King’s sarcophagus during our recent COSCAN meeting.

28/01/2025

The Saga Heritage Foundation (SHF) had a wonderful trip to Copenhagen with our brand new scholarly forum, COSCAN (Collegium Scholare Antiquitatis), where we studied Tormod Torfæus 1662 translation of Flateyjarbok. From the left: Baard Titlestad (SHF Vice-Chair and project manager), Stein Førde, Professor Judith Jesch (University of Nottingham), Professor Alexandra Sanmark (University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland), Professor Torgrim Titlestad (SHF Chair), Professor Karen Skovgaard-Petersen (The Danish Society for Language and Literature), Steinar R. Paulsen (SHF Board of Directors), Professor Alison Finlay (Translator Flateyjarbok, Birkbeck University of London), Else Berit Eikeland (SHF Board of Directors), Bergsveinn Birgisson (author), Professor Jon Gunnar Jørgensen (University of Oslo), Ivar Fett (SHF Board of Directors) and Randi Wedvich (SHF Board of Directors). Foto: Kyrre Larsen
Foto: Kyrre Larsen

21/01/2025

In the coming days we will post more about our foundation, it's purpose and vision. Today we are happy to share some thoughts from our co-founder and chairman, professor Torgrim Titlestad, about what has been the guiding force in his work with the Norse Sagas, and the inspiration for the establishment of The Saga Heritage Foundation. Read more on our blog:

In my childhood days, stories of the Viking Age captivated me, especially the journey to Vinland in North America around the year 1000. One day in the late 1950s, the municipality of Bergen placed an old aluminum lifeboat in Nygårdsparken near Møhlenpris. It became a playground for us children. I ...

16/01/2025

🌟 Celebrating 10 Years of Preserving Saga Heritage! 🌟

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of The Saga Heritage Foundation—a decade of dedication to preserving and sharing the timeless legacy of the Norse sagas. This milestone is a testament to the power of history, storytelling, and collaboration. We are proud to reflect on some of our most significant accomplishments:

📖 Flateyjarbok in Modern Language: We completed the first-ever full translation of the saga masterpiece Flateyjarbok into Norwegian—a monumental achievement for cultural preservation.

🌎 Bringing Flateyjarbok to the World: We also accomplished the first-ever complete translation into English, making sure this treasure of Norse literature will become accessible to a global audience.

🎥 Innovation in Storytelling: We served as a creative and financial partner in the world's first VR film based on the Norse sagas—a groundbreaking step in merging tradition with technology.

✨ New Era with COSCAN: To mark our anniversary, we are launching COSCAN (Collegium Scholare Antiquitatis). Inspired by the intellectual giants of the Renaissance and Enlightenment who in could be said to have ushered in an age of "rediscovery" in regards to the sagas, COSCAN will further our mission by fostering critical research and illuminating the importance of saga conservation in today’s world.

These accomplishments are not just milestones—they are the foundation for the next chapter of our journey. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, collaborators, and partners who have shared our vision and strengthened our cause. But we are always looking for new partners and collaborators who can help us achieve our goals. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in being a part of this amazing journey.

Here’s to the next decade of preserving the past and inspiring the future!