Scottish Society for Northern Studies
@northernstudies.bsky.social
3K followers 73 following 34 posts
The Scottish Society for Northern Studies (SSNS) was founded in 1968 to explore the inter-relationships between the Scandinavian, Celtic, and Scottish cultures. https://ssns.org.uk
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northernstudies.bsky.social
SSNS has now reopened its funding schemes, offering grants to eligible students and scholars at any stage in their career.

Our grants support fieldwork and publications, events, and travel costs. Deadlines in Dec and Jan.

For more details, see www.ssns.org.uk/funding/
northernstudies.bsky.social
We’re celebrating 75 years of the Confederation of Scandinavian Societies today in beautiful York
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
makingawarrior.bsky.social
Today's vikingism: the widely popular 'Immigrant Song', from Led Zeppelin's third studio album (III), released in late 1970. Its lyrics famously reference themes from Norse mythology and describe viking groups journeying overseas ('from the land of the ice and snow').
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Led Zeppelin
www.youtube.com
northernstudies.bsky.social
A paper from Rosemary Power on the founding of an early medieval Iona nunnery has been published in a collection of essays bit.ly/3VaJZcF Rosemary delivered a seminar on Iona's religious foundations for us last year - now availble to watch online here: youtu.be/9iLo_i8g0Ik
northernstudies.bsky.social
SSNS has now reopened its funding schemes, offering grants to eligible students and scholars at any stage in their career.

Our grants support fieldwork and publications, events, and travel costs. Deadlines in Dec and Jan.

For more details, see www.ssns.org.uk/funding/
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
ccooijmans.bsky.social
Many thanks to everyone who has helped make this possible. Ryan is much missed, and I'm glad the Society is honouring his memory in a way befitting his own ethos of generosity and curiosity.
northernstudies.bsky.social
Join us online tomorrow from 7pm for 'How to Read a Hogback' - delivered by @rebekahbeatnik.bsky.social & Ancrum Heritage Society. Register here: bit.ly/HogbackAugustSeminar
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ccooijmans.bsky.social
Alongside my article on the 'Dane saga' of Breda in MLC, I wrote a little companion piece for the Royal Historical Society (@royalhistsoc.org) blog, introducing this capricious, clumsy, and charming work of premodern imagination.

#medievalsky

blog.royalhistsoc.org/2025/08/12/d...
The medieval manuscript containing the Dane saga of Breda.
northernstudies.bsky.social
Great to see this published by our committee member Chris (@ccooijmans.bsky.social) A Middle Dutch text with some conspicuously Scottish influences!
ccooijmans.bsky.social
Beyond excited that my study of the medieval 'Dane saga' of Breda is finally out (OA 🔓) alongside a first English translation! This anachronistic oddity of devotional/literary storytelling posits how a group of 'vikings' arrived and troubled the city for years.

www.brepolsonline.net/doi/epdf/10....
The Dane saga of Breda: A Late Medieval Account of Viking Endeavour and Vernacular Devotion: The Medieval Low Countries: Vol 11
Found in the municipal archives of Breda (present-day North Brabant, Netherlands) is a conspicuous but ill-studied late fifteenth or early sixteenth-century codex, whose contents are deemed to have been composed within the late medieval town. Although characterised as a local cross legend, the Middle Dutch work is customarily referred to by its modern moniker of Denensage (i.e. Dane saga) due to the presence and pursuits of ‘viking’ mariners over the course of its verse narrative. By imparting how a group of Danes found their way to Breda and established a stronghold there – refashioning a prominent local tree into a cross in the process – the work occupies a distinct confluence of historiographical, devotional, and literary authorship. Situating the Dane saga in its sociocultural context, this article explores the wide-ranging narrative influences underpinning it, whilst determining its potential authorship and intended audience(s). Lastly, as well as furnishing a new edition of the manuscript, it offers the first English translation of this important, idiosyncratic text.
www.brepolsonline.net
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
northages.bsky.social
July 11: Feast of Drostan († early C7th), founder-abbot of the Pictish monastery of Deir (Deer). Several dedications to him in NE Scotland including Episcopal church at Old Deer. The old church at Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, claimed his relics. Also Dec 15. The C10th Book of Deer #medievalsky
The Book of Deer, a pocket gospel-book, lying open.
northernstudies.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who came to our stall at @imc-leeds.bsky.social! We were giving away colourful copies of old editions of our journal ‘Northern Studies.’ You can access our back catalogue for free online! www.ssns.org.uk/our-journal/volumes
northernstudies.bsky.social
Congratulations to our winner @erinbenton.bsky.social! Enjoy your copy of Scandinavia Refracted!
northernstudies.bsky.social
Win a copy of Scandinavia Refracted! If you’re at @imc-leeds.bsky.social -take a photo, tag us and follow our account, and use the hashtag #northernstudies - we’ll invite the winner to collect their copy at 2pm!
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
northernstudies.bsky.social
We're getting set up in the Leeds Student Union for the @imc-leeds.bsky.social Historic Societies Fair - come down from 10:30am and grab some free copies of the Northern Studies journal!
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yorkhillyankee.bsky.social
Waking up out of my slumber on here, but not likely to do a heckuva lot of talking until I hit the road. Anyway, I'm organising a small but fun-packed conference in Orkney on Saturday (funded by @bssh.bsky.social & @northernstudies.bsky.social), and in it I'm discussing Åland in the Island Games.
SPORT, “ISLANDS”, PEOPLE AND POLITICS
A one-day conference on Saturday, 28 June 2025St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall Supported by the Scottish Society for Northern Studies and the British Society of Sports History Provisional Schedule 09:30 …
aspectaculartableau.wordpress.com
northernstudies.bsky.social
The Society is saddened to learn of the death of its former President, Ian Fraser. As a dedicated committee member, Ian played a crucial role in the development of SSNS in its early years.

Our thoughts are with his wife and family during this difficult time.

(Ian is second on left in the photo)
Photo of Neil MacQueen, Ian Fraser, Fred Kent, and Morag MacLeod (from the School of Scottish Studies Archives, University of Edinburgh)
Reposted by Scottish Society for Northern Studies
royalhistsoc.org
Our event today with heads of selected UK #History societies is a reminder of the dedication, expertise, civic sense, dynamism and, yes, value of these subject societies.

If you'd like to keep in touch with them, we've a Starter Pack bit.ly/4jKumCE which now lists 125 such groups #Skystorians 1/2
Societies & groups for historians, UK and Ireland
Join the conversation
bit.ly
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ccooijmans.bsky.social
Having co-organised the online conference on the Pictish cross slab found at Conon Bridge a few years ago (with @northernstudies.bsky.social), it was brilliant to finally bump into the real deal in Dingwall Museum last week!
The so-called 'Conan stone' or 'Conan cross slab' - a Pictish Class II symbol stone on display in Dingwall, Easter Ross, Scotland. Close-up of symbols on the Conan stone, including a double-disc and Z-rod, as well as various figures and animals. An information sign in Dingwall Museum on the Conan Cross Slab
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ccooijmans.bsky.social
Standing out in a field at Strathpeffer (Ross, Highlands) is the Class I Pictish stone known as the ‘Eagle Stone’, featuring bird, horseshoe, and fuzzy-looking Potato.
A Pictish symbol stone in a field, featuring incised bird and horseshoe symbols, with a small Border Terrier leaning over the top.