17th century Iceland was a remote place. But its isolation didn’t stop it getting caught in one of the most horrifying crazes of the time, the witch hunts. But in the breathtaking landscape of Iceland something was different. In Iceland 93% of witches killed were men. Dr Kate Lister is on a mission to find out why.
Her investigation takes her across the epic landscape of Iceland, a land where a belief in magic still prevails today. Along the way she meets world renowned witch expert Professor Ronald Hutton and even investigates the amazing link of the stories of Icelandic magic to the famous Marvel Movies and JR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Kate visits the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft museum where she gets face to face with an incredibly strange object that can be magically used to make money, a replica pair of trousers made from human skin called ‘necropants’. But it isn’t just objects, Kate explores the vast and fascinating landscape of Iceland, from roaring waterfalls to historic burning ravines, thermal hot pools to sorcerers cottages made from turf.
She’ll be uncovering the truth around some of the most unique and remote witch trials of the 17th century.
With thanks to Visit Iceland.
If you’d like to visit some of these epic locations find out more below:
Visit Iceland: https://www.visiticeland.com/
Visit Westfjords: https://www.westfjords.is/
Visit West Iceland: https://www.west.is/
Visit South Iceland: https://www.south.is/
Visit Reykanes: https://www.visitreykjanes.is/
Visit Reykjavik: https://visitreykjavik.is/
The Museum of Icelandic Witchcraft and Sorcery: https://galdrasyning.is/en/
Thingvellir National Park: https://www.thingvellir.is/
To find out more about male witches we recommend reading: The Witch A History of Fear by Ronald Hutton
Want to know even more about the magical and dark world of the early modern witch trials? Check out Kate’s podcast on History Hit Betwixt the Sheets, where we have a special three-part series called Inside the Witch Trials covering Pendle, Iceland, and Salem. Listen to Betwixt the Sheets for free wherever you get your podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/betwixt-the-sheets-the-history-of-sex-scandal-society/id1612090432?i=1000673467344
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