Matt

Like, you know, the water goes out and the sand is all there. But they say, yeah, we got into the bay and at low tide, the ocean went out and we were beached. And then we went up a river and settled around a lake. Which lake? They also talk about how in one, the river is teeming with salmon. In the other, it's halibut. One of those is a fish that goes up rivers.

Like, you know, the water goes out and the sand is all there. But they say, yeah, we got into the bay and at low tide, the ocean went out and we were beached. And then we went up a river and settled around a lake. Which lake? They also talk about how in one, the river is teeming with salmon. In the other, it's halibut. One of those is a fish that goes up rivers.

One of those is a sea fish that remains in the ocean. Salmon do spend a good amount of time. I know, I know, but that's my point is like halibut don't go up rivers.

One of those is a sea fish that remains in the ocean. Salmon do spend a good amount of time. I know, I know, but that's my point is like halibut don't go up rivers.

But that's the problem is they explicitly mention a river. The other thing, we're not sure which of these two stories is the older one. Why not? Because both of them have things that suggest they're the older one. I don't remember the specific details off the top of my head, but the one mentions a bishop. The other mentions that same bishop as the first.

But that's the problem is they explicitly mention a river. The other thing, we're not sure which of these two stories is the older one. Why not? Because both of them have things that suggest they're the older one. I don't remember the specific details off the top of my head, but the one mentions a bishop. The other mentions that same bishop as the first.

which would imply that the one that mentions that bishop as Bishop I is the later one, because there would be no reason to call that person Bishop I if they were the only one so far. And it kind of goes like that. There's characters that are mentioned where they would be more relevant to the later period. But then there's other things about that same saga that suggests it's older.

which would imply that the one that mentions that bishop as Bishop I is the later one, because there would be no reason to call that person Bishop I if they were the only one so far. And it kind of goes like that. There's characters that are mentioned where they would be more relevant to the later period. But then there's other things about that same saga that suggests it's older.

One thing about the saga of Eric the Red, for example, Christianity heavily plays in. Saga of the Greenlanders, which starts in 986. Christianity is not a big part of it. which would suggest it's the older one. At the same time, that's the one that has Torvald going on an expedition that makes absolutely no sense. It's the less detailed of the two also.

One thing about the saga of Eric the Red, for example, Christianity heavily plays in. Saga of the Greenlanders, which starts in 986. Christianity is not a big part of it. which would suggest it's the older one. At the same time, that's the one that has Torvald going on an expedition that makes absolutely no sense. It's the less detailed of the two also.

I reached out to one of the foremost Viking experts on the planet. who I had the pleasure of studying under at Penn State. Oxford guy, like the guy when it comes to the Viking Age. Shout out Benjamin Hudson. If you are interested, buy his books. I think it's Viking Pirates and Christian Princes is a good starting point.

I reached out to one of the foremost Viking experts on the planet. who I had the pleasure of studying under at Penn State. Oxford guy, like the guy when it comes to the Viking Age. Shout out Benjamin Hudson. If you are interested, buy his books. I think it's Viking Pirates and Christian Princes is a good starting point.

I asked him and I was like, hey, so I'm doing this thing on the Vinland Colony. And I was curious to your thoughts as to whether which of these two sagas is the earlier one.

I asked him and I was like, hey, so I'm doing this thing on the Vinland Colony. And I was curious to your thoughts as to whether which of these two sagas is the earlier one.

I think it's the saga of the Greenlanders for a number of reasons, including the focus on Christianity in the saga of Eric the Red, the mention of the fact that it focuses on more characters rather than trying to tie everything into Eric the Red, who would be a bigger name later. And he was like, yeah, Greenlanders is probably the earlier one. I agree with you on that.

I think it's the saga of the Greenlanders for a number of reasons, including the focus on Christianity in the saga of Eric the Red, the mention of the fact that it focuses on more characters rather than trying to tie everything into Eric the Red, who would be a bigger name later. And he was like, yeah, Greenlanders is probably the earlier one. I agree with you on that.

Greenlanders also is the one where none of the directions make sense. It's also the one where Torvald just mercs eight dudes for no reason. There's no explanation of why he did it. He just sails up onto a beach and he's like, kill him. They're just chilling under. They're literally chilling on a beach under their canoes.

Greenlanders also is the one where none of the directions make sense. It's also the one where Torvald just mercs eight dudes for no reason. There's no explanation of why he did it. He just sails up onto a beach and he's like, kill him. They're just chilling under. They're literally chilling on a beach under their canoes.

And he just is like, yeah, let's just let's just kill these guys. In the saga of Eric the Red, there's already been a large scale battle between the two sides.

And he just is like, yeah, let's just let's just kill these guys. In the saga of Eric the Red, there's already been a large scale battle between the two sides.