Editing Ragnar Lodbrok (section)

== Mythical accounts of Ragnar ==

=== ''The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok'' ===
In the [[Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok|''Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok'']]<ref name=":0" /> ({{langx|non|Ragnars saga loðbrókar}}) This Icelandic saga, composed in the 13th century, is one of the most detailed sources about Ragnar's life and exploits. It describes Ragnar's rise to fame, his marriages (including to the shieldmaiden Lagertha and the noblewoman Thora Borgarhjort), and his legendary deeds.

The saga highlights Ragnar's divine connections, particularly his descent from Odin, framing him as a semi-mythical hero blessed with the qualities associated with the Allfather, such as wisdom, courage, and poetic speech. The first account of Ragnar in the saga is the tale of Ragnar killing a dragon, showing the close relation between Ragnar and legendary/magical deeds.

When the Saga accounts Ragnar's death the story also tells "So Ragnar was let down into a serpent-pit, and he sat there a long time while none of the snakes would bite him. And some people said, 'This is a great man; no weapons would bite him today, and now the serpents will not bite him.{{'"}}

=== ''Tale of Ragnar's Sons'' ===
The ''[[Tale of Ragnar's Sons]]'' ({{langx|non|Ragnarssona þáttr}}) is a short tale that complements the ''Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok''<ref name=":0" /> and focuses on the exploits of Ragnar's sons most notably [[Ivar the Boneless]], [[Björn Ironside|Bjorn Ironside]], [[Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye]], and Hvitserk.

The sons are portrayed as avenging their father's death and continuing his legacy. Their divine lineage through Ragnar and their heroic deeds further enhance Ragnar's legendary status.

=== ''Gesta Danorum'' by Saxo Grammaticus ===
The ''[[Gesta Danorum]]'',<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Saxo Grammaticus |title=Gesta Danorum: the history of the Danes |last2=Friis-Jensen |first2=Karsten |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-820523-4 |series=Oxford medieval texts |location=Oxford}}</ref> written in Latin in the 12th century, this work by the Danish historian [[Saxo Grammaticus]] provides one of the earliest accounts of Ragnar and his feats. Saxo portrays Ragnar as a Danish king and warrior, blending historical and mythical elements. While Saxo does not explicitly emphasize Ragnar's descent from [[Odin]], the narrative incorporates divine and heroic motifs that align with Norse tradition.

=== Norse skaldic poetry ===
Poetic references to Ragnar or figures resembling him appear in Norse skaldic poetry and eddic poems, often linking heroes to divine ancestry as a way of enhancing their heroic status. In the "Krákumál,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harridsleff |first=Marius |date=24 July 2024 |title=Krákumál {{!}} The Lay of Kraka - A Tale of Slaughter |url=https://vikingr.org/old-norse-texts/krakumal?srsltid=AfmBOooEwf_gA_JIfOfzxDk1gxg4RuGGXVzlQntnwPQut3YeuIQz_DGt |access-date=17 December 2024 |website=Vikingr |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> many of the poem's stanzas have Ragnar making claims about [[Valhalla]], [[Odin]] and the [[Valkyrie|Valkyrs]], showing how Ragnar was closely related with [[Norse mythology|Norse Mythology]].