The Northman: Who Is Amleth? The Scandinavian Legend Explained
The Northman is focused on Amleth, the Viking prince who is out for revenge, but who is he really and how does the legend compare with the film? Directed and co-written by Robert Eggers, The Northman follows Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), who escaped his uncle Fjölnir’s (Claes Bang) clutches following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke).
The film is a tale of revenge, one that is aided by spiritual entities and foretold ahead of Amleth’s ascent to Valhalla. Amleth is a medieval figure in Scandinavia and his story has been told and passed down over many centuries before being globally popularized in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the turn of the 17th century. The Northman includes a good amount of Norse mythology, including references to Odin, Valhalla, and Valkyrie.
Related: The Northman Cast & Character Guide
Steeped in rich Viking history and lore, Eggers’ film retells the story of Amleth for modern audiences, focusing on his time with the Berserkers, Viking warriors who wore animal pelts and pillaged villages, and his plan to avenge his father’s death by killing his uncle and saving his mother. But who is Amleth really? Was he based on a real person, and was The Northman historically accurate when it came to the film’s setting and Viking life? Here is the Scandinavian legend explained, including key differences from the story from oral tale to the big screen.
As far as anyone can tell, there is no historical evidence that Amleth was a real person. The legend of Amleth dates back thousands of years. Primarily, the story itself — and references to it — were passed down through word of mouth. However, a more complete version of Amleth’s story was written by Saxo Grammaticus in the early 13th century’s
Read more on screenrant.com
