This week Mathias and Daniel are sitting down with one of our most requested scholarly guests Dr Leszek Gardeła! Leszek is an archeologist who holds a PHD from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and is an expert on women’s graves dating from the 9th and 10th Century in Denmark, Norway and Sweden that contain weaponry. Together with the boys he'll be discussing the idea of Shield Maidens, as well as his upcoming book Women and Weapons in the Viking World: Amazons of the North. How does the contemporary idea line up with the historical reality? One thing we know for sure it's bound to get complicated!If you would like to order Leszek's book you can find it at: www.amazon.com/Women-Weapons-Viking-World-Amazons/dp/1789256658Also Mathias recently wrote a book about volcanoes and their effect on Nordic Mythology which you can find it at: aup.nl/en/book/9781641892926/volcanoes-in-old-norse-mythologyCheck out our Instagram at: www.instagram.com/nordicmythologypodcastAnd if you like what we do, and would like to be in the audience for live streams of new episodes to ask questions please consider supporting us on Patreon:www.patreon.com/NordicMythologyPodcastWe've also reached our goal of 100 Patrons and are starting a new show where our hosts Mathias and Daniel watch and commentate along with the popular series Vikings! If you would like to be in the audience and have your questions answered live then all you have to do is become a Patron, the more the merrier!If you would like to join our bi-weekly Q&A Episodes in the new year, or get access to our special Story Time episodes covering the saga literature, then all you have to do is join our Patron. Seriously, we would love to have you, the more the merrier!To check out Dan's company, Horns of Odin, and their wide range of handmade items inspired by Nordic Mythology and the Viking Age. Visit www.hornsofodin.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/NordicMythologyPodcast)