Two tales of Anglo Saxon mythical creatures

Two tales of Anglo Saxon mythical creatures

Author: Frank Docherty September 29, 2025 Duration: 20:00

What Are “Anglo-Saxon Tales”?

“Anglo-Saxon” refers to the people who settled in what is now England from roughly the 5th to the 11th centuries (the Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes, etc.)
Their tales are the stories, poems, myths, legends, riddles, and heroic narratives produced by or for those people mostly in Old English.

  • Oral tradition was very important. Storytellers (often called scops) would recite or sing tales to an audience, sometimes accompanied by music (like lyres).

  • Only a minority of people could read and write. When tales were written, it was usually by monks in monasteries. That means many stories survive today only because someone decided to write them down much later.


  • Frank Docherty hosts The Wanderer, a podcast that moves through the deep forests and mead halls of early medieval England. This isn't a dry recitation of dates, but an exploration of how people thought, believed, and told stories. You’ll hear discussions on the foundational myths and local spirits that populated the Anglo-Saxon world, understanding how folklore was woven into daily life. The conversation naturally extends to the complex religious landscape, from the old gods to the coming of Christianity, and how these forces collided and merged. History provides the anchor, examining the society and events that formed the backdrop for everything else. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering layers of a rich tapestry, where a heroic poem, a pagan ritual, and a historical king might all be connected. Each episode aims to make the distant past feel tangible and relevant, exploring the wisdom and the weirdness of a foundational era. The goal is to provide a thoughtful, nuanced perspective that goes beyond the stereotypes, all while appreciating the haunting beauty of the language and ideas left behind. It’s for anyone curious about the roots of stories and the echoes of a world that still subtly shapes our own.
    Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

    The Wanderer Anglo Saxon History, mythology, Folklore and religion
    Podcast Episodes
    Anglo Saxon Folklore and the Werewolf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 24:52
    Anglo-Saxon folklore is rich with tales of supernatural beings and shape-shifting entities, though werewolves specifically were not as prominent as in other European cultures. Instead, there was a focus on various mythic…
    The Anglo Saxon Spear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 15:58
    The Anglo-Saxon spear was a crucial weapon in the arsenal of the Anglo-Saxon warriors during the early medieval period, particularly in England from the 5th to the 11th centuries. It was one of the primary weapons used b…
    Anglo Saxon Society [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 23:34
    England was one of the wealthiest kingdoms in Europe. This was due to successful farming and trade in the towns and villages. The king, his earls and Heathenry all profited from this through taxes. The Anglo-Saxon commun…
    Anglo Saxon Werewolves and Pacts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 7:22
    The werewolf is a creature of folklore and legend commonly referred to as a ‘man-wolf’ or ‘wolf-man’. Medieval superstition describes them as individuals transformed, or who can transform at will, into a wolf. In France…
    Anglo Saxon Martial Arts, [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 7:39
    This episode is about Anglo Saxon Martial Arts. The Shield Wall: A Formation of Resilience The shield wall strategy stood as an emblem of Anglo-Saxon martial prowess. Warriors, united in purpose and armed with shields, f…
    The Vampyre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 8:22
    2 Beowulf, ll. (739-45) The text reads: “Nor did the creature keep him waiting / but strucked suddenly and started in; / he grabbed and mauled a man on his bench, / bit into his bone-lappings, bolted down his blood / and…
    The Witch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 5:46
    The history of witchcraft is complex, and often raises more questions than it answers. Where did witches come from? And did they always arrive on broomsticks? Among the most common uses for magic was for healing. Lacking…
    Anglo Saxon Gems and Jewellery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 6:23
    Archaeological sites such as Sutton Hoo have given us an insight to the historical information of the Anglo-Saxon period. Sutton Hoo is the site of two 6th and 7th century cemeteries near Woodbridge, Suffolk. It first be…
    The Cannibal Giant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 10:50
    Monsters abound in Anglo-Saxon literature. One type of monster that shows up again and again is the cannibal. Heroes such as Beowulf and Andreas face humanoid monsters that threaten to literally consume their victims. Th…
    The Anglo Saxon Varangian Guard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 5:37
    English in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The Varangian Guard and Anglo-Saxon Ethnic Consciousness One of the most interesting episodes in Byzantine military history and in medieval English history is the Anglo-Saxon partic…