{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5e1f02159a47b5450663b62a/5f23f78b85f5cb1751296b68?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The Rise of the Valkyries","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/5e1f02159a47b5450663b62a/1596192665523-1336618c66b740a28f56c586db5dce40.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Life and death in a Viking battle depended not on military prowess, but on the favour of the valkyries. Why were these mythical figures, who decided a warrior’s fate, female?</p><p><br></p><p>This article was part of our Miscellanies series. Sign up to receive this free weekly long read in your inbox, at <a href=\"https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Written by Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir. Read by Greig Johnson.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Music: Kai Engel.</p>","author_name":"History Today"}