Dr. Irina Manea

Irina graduated from the University of Bucharest with a BA in Germanic Philology and European History, pursuing an MA in Ancient Studies (late antiquity) afterwards, although time would tell she was a medievalist at heart. Her PhD track in Nordic studies led her to study stays in Göttingen and Aachen, as well as courses in Swedish language and culture in Uppsala.
She finished her PhD in 2017 with an innovative thesis on the reception of Norse myths in metal music, and afterwards her interest in Vikings and their beliefs only increased. After teaching German and Scandinavian languages at a prestigious language school in Bucharest, she moved abroad and started teaching A-level German history and politics in the beautiful land of Hesse, Germany.
As a scholar, she has a collaboration with the Save Ancient Studies Alliance for masterclasses on Viking culture, constantly takes part in international conferences, occasionally publishes in the World History Encyclopaedia, and runs a YouTube channel where she tries to disseminate quality information about the Germanic-speaking world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her favourite book and film is Lord of the Rings. Otherwise, she very much enjoys crime series, cycling, half-timbered houses and (still) learning Icelandic. https://www.youtube.com/@irinaskuld