The Vikings were Norse people in Southern Scandinavia (present-day Sweden, Norway, and Denmark) who raided and traded from their homelands across Europe, Greenland, Iceland, and Vinland in the late 8th to 11th century. They were depicted in fiction movies as vicious, barbaric, and uncivilized people.
They have a popular reputation for being dirty, powerful, savage, and wearing horned helmets. But what exactly is the truth behind all the acclaimed stereotypes? Are they all true, or these are just movie depictions? So, come and join us as we uncover the truth behind the Vikings with these Viking facts.
Vikings Didn’t Wear Horned Helmets to Battle
Contrary to popular belief, Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets, as shown in movies and TV shows. They didn’t wear any horned helmets when they were fighting or doing raids. The only authentic Viking helmet to have ever been discovered didn’t have horns on them.
It seemed that the 19th-century trend was falsified by painters, and was possibly stimulated by certain reports from Roman Chroniclers or Ancient Greeks. Viking helmets weren’t much different from any other helmets during that time. They were made from iron or steel and were made to protect the Vikings’ nose or head.
Skull Drinking
A common way of Vikings drinking shown in some movies or TV shows were from the skulls of their defeated enemies. Well, it was only a mistranslation from their sagas, and was told that the Vikings were shown to be drinking from the branches of skulls. They were drinking from hollow ivory tusks made from animals such as walruses.
The Berserkers
The most popular Viking warriors were known as the berserkers. These berserkers went to war with their enemies in a near-mindless state, which would give them superhuman abilities, which let them endure great injuries without ever slowing them down.
Some scholars believed that they attained this kind of state with the help of primitive medication, possibly produced by hallucinogenic plants. Other scholars believed that they went on to war while being drunk.
The Real Meaning of Viking
No one exactly knows for sure behind the real meaning of Viking. But according to Old Norse, the word is about a custom where a worn-out ship rower gives their spot to a new ship rower. The title of being a Viking is related to a person whose job mainly involves a ship.
Another theory suggests that the word Viking came from the Norse expression “sea mile.” Although this theory isn’t largely accepted by some, it makes the connection between man and sea. In Old English, the term Viking originated from a poem about pirates and raiders in Scandinavia during the 9th century.
Mysterious Motives
One suggested theory regarding why the Vikings raid and pillage towns are because they weren’t presented with enough opportunities back in their homes. Several factors are supporting this theory. One is that there was limited farmland for them, and the custom of a father passing down all his territory to the eldest son.
This leaves the younger son/s with no inheritance, thus leaving him with little to no opportunity. This might be the reason they raided instead. Another theory is the ratio between men and women in Scandinavia. There were too many men who have raided villages and carry off women as their wives.
Christianity’s Impact on Vikings
One of the greatest impacts of Christianity in Vikings was the idea of Kingship, which was customary all around Europe. The idea of Christianity placed a high standard on kings and their kingdoms that eventually made the Vikings from openly and casually attacking neighboring lands and countries.
Another impact of Christianity was the prohibiting of keeping and kidnapping other Christian men and women to make them slaves. This was a major factor that stopped the Vikings from doing raids.
Jomsborg the Viking Fortress
The location and the existence of the semi-legendary fortress of Jomsborg remain unknown and whether it ever existed. The people who believed that the fortress existed believes that it stood at Wollin, Poland. Other people still question the location and accept the idea that Jomsborg is located along the Baltic shores.
According to the legend, the fortress stood between the 10th and 11th centuries and was finally demolished in order of King Magnus the Good in 1043. Evidence proving the existence of this fortress was a gold disc which was discovered in 2014.
Takeaway
Did the image of the Vikings in the movies and what you see of them now still the same? There is still a lot of unknown about these people, but one thing is for sure. They are real warriors, and we wouldn’t want to stand in their way. How about you? If given a chance, would you want to be one of them?
