Viking Curiosities

Everything that surrounds the Viking civilization fascinates us.

We like to delve into their stories of pillage, how they proceeded on their expeditions, what their customs and lifestyle were, and even what they ate.

Part of this growing interest is in large audience series that are enjoying worldwide success and have become the perfect claim of internet entertainment platforms such as HBO, Netflix, etc.

Today we bring you some curious facts about these Nordics that have become so famous in our days and that have fed so much myths and legends, in such a quantity that it would be risky to say that they are known in their entirety.

Viking Curiosities

- Although the word "Viking" is directly associated with violence and cruelty, recent findings have shown that this was not always the case.

Many of these Nordics were devoted body and soul to agriculture, and others were reputed craftsmen and merchants.

Excavations on the peninsula of Jutland, Denmark, revealed traces of materials used in the manufacture of musical instruments. They also found objects that could be considered moulds for making jewellery, then in gold, silver and bronze.

They also had a special interest in jade ornaments.

The evidence obtained concluded that there was a good social structure (three very well differentiated social classes were known) and that there was a prosperous trade, composed of experts very specialized in different professional activities.

- Viking swords were passed from father to son, and in such inheritances were increasing in value as well as in power.

It is said that the Vikings venerated this type of weapons and that they engraved runes on them that supposedly increased the strength and ferocity of those who possessed them.  

- Viking males rarely exceeded 50 years of age. Women had less life expectancy and tended to reach 30 or 35.

With these data, it is not difficult to understand that a Viking attained adult status at the age of twelve.

- The Vikings joined armies and participated in conquests, fights and pillages because they harbored the dream that, when they died, they would be chosen by Odin and gathered with him in Valhalla.

- In our language there are words that come directly from the ancient Norse.

Every time we pronounce "fjord", "reindeer" or "geyser", we are actually replicating the way these Scandinavian peoples speak.

- The Vikings were superstitious, and terribly afraid of evil spirits and their punishments.

With the burials several rites were carried out to prevent the evil spirits from returning and spreading great evils.

They were especially protected from the draugr, pestilent and terrifying creatures that arrived after death and contained a force capable of devastating the world of the living. 

- The Vikings always celebrated their weddings on Fridays, as it was the day of Frigg, their goddess of fertility. 

- The Vikings had in the axe their main ally in the fight body to body.

These combat instruments had very varied sizes. Remains found have uncovered great works of carving in the steel of the axes and the use of woods of very good quality for the handles.

The best known of the Viking axes are the Norman axe and the bearded axe.

- It's no secret that the Vikings were great sailors. In addition to this, they had a solid knowledge of shipbuilding.

The Vikings differentiated their ships depending on the use for which they were intended.

The "drakkars" (dragon in ancient Icelandic) were the best known, used for invasions by sea.  The "Knarr", on the other hand, were used to transport livestock, slaves and various goods for trade.

Viking boats were characterised by being light, long and narrow, and by reaching quite a high speed, seventeen knots (about 31 kilometres/hour).  They moved on the impulse of the rowers.

Another aspect of Viking vessels that stands out is the way they adorned their bows.

They carved the heads of dragons and snakes and sometimes joined them to the ships with the idea of causing fear to the spirits of the lands they approached.  On the other hand, when they conquered the shores, they dismounted them to gain the favor of the protective spirits.

This is the beginning of some of the Viking curiosities that we will be uncovering for you. If you are interested in getting to know them, don't hesitate to visit us.

And if you want to contribute some more curiosity, you already know that you have the zone of comments to share us what you want.

Cheers!