The Vikings were a group of seafaring people that came from Scandanavian countries. They were known for their navigational and sailing skills, strong bodies, and rich inner culture. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some interesting facts about Vikings, so let’s get right into it.
9 Interesting Facts About Vikings
1. Vikings were known for being extremely hygienic.
It’s interesting to note that the Vikings were known for their excellent personal hygiene. The reason that we know this today is that archaeologists discovered items like tweezers, combs, ear cleaners, and razors.
They found these things after digging through and excavating various articles at a Viking site. The discovery of these items suggests that the Vikings groomed and cleaned themselves. It’s also interesting to note that many of these personal items were made from the bones and hides of animals.
2. The Vikings buried people in boats.
Boats were a huge part of Viking culture, and this is no big secret! The Vikings loved their boats and respected their boats so much that they often buried their dead in the boats. To be buried in a boat was considered to be a huge honor in Viking culture. The reason for this is that in the Norse religion, they believed that brave and decorated warriors went to the Viking version of heaven after they died.
Heaven, to them, was a festive place, and the boat they were buried on was considered to be the vessel that helped them reach their final resting place. It’s also worth noting that the most distinguished men and women were sometimes buried in ships, often with their valuable goods and most treasured weapons surrounding their bodies. In some cases, they were even buried with slaves who had been killed for a sacrifice.
3. Weapons were a huge part of being a Viking.
If you’ve ever seen photos or paintings of Vikings, you might have noticed that they were often depicted with some kind of weapon in their hands. This was because weaponry was a huge part of Viking culture. The types of weapons used often indicated what class in society a Viking belonged to. If he was wealthy, his ensemble would have a sword, shield, helmet, and mail shirt. It was also the custom for a free Norse man to carry some kind of weapon on his person at all times.
4. Viking women did have independence and rights.
Although some sources differ on this, researchers have discovered various written sources describing Viking women as free, with rights and independence. It’s worth noting that once a woman turned 20, she was considered legal and as her own person in the eyes of the law. She also owned the right to choose her own place of residence, but, unfortunately, was not allowed to choose a husband of her own.
Women were allowed to inherit wealth and property after their husbands died, as well as the position as head of the family. They were able to maintain this position until their own deaths as well. There is historical evidences suggesting that Viking women worked in the textile industry and in the military. They were also poets, medicine women, merchants, and rune readers. However, although they enjoyed various freedoms and rights, many of these were taken away after Christianity was introduced in the late 12th or early 13th century.
5. Vikings ate a varied diet.
The Vikings consumed a varied diet that consisted of various kinds of plants, meats, and other ingredients. In terms of meat, research shows that the Vikings ate meat products that were prepared in various ways. Meats were cured, preserved with whey, smoked, fried, and sometimes boiled.
They also ate seafood that was native to the area; this included whale and walrus meat, as well as seals, sea otters, mussels, oysters, and shrimp. In terms of land animals, the Vikings consumed Icelandic horses and Icelandic cattle. They also consumed Danish hens and Danish geese.
6. Sports were also a huge part of Viking culture.
The Vikings were a physically active people, so it’s no surprise that sports were a huge part of their culture. The Vikings encouraged and supported their people in playing sports. These included combat and weapon training, stone lifting, wrestling, and even fist fighting. Some Vikings lived in mountainous areas and as a result, incorporated mountain climbing into their sports practice. One of the more interesting sports they played was called knattleik, which was the Viking version of hockey. They also swam and hunted for sport.
7. The Vikings were a social people.
In addition to playing sports, the Vikings engaged in various pastimes. They played dice games and board games. The boards for board games were made from wood that was carved with ornate patterns, while the pieces were carved from bone, wood, or stones.
In some cases, they also carved pieces from glass, the antlers of animals, and amber. During festive periods, the Vikings would sing while playing games. They would serve mead and beer, and poetry would be recited at the gatherings.
8. The Vikings were mostly blond-haired people.
Vikings are commonly depicted with red, blonde, or brown hair. However, some research suggests that the Vikings preferred being blond-haired! This could have been because they were trying to conform to the beauty standards of their time, but this claim is unclear. Still, researchers believe that the Vikings, particularly those with brown hair, used a soap that had high amounts of lye in it to bleach their hair. Fun fact, the strong concentration of lye in their soap also helped the Vikings combat head lice!
9. The Vikings kept cats as pets.
Before you get excited, it seems as though the Vikings didn’t keep cats around to cuddle them and play with them. Some research suggests that they kept cats on their boats to prevent and kill rodents. However, there is also strong evidence that suggests that they kept cats around to kill them for their fur. They often bred and raised cats, then killed them to use their fur to make their clothing.
Conclusion
In this article, we took a closer look at some interesting facts about Vikings. When we think of Vikings, we often picture muscular people with spears and weapons living in cold countries. While this description is mostly accurate, we did realize that they were an interesting people with a very rich culture. We hope that you enjoyed reading this article, and that you learned something new from it!
