The Vikings have captured the imagination for centuries, but in the process, many misconceptions have arisen about who they really were and how they lived. Let‘s dig into some of the most persistent myths and uncover the complex reality of Viking society.
1. Vikings were just raiders and warriors
While raiding was certainly a significant activity, the Vikings were far more than just warriors. Their society included farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and explorers. Many of their expeditions abroad were motivated by a desire for trade, land, resources, and political influence, not just plunder.
Recent archaeological findings, such as the 2014 discovery of the Galloway hoard in Scotland, underscore the importance of trade in Viking society. This hoard contained over 100 items from across Europe and beyond, including silver, gold, jewelry, and religious items. It demonstrates the vast trade networks the Vikings established, exchanging goods like furs, honey, amber, weapons, and slaves.
2. All the action happened in Western Europe
Our historical narrative often focuses on Viking incursions into England, Ireland, and France, but this ignores the significant activity to the east. Swedish Vikings, known as the Rus, traveled across the Baltic Sea and into the heart of what is now Russia and Ukraine.
They navigated the rivers of Eastern Europe as far as the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, establishing trade networks that reached Central Asia and the mighty Byzantine and Abbasid empires. Goods from these regions, like Islamic silver coins, have been found in Viking graves and hoards as far away as Scandinavia and England, attesting to the reach of their trade networks.
3. Vikings had horned helmets and took magic mushrooms
Two of the most famous Viking myths have no historical basis. Contrary to popular depiction, there is no evidence that Vikings ever wore horned helmets into battle. This was an invention of 19th century Romanticism, particularly in costume design for Wagner‘s operas.
Similarly, while some Viking warriors known as berserkers were said to enter a trancelike fury in battle, there is no evidence this was induced by hallucinogenic mushrooms. These myths reveal more about our modern fascination with Vikings than historical reality.
4. Shield maidens and warrior women were commonplace
While women in Viking society did enjoy more freedom and rights than in many contemporary cultures, the idea that warrior women or "shield maidens" were common is likely exaggerated. Most women still had domestic roles, managing the household and farm.
However, there are occasional historical accounts and burial evidence of women participating in battles. Recent DNA analysis of a famous 10th century Swedish Viking warrior grave revealed the remains were female. So while not commonplace, some women likely did take up arms, especially in times of threat to the homestead.
5. Vikings were a distinct ethnic group with a unified kingdom
The Vikings were not a homogeneous ethnic group, but rather a collection of Norse peoples from different regions of Scandinavia. They shared similar languages and cultural practices, but there were distinct differences between, for example, the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes.
Likewise, there was no unified Viking kingdom ruling over all Vikings. The closest they came was Cnut the Great‘s short-lived North Sea Empire in the 11th century, uniting England, Denmark, and Norway. But for most of the Viking Age, Vikings were grouped into smaller chiefdoms, settlements, and regional powers with shifting alliances.
6. Legendary figures like Ragnar Lothbrok were real historical people
Many of the most famous Vikings, like Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, are known to us through Old Norse sagas recorded centuries after the events they describe. While sagas are valuable historical sources, they often blur the lines between fact and legend.
Figures like Ragnar may have been based on real individuals or composites of multiple historical figures whose exploits were exaggerated over generations of storytelling. The same could be said of other celebrated Vikings like Leif Erikson, the first European to reach North America. The exact details of their lives are lost to time.
7. Vikings were just pagan barbarians
The violent nature of Viking raids and their pagan beliefs led many in Christian Europe to dismiss them as uncivilized barbarians. However, the Viking relationship with religion was complex.
While the Vikings worshipped Norse gods like Odin and Thor for much of the Viking Age, they were not ignorant of Christianity. Through their travels and interaction with Christian societies, many Vikings converted or practiced a syncretic blend of pagan and Christian traditions. By the 12th century, Christianity was firmly established in Scandinavia.
Moreover, many Vikings were skilled craftsmen, shipbuilders, and navigators. They developed a sophisticated runic alphabet, complex laws and assemblies, and one of medieval Europe‘s most prosperous trade networks. Dismissing them as mere barbarians ignores the many achievements of their civilization.
8. The Viking Age started with the Lindisfarne raid in 793
The devastating Viking raid on the monastery of Lindisfarne in 793 is often presented as the start of the Viking Age. However, Scandinavians were already active in the British Isles before this, with raids recorded as early as the late 8th century, such as the raid on Portland in Dorset in 789.
What made Lindisfarne significant was the attack on a major Christian institution, which sent shockwaves throughout Europe. It marked an escalation of Viking activity, but not its beginning. Scandinavian trade, piracy, and migration had been occurring before this symbolic event.
9. Vikings didn‘t have a literate culture
While the Vikings didn‘t leave extensive written records like their European neighbours, they were not an illiterate society. They developed their own runic alphabet, with inscriptions found on jewellery, weapons, stones, and even everyday objects.
Most writing was likely done on wood or other perishable materials that haven‘t survived. The Vikings also had a rich oral storytelling tradition, eventually written down in the sagas. While literacy wasn‘t widespread, it played an important role in Viking culture and communication.
10. "Viking" was their ethnic identity
To the people of the Viking Age, "Viking" was a job description, not an ethnicity. The Old Norse word "víkingr" meant "pirate" or "raider", referring to those who participated in overseas expeditions, whether for raiding, trading, or exploration.
Not all Scandinavians were Vikings, and not all Vikings were Scandinavian – the crews of Viking ships often included people from the British Isles and elsewhere. It was only centuries later that "Viking" became synonymous with medieval Scandinavians as a whole.
Uncovering the Real Vikings
As we peel back the layers of myth around the Vikings, what emerges is a complex society of farmers, traders, explorers, raiders, and settlers who left an indelible mark on the history and culture of Europe and beyond. From the shores of North America to the bazaars of Baghdad, the Viking Age was an era of dynamic change, cultural exchange, and exploration.
By separating fact from fiction, we can appreciate the Vikings not as one-dimensional caricatures but as a multifaceted people whose legacy continues to fascinate us today. As new archaeological evidence and historical analysis comes to light, our understanding of the Vikings will continue to evolve, challenge old assumptions, and paint an ever-richer picture of this pivotal period in world history.
