Being fascinated with history is a common interest. It is important to be informed about what came before, as it can greatly help us prepare for what comes next. As a science, history is an amazing tool for predicting societal changes because it is so cyclical. While new technologies and ideologies change the world all the time, certain things come back, norms and ideas remain, and the ways of the old days creep back. There are many parallels between the past and the present, and those who care enough to see it realize it quickly. However, history is also extremely fun, especially if one is fascinated with a certain age, civilization, or historical figure.
In terms of the Vikings, it perfectly encapsulates all three as their long lasting civilization marked a whole age, changed Scandinavia, Europe, and the World, and has lasting consequences to this day. But how much do you really know about their ways, the real facts and history, not what Hollywood tends to come up with?
Aspects of life in the Viking age are extraordinary to go through, so join us as we explore their pantheon, their religion and exploration, and their daily lives and activities. They enjoyed games and fun and had many ways of gambling, some more serious and bloody than others. If you might enjoy the thrill of gambling casino games you can try your luck at Vulkan Vegas, where they have a myriad of games, but all quite safe from bodily harm.
The Viking Pantheon
One of the most interesting ways of learning about an old civilization is exploring its gods. Most of the popular ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Rome, and Greece, have iconic deities. Their gods were crucial for daily life and beliefs. Vikings followed a polytheistic religion rooted in Norse mythology. It features a rich pantheon of gods and goddesses who personify aspects of the natural world and human behavior. Chief among them was Odin, the all father and the god of wisdom, war, and death.
Odin’s son, Thor, was the god of thunder and protector of humanity, famous for wielding the magical hammer Mjolnir. Freyja was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, while her brother Freyr was associated with peace and prosperity. Other notable deities included Loki, the trickster god, and Tyr, the god of law and heroic glory. All of them lived in Asgard and were central to Viking rituals and sagas. People believed in the Norns, weavers of destiny, and the afterlife of Valhalla, where warriors hoped to be received after dying in battle.
Raiding, Journeys, and Trade
The Viking age is said to have lasted between 793 and 1066 AD, starting with the raid on Lindisfarne and ending with the Norman Conquest. Daring seafaring expeditions turned into brutal raids on coastal communities, settlements, and monasteries. They quickly expanded their reach by exploration, colonization, and trade. Traveling in longships, they went from Scandinavia to Britain, France, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Trade routes were established stretching to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphates.
Goods like fur, slaves, amber, and weapons were exempted. Apart from raiding and pillaging, they were skilled merchants, settlers, explorers, builders, and traders. The most important explorers of this age were Leif Erikson (970-2020), his father Erik the Red (950-1003), Bjorn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, their father Ragnar Lothbrok, Harald Hardrada, Rollo, Sweyn Forkbeard, and Cnut the Great. Between kings, explorers, and legendary heroes of the sagas, history and mythology mesh in what is one of the most fascinating retellings of a bygone era.
Pastime Activities and Hobbies
Unlike some other civilizations in the centuries of the Viking Age, their life were not all about warfare and struggles. When not engaged in raids or farmwork, they knew how to have fun, enjoy life, and make the most out of their day. They had a variety of leisure activities, like storytelling and poetry, for example. The Skaldic verse was popular and served as entertainment and retelling of history. Music was extremely important, and feasting was integral to communal life. It involved drinking mead or ale, eating a lot of food, and listening to riddles and sagas. Woodworking, weaving, and metalwork were both practical and artistic pursuits.
They played games like hnefatafl, a strategic board game similar to chess, and engaged in sports and physical contests. Feats of strength included wrestling, skiing, archery, swimming, and running. They would frequently bet and wager on the outcome and risk their hard earned coin and goods from raiding to win more. In addition to this, they also enjoyed the activity of flyting, a form of poetic exchange involving public recitation of insults and boasts, a verbal duel of sorts and the precursor of competitive “rap battles” of today. Of course, they placed bets on these witty and outrageous insults. If you enjoy gambling, Bitcasino has everything from casino games to sports betting.
Viking Age Facts and Trivia
There are numerous misconceptions, facts, and trivia about the Vikings, their lives, and the era of their prominence. Some of them have been debunked a while ago, but remain relevant today. With others, people do not know them at all, despite being fascinated by this amazing community and their long history. Here are some of the most important things to know if you are fascinated with the Viking Age.
More than Just Raiders
While Vikings were often portrayed as bloodthirsty raiders, they were also great traders, explorers, and settlers. They established trade routes stretching from North America to the Middle East/
The First Recorded Viking Raid
The Viking Age is often said to have begun in the year 793 AD with the raid on the Lindisfarne Monastery in northeast England. This shocked Christian Europe and marked the start of frequent Norse attacks throughout what we now call the British islands.
Viking Longships Were Engineering Marvels
The famous longships were sleek, fast, and could navigate the open seas and shallow rivers alike. Some could reach speeds of 10 to 15 knots. Unsuspecting victims were dumbfounded when they saw them from afar and surprised by how maneuverable and capable they were.
They Wrote in Runes
Vikings used the runic alphabet known as the Futhark. Its runes were carved into stone, wood, and metal and often had magical or memorial purposes. They were also a form of art that adorned their weapons, clothing, rooms, and items.
They Found Major Cities
Throughout their centuries of exploration, conquests, and trade, Vikings founded cities like Dublin, Kyiv, and many others. The Rus people, one of the ancestor peoples of modern Russians, were of Viking origin.
Women Had More Rights than Anywhere Else in Europe
At the time, Norse women could own property, divorce, and reclaim dowries, and their voices and opinions mattered. Some were also shieldmaidens, warriors who fought alongside men and were thought of as equals in raiding and on the battlefields.
They reached North America before Columbus
Leif Erikson, the son of Erik the Red, reached Vinland (as they called it) around 1000 AD. This is believed to be in modern day Newfoundland, Canada, some 500 years before Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492.
Viking DNA Was Diverse
Genetic studies show they were not just Scandinavian. The samples clearly show they mixed frequently with people from Southern Europe, the British Isles, and Central Asia. Viking identity was more cultural than ethnic, and their communities were some of the most welcoming and inclusive at the time.
They Had Unique Burial Practices
High status individuals were buried in longships with weapons, and tools, and even sacrificed animals or slaves. The Oseberg Ship burial is one of the most famous Viking graves ever discovered, found in Norway in 1904. It gave us a lot of insight into their practices and beliefs.
“Viking” was a Job, not an Ethnicity
Arguably, the biggest misconception about this age is with the term itself. The term “viking” comes from the Old Norse “vikingr”, meaning sea raider or pirate. Not all Scandinavians were Vikings. Only those who went raiding or exploring were called that. They would basically say to “go Viking” when referring to their long sea voyages in longships, for trading, exploration, raiding, or conquering.
Featured image by Austin Lowman Unsplash.com
