9 fascinating facts about Vikings
09.07.2021
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From their customs to their conquests, there’s a lot to learn about Vikings. Here are just a few fun facts you never knew before.
#1 In the ancient Norse language, “viking” meant “pirate raid”
#2 Unlike a lot of other contemporary Europeans, Vikings had exemplary hygiene
They bathed once a week and they used a variety of pruning tools such as razors, tweezers and combs
#3 Despite the common portrayal, the vikings never actually wore horned helmets
Such an image most likely appeared in the imagination of 19th-century painters.
#4 Vikings were no strangers to societal beauty standards. Men who were born brunette would often bleach their hair to fit in with their brethren
#5 There is no viking history as told by the norse pillagers themselves
Most of what is known about them is documented by the people they fought or conquered
#6 Skiing is far from being just a pastime of the modern middle class
The practice is more than 5000 years old and was first invented by Scandinavian people. Vikings themselves enjoyed the activity for fun as well as used it as a way of travel.
#7 20% of the English language is derived from Old Norse
Some words that have this origin are anger, ugly, weak, skull, and slaughter
#8 The symbol for Bluetooth is actually the name of a Viking king written in the runes of his time
The famous Bluetooth sign is a combination of two runes.
#9 At one point in history, a Viking king ruled over England for 5 years
Do you know any other interesting facts about Vikings? Which of these facts surprised you the most?
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16 Comments
Doris Dallaire
They were some of the first people to come to North America and had settled in what is now Newfoundland.
Julie Domaille
I am descended from French & Irish vikings. I guess most Brits are. I often think what a fright the locals got when Vikings rowed up the Liffy into Dublin.
If the Britons had not had to run up to Stanford Bridge to see off the Vikings then run all the way back to Hastings to fight the Norman's, the outcome could have been very different
Sandy Mounts Orndorff
I descend from the Vikings. The Duke of Normandy came from Burgandy. They are descendants of the Vikings
Alain Fougerit
Sandy Mounts Orndorff, from Burgandy, are you sure ?
Deena Grady
None surprised me. I like history.
Priscilla Nielsen
No wonder they like fried pork chops
Kita Baldwin
Pall info was interesting. I’m always intrigued by life of different times and places.
Oleg Jerschkowsky
For two generations vikings were rulers of old Rus' with its capital Kyiv. Since the viviling ships had only warriors, the viking crown was inherited by Slavic rulers through intermarriage.
tbear
All were interesting! Did it know most of them! Thank you! 😊👍
vasily tchaikovsky
Interesting information Thanks , but who care now ?
sbarrnavy
Interesting information thank you for sharing!
flanderschristy
Thank goodness, an ancient peoples who had good hygiene! From what I've read about other countries like England, they were disgusting pigs.
Madi Marven
Wow,that was fascinating,really interesting weren't they wonderful people,am so impressed with their hygiene standards too!!
lmoores
I am descended from the Romans, Vikings, Saxons, Angeles, Jutes, Celts, the Normans and anybody else that over ran Britain.
Pierre Poirier
Doris Dallaire, Colombus did not discover America. ThevFirst Nations discovered it first. The Vikings andvFrench sailors also wre there before Columbus
Wayne Roberts
Danish Vikings settled mainly on the East coast of Britain. Norwegian Vikings went around the top of Scotland and reached Dublin and Ireland.