1. Vikings wore horned helmets.
In lots of pictures Vikings are wearing horned helmets, especially when they were in battle.
2. Vikings didn’t call themselves Vikings.
They didn’t call themselves Vikings. This name came later down the line.
The Vikings called themselves Ostmen and were also known as Norsemen, Norse and Danes.
3. They loved blonde hair!
4. Vikings made their own boats and ships.
The Vikings were brilliant at making boats and ships. Their longboats could fit 60 people in at a time which was very impressive in those times.
5. The Vikings worshipped Gods!
The main Viking Gods were Odin, Thor and Frey.
Odin was the God of wisdom and war, Thor was the God of thunder and protector of mankind and Frey was the god of fertility.
It is believed that they liked to worship the Gods in the open air, in natural landmarks.
6. What does Viking mean?
Old Norse was the language that Vikings used.
In the Old Norse language ‘Viking’ meant ‘pirate raid’!
7. The days of the week are named after Viking Gods.
Yes, some of our days of the week are named after Viking Gods!
Odin, known as Woden, gave us the word Wednesday.
Tuesday and Friday are named after Tyr and Frigg.
Thursday was named after Thor!
8. Vikings loved to eat fish!
One of the main foods in the Viking’s diet was fish.
This is because they lived near the sea!
When it was warm outside they would hang the fish up to dry and eat it at a later date.
9. Viking funerals were like no other.
When an important Viking died, they would be given a funeral ceremony like no other.
They would be put on their boat with all of their belongings, including their animals and then would be pushed out to sea.
It would also be on fire!
10. Some of the words we use today come from the Old Norse language.
Some of the words we use come from the Vikings.
For example snort, lump, scrawny and anger.
Have you ever heard anyone use the word ‘beserk’?
This comes from the terrifying Viking warriors who wore animals skins and howled when they went to battle. They were called ‘beserkers’.
---------------
Have you finished reading? If so, you may have seen 1 Viking Lie. Send us a message to let us know which one it is, and you'll receive a surprise discount!
73 comments
The Vikings did not wear horns on their heads. I know they didn’t because some were my ancestors. Yes I have Vikings in my ancestry. So cool.
No horns on helmets!!! I was shouting at my phone when I read that!!! I see everybody knew…you tried to fool us all🤣😂
The viking lie was the horned helmets.
That is actually a HUGE pet peeve of mine.
First, why would you wear what is essentially a sword catcher on your helmet. The horns would catch a sword and direct them into your skull. The horns definitely had no offensive use as no one in their right mind, including a berserker, would dip their head down and charge; exposing their neck as well as taking their eyes off their opponent.
Second, the myth of the horned helmets comes from a standing/rune stone that was found that had a carving of Odin on it. It looks like the figure has a horned helmet but the horns are stylized shapes of Hugin and Munin whispering to Odin.
Also, at one point Wagner slapped horns on a helmet for his opera for dramatic stage presence and that is where the image really gained ground
Frey is not a Viking Gods
They wore horned helmets in ceremonies.