From around A.D. 800 to the 11th century, the majority of Scandinavians run from their homes to follow their fortunes. Over the next three centuries, they had left their mark as raiders, settlers, traders, and pirates on Britain and the European continent.
Medieval Days offers school history workshop which includes information on Viking culture, their costumes, and their resources. Here are some the interesting facts about Vikings that you need to know.
Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets
You may think or seen many of the Viking warriors who wear helmets, but the pugnacious Norsemen carry a headgear which has a horn-festooned look. There is no evidence from the Viking age that can prove or show it, but the authenticity of Viking helmet was surely horn-free. However, the painting shows the description of northern Europeans by Roman chroniclers and ancient Greek.
Vikings were known for their excellent hygiene
Viking men have discovered razors, tweezers, ear cleansers, and combs by mining the Viking sites. All these discovered items are made from animal antlers and bones. Europeans used to take bath after a couple of months, but Vikings take bath every week.
Vikings uses a unique liquid to start fires
Vikings used to collect a fungus originated from the tree bark and use it to boil for few days in urine. After some days, it was poured into something to feel akin. The presence of sodium nitrate in urine permits the material to smoke fire rather than burn.
Vikings buried their dead in boats
Boats were the most loving thing by Vikings. In the Norse religion, the boats were used to glorious realms after death, valiant warriors entered festively, and also as vessels that addressed them to reach their destinations. Prominent women and distinguished raiders were often taken some rest in boats, encircled by valuable goods, weapons, and sacrificed slaves.
Vikings were active in the slave trade
There are some human trafficking known as thralls. They used to catch and enslave young men and women when pillaging Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Slavic settlements. After that, they were sold across the Middle East and Europe’s giant slave market.
Viking women enjoyed some basic rights
Women or girls got married in their early life and kept at home to do household works. Even though they used to remain at home, it’s a saying that they had more freedom than other women of their era. They also have rights of requesting a divorce, inherit property, and can reclaim an amount of dowries their parent’s offers during the marriage, if it fails.
Viking gentlemen preferred being blond
Brunette Vikings were likely to use a strong soap with a high lye content to conform to their culture’s beauty ideals. In some regions, the facial hair on a human is also burned as well. They believed that the rituals are necessary to avoid some rampant and prickly problems.
These are the surprising facts about the law, religion, and other aspects of Viking culture that you will get know in a school history workshopof Medieval Days.
