Did you think that the Vikings were just filthy barbarians who left no imprint on modern times? Well, think again.
Vikings -10 interesting facts
1. To “Viking” means “to go on an expedition” overseas. A viking is a person who participates in such an expedition.
2. Vikings were outstanding navigators in an era before the compass was invented. In some cases they’d release a raven which would fly towards land and they’d follow it.
3.
The raven banner was a viking flag. Probably since ravens were associated with their one-eyed pagan god Odin as well as with blood, corpses and battle.
4. Vikings did not wear horned helmets in combat. If anything, they used them ceremonially.
5. Vikings loved their boats. In many cases they were buried in them or in graves shaped like boats.
6. Vikings served as personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperors
7. When Ericson discovered North America in 1002, he found grapes, hence the name -Wineland
8. Vikings contributed many words to the English language including: Anger, Axe, knife, scare, die, and hell -but also words such as: happy, freckle, skin, rotten and egg,
9. In comparison to other Europeans of the time, Vikings maintained an extraordinary level of hygiene. They took baths on a weekly basis, and a variety of grooming aids were uncovered in archaeological digs at Viking sites.
10. Berserkers were ferocious Viking warriors who would bring themselves to a state of uncontrollable trance-like rage prior to battle where they would… well “go berserk”.