![]() The Viking Age, as commonly referred to, lasted from the early 790s to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Given the common cultural practice of tormenting coastal settlements and monasteries, it wasn’t long until the Viking’s fearsome reputation spread to almost all corners of Europe and Mesopotamia-there is even evidence that the Vikings reached Baghdad, the centre of the Islamic Empire at the time. ![]() Other nations such as the English and Celts settled merely on Danes, Heathens or Pagans, whilst the Irish referred to them as ‘Dubgail’ and ‘Finngail’ ( ‘dark’ and ‘fair foreigners’) or, quite suitably, ‘Northmen’. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Christian Krohg. The Arabs, Slavs and Byzantines, for example, knew of these raiders as ‘Rus'’ or ‘Rhōs’ (relating to ‘rowing’), while the Germans labelled them as Ascomanni ("Ashmen"), alluding to their ash wood boats. Regardless, given the Scandinavians’ dominance of the sea during this early period, it wasn’t long until contrasting names were being offered up by various other cultures across the planet. There are various theories as to where the term “ Viking” originated one looks to the feminine prefix ‘vík’, meaning ‘inlet’ or ‘bay’, while others claim the historic Norwegian settlement of Viken is where the name derives (hence, Vikings were the original “dwellers of Viken”).Īlternatively, recognised etymologists such as Anatoly Liberman point to the Old Norse word ‘vika’, meaning ‘sea mile’, the space left between two rowing boats in convoy, while others refer to the 9th Century Anglo-Saxon poem, Widsith, which refers to Scandinavian pirates as “Wicings”. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Frank Dicksee. Alongside that, the language spoken in Iceland has remained relatively unchanged from this early period today, Icelandic resembles Old Norse so closely that contemporary students can still read the original Icelandic sagas in their native tongue. What did endure-at least for a short period of time-was the devotion to Norse Mythology, the deities of the North Germanic people from whom Icelanders sprang. Once the Vikings arrived here, they tended to stay, making a quick end to the practice of raiding, raping and pillaging that had once made this warrior class so feared. Instead, they were farmers and fisherman, the descendants of Danish and Norwegian Vikings who first voyaged to the island around 870 AD. What’s often left unsaid, however, is that Icelanders were not actual Vikings themselves, at least not in regards to their behaviour. More to the point, the modern Icelandic male, apparently, has disavowed the grooming habits of twenty-first civilisation, instead choosing to sport a shaggy coat of facial hair worthy of Sweyn Forkbeard. Only a short distance away, two institutions, the Settlement Exhibition and the Saga Museum are dedicated to explaining the ins and outs of Viking culture. In downtown Reykjavík, there is a photo studio, Mink Viking Portraits, where guests can dress and take snapshots as these primitive berserkers. All of this alludes to a proud, violent and authentically Scandinavian period of history, a history the Icelanders seem quite content with glorifying.Ĭonsider how this devotion goes even further. Adventure Vikings, Viking Heli-Skiing, Viking Horses-and even one of Iceland’s most famed beers is named after these free boating rovers. ![]() Many tour providers choose to operate under the banner “Viking”-i.e.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |