Many people have for quite some time been wondering if the Vikings used a sunstone (Icelandic: sólarstein) to navigate the sea. Historians, researchers, and even folks down at the local …
The Helm of Awe
The Helm of Awe or The Helm of Terror (Old Norse: Ægishjálmr) is probably one of the most recognized Icelandic symbols, and according to Norse lore, anyone who wears this …
Younger Futhark – How to Pronounce the runes
The runic alphabet that was used during the Viking Age is called Younger Futhark. These runes can be found on hundreds of runestones throughout Scandinavia. This alphabet does not consist …
Plant Dye Colors in the Viking Age
Our knowledge of the colors that were used during the Viking Age derives from excavations of burial sites, where the archeologists have been lucky enough to find remains of textiles. …
What colors did the Vikings paint their houses?
Have you ever wondered what kind of colors were used in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, and which kind of materials they extracted the colors from? If so, then continue …
Viking trade & trade towns
When many of us think about the Viking age, we often have images of men with long hair and an epic beard, holding a long sword or a giant Dane …
Viking houses – What did they look like?
During the Viking age, most people lived in the countryside around the world and that was of course also the case for the people in Scandinavia. These people lived in …
The Raven Banner
The Raven banner… the flag flown by the Vikings when they raided the shores of their victims across Europe, or so the story goes… In reality, the raven banner was …
What does the word Viking mean?
I have often come across people who are telling me, that it is not correct to use the word Viking for all the people who lived in Scandinavia during the …
Who were the Vikings?
The Vikings were the people who lived from the 8th century to the 11th century in Scandinavia. They came from what today is Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. During the Viking …