Viking History
@vikinghistoric
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Unearth the sagas, myths, and artifacts of the Viking Era. If you want to follow one Norse history account on X, this is it.
Norway
Joined October 2023
The etymological origin of "#viking" is debated. In Old Norse, two words might be its source: "víkingr" (masculine, meaning a person) and "víking" (feminine, referring to an activity) (1/3).
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Digital painting of the "Egtved Girl":.Discovered in Egtved, Denmark, this Bronze Age teenager lived 3,400 years ago. She was around 16–18 years old, approximately 160 cm (5'3") tall, and wore a short wool skirt with a belt and bronze accessories, suggesting high status. Isotope
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🔥Yesterday in Norway, hundreds of beacons were lit as part of the public opposition to wind power🌬️ Many argue that wind turbines ruin the landscape and are an inefficient source of energy.
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A 12th century door at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, UK.
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800 year old: The Pack-Horse Bridge in Wycoller, Lancashire, England 🏴
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Cool stone ramp to farm building. Valldal, Norway 🇳🇴 With manual labor, it probably took a while.
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Yes, a 1000 years ago, the #Vikings made ships this big. The "Draken Harald Hårfagre" is the largest reconstructed Viking ship and is based on the Norse sagas, archaeological findings and Norwegian boatbuilding traditions. In 2016, the ship sailed from Norway to Newfoundland, CA.
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Among ethnic Norwegians, approximately 55% have blue eyes, while the remaining population predominantly has green, gray, or brown eyes.
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I live in Norway and our currency has basically vaporised.
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One of the most iconic photo spots in Norway, the Sword in Rocks monument commemorating the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, after which Viking Harald Fairhair made himself King of Norway.
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The Scalloway Fire Festival 10.1, first recorded in the late 19th century, began as a local adaptation of midwinter celebrations to commemorate Shetland’s heritage and traditions and is now an annual January event featuring a torchlit procession, a Jarl Squad in Viking attire,
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Blond hair distribution in Europe and North America. Blond hair is naturally found in only 2% of the world's population, predominantly in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Finland, Sweden and Norway have the highest percentage of blond haired people in the world.
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Today is "Lerwick Up Helly Aa"! It is a remarkable and vivid fire festival held annually in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, Scotland. Celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, it is a grand spectacle that marks the end of the Yule season and is deeply rooted in the region's
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Turns out, Vikings came up with the 'crazy cat lady' first 👇
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Better to fight and fall than to live without hope. — Völsunga Saga, Chapter 12
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If I would ever consider LARPing, this would be it! 😍 🥳
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Yule, also known as Yuletide, is an ancient festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples. It has pagan origins and is linked to the Norse god Odin and the Anglo-Saxon Modraniht. Yule was initially a midwinter festival that lasted for 12 days and celebrated the winter
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The old land. Nils Hans Christiansen (1850-1922) 🇩🇰
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Scandinavian tourists visiting the UK for their annual Yule shopping trip, ca 850 AD🎁
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After the Old Norse Gods, the middle eastern god rose to prominence in the North, as can be seen in the flags, all brandishing a "Northern Cross". As the Christian god's influence now is waning, some speculate this may change far sooner than many think.
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Happy Leif Erikson Day to all my followers and friends across Northern America and Iceland! Here's to celebrating the spirit of exploration and the enduring legacy of Norse Viking adventurers. Skål!🍻🇮🇸🇺🇸🇨🇦🇳🇴
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Ingólfsskáli - Viking Restaurant, South Iceland 🇮🇸
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Rice porridge, a traditional Scandinavian meal often associated with Yule.
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Vendel-style belt buckle found in Hamar, Norway. Dated to the 7th century AD. The Vendel period (550–790 CE) marked the rise of Scandinavian warrior culture, bridging the Migration Period and the Viking Age.
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Greenland’s Forgotten Pioneers: How the Vikings Beat the Inuit to North America by Centuries. For around 500 years, a Norse colony thrived in Greenland, from its establishment in the late 10th century until it was abandoned in the 15th century. These settlers, led initially by
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Vikings had their own precursor to Thanksgiving during the "Winter Nights" feast, celebrating gods like Freyr and Freyja. This ancient tradition, "Vetrnætr", was a time to give thanks for the harvest and honor the ancestors. So, happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating! 🙏🤗
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This is scary. Vendel period battle helmet from Valgsgærde, Sweden.
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Gotta admire the dedication, so I'll hold back my comment on the legitimacy of the symbols.
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Nordic silver coin with longship motif, believed to date from around 830.
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Some pictures from this historical event involving thousands of people across Norway and Northern Europe. Why is the media hardly covering this?
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Lofotr Viking Museum, built in 1995, features a full-scale reconstruction of the largest known Viking longhouse, interactive exhibits, boat rides, and reenactments of Viking life on the Lofoten Islands. Mosdef worth a visit! ⚔️
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Good night from Ålesund, western port city, Norway 🇳🇴
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Over a millennium ago, in the year 872 AD, Harald Fairhair, also known as Harald I of Norway, stood upon this very ground and proclaimed himself the first king to rule over a unified Norway, thereby laying the foundational claim that would shape our nation's history. 🇳🇴⚔️⚓
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"God jul" – Happy Yule! In Scandinavia, our Yule traditions retain deep roots in pre-Christian customs. The very name 'jul' predates Christianity, tied to the ancient Norse midwinter festival honoring the rebirth of the sun, feasting, and community.
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A landscape worthy of our Viking heritage. Årdalstangen in Sognefjord 🇳🇴
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Amazing 10th century door with Viking motifs from St. Mary's Church in Stillingsfleet, Yorkshire 🏴.
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The best video you'll see today: The incredible #Viking sword found high in the mountains in Oppland, Norway 🇳🇴. Its condition is so good some people are claiming its fake (it's not).
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Abandoned #Viking village from a 2010 film project in Höfn, Iceland. Who's ready to go live there for 3 months? 🙋♂️
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Recreation of 9th century Saxon Long Hall in Cheddar, Somerset.
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From the Age of Beowulf: 6th century gold and silver brooch from Sjælland, Denmark 🇩🇰
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Going back a thousand years or so, two Viking ships emerging from the fog was probably not the most welcome sight for a lone trader.
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Footage from "Draken Harald Hårfagre's" Atlantic crossing in 2016. Portstops included Iceland, Greenland, Canada and the USA. Draken is the world's largest #Viking ship sailing in modern times.
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Today's Norwegian word is "Berserk". It comes from Old Norse berserkr, meaning "raging warrior." It likely combines ber ("bear") and serkr ("shirt"), referring to warriors wearing bearskins, though earlier interpretations suggested "bare shirt" (considered unlikely).
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Beautiful Thor's Hammer amulet from Bredsätra in Öland, Sweden 🇸🇪. It was made from silver and gold 1000 years ago
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Keldur turf houses are among the oldest preserved examples of Icelandic architecture, dating back to the Viking Age. Built with wood, stones, and layers of turf, they showcase the resourcefulness of Norse settlers in adapting to Iceland's harsh climate.
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We’ve reached 6,000 followers! ⚔️ In Viking history, an army of 6,000 warriors would be a formidable force, surpassing the Great Heathen Army that invaded England in the 9th century. Thank you for being part of our Viking History journey. Skål! 🍻
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Yggdrasil, the huge and sacred ash tree in Norse mythology that connects the nine realms of the cosmos. Its name can be translated as "Odin's horse," referencing the gallows, as Odin hung himself on the tree for nine days to gain wisdom and knowledge of the runes.
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Currency 📉and inflation 📈 in Norway last couple of years
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Item No. 3 on the 'Dream Furniture My Wife Has Firmly Said No To' Collection 😍🥲
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A slightly different perspective of the Swords in the Stone monument (Sverd i Fjell) in Hafrsfjord, Norway, featuring people strolling and enjoying the area.
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Over 3,000 Viking swords have been found in Norway 🇳🇴. Here are 5 of them, exhibited at the Historical Museum in Oslo.
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Gudvangen, western Norway: Rumor has it there's a nearby #Viking village. The name itself, "Gudvangen," translates to "The Area of the Gods."
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Tjelvar's Grave on Gotland 🇸🇪, a Bronze Age stone ship said to mark the final resting place of the mythical founder of Gotland. According to the Gutasaga, Tjelvar tamed the once-haunted island, transforming it into the serene 'Island of Roses' known today. 🌹
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Northern Lights above our old Viking capital and my hometown yesterday night
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Battle of Visby - 1361. Brutal clash near Visby, Gotland. Danish victory over local militia. Mass graves reveal medieval combat's harsh reality.
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"Yule Gnome and Fox" by Hasse Bredenberg 🇸🇪 Although the Yule Gnome has some likeness to the modern Santa Clause, his role was to protect farms and homes, ensuring the well-being of the family and animals. In return, he expected respect and an offering, often a bowl of porridge
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Drifting into the night, it's time to rest. Wishing everyone a peaceful evening. 🌙
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Never tire of posting this: The Gjermundbu helmet. The only fully preserved Viking helmet found in Norway, an one of only two in the world! 🌎
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