Inquiry Question #4

Which countries did the Vikings invade?

This is a brief timeline explaining the major events of the Vikings. There were many other raids throughout England at the time, however what made the Vikings raids so notable was their success, which was largely achieved because of their ships. 
The first Vikings raid was in the year 793 on the great monastery of Lindisfarne. 
The image on the right is of a grave marker that records the attack, which was found in Lindisfarne. 

The image below shows where the Vikings moved from century to century using a colour code made up of recorded Viking raids.  

http://theeducatedburgher.blogspot.com.au/2010_07_04_archive.html
http://www.facts-about.org.uk/history-and-events-timeline-vikings.htm 
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/raids.htm

Inquiry Question #3

Where did the horns come from?

One of the biggest myths in history of the Vikings is of their horned helmets. At special events, when someone is dressed as a Viking, you can expect to see them wearing a helmet with horns or wings with intricate designs, as the average person seems to expect that this is what Vikings armour entails.

The most likely reason for this is all because of Carl Emil Doepler, costume designer for Richard Wagner's (image on the top right) famous opera 'Ring des Nibelungen' in 1876. Many left the opera believing that Vikings had had horned helmets after seeing all of the performers' costumes.

Out of all carvings and tapestries from the Viking age, only two or three of them have a picture of someone who appears to be wearing a horned helmet, including the image on the right. However, these 'horns' are arguably of ravens. In this case, archaeologists believe that the helmets may have been used for religious ceremonies, as Odin supposedly had two ravens; Hugin and Munin, who he told to travel the world to gather news and then to tell him what they had seen.

http://www.vikingage.com/vac/horns.html
http://www.ulsterorchestra.com/blog/2013/02/the-many-faces-of-richard-wagner/

Inquiry Question #2

What Did Viking Age Arms and Armour Really Look Like?

Shields

A historical shield from the Oseberg ship (left) and a 10th century shield boss found at Hemla, South Iceland (right).
Typical Viking shields were 80-90 cm in diameter. In theory, when a man made a shield for himself, he made it to match his size and fighting style. The shield had to be big enough to provide protection, but not so big that it is able to wear the man down or cause a slower defensive reaction.
Iron, domed bosses were at the center of the shield to protect the hand during combat.

The Bayeux Tapestry (left) shows that kite shields were used at the end of the Viking Era. The shape of the kite shields was useful for an attacker who was on horseback. However, during the Viking Age most fighting was done on foot, and therefore these shields wouldn't have had much use.

  Helmets

   Probably the first thing that most people think of when hearing the word 'Vikings' is the stereotypical Viking helmet, as shown below. In reality, the Vikings' helmets didn't have intricate designs or horns. Viking helmets were fairly simplistic in comparison, using multiple pieces of iron that were riveted together. This is a helmet found at Gjermundbu in Norway (right). A similar style of helmet is shown below it. 
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_helmets.htm




(Left) A stereotypical Viking helmet that many immediately think of when they hear the word 'Vikings'. http://www.historicalreplicas.net/Viking-Helmet.htm 

(Right) A modern reproduction of helmets found from the Viking age. 
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles /manufacturing/text/viking_helmets.htm 

Swords

Swords were difficult to create, making them some of the most valuable and rare items within the Viking age. In Iceland, of the hundreds of weapons found in Viking age pagan burials only 16 of them are swords. 

Swords were passed down from father to son for generations, and given names, and could have been the most expensive item that a man owned. 

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_sword.htm

Inquiry Question #1

What religion did the Vikings follow?

Most of Scandinavia was pagan at the beginning of the Viking Age, worshiping gods and goddesses of Norse myths. 

Once the Vikings raided towns that were Christian, they switched religions fairly quickly. 

"Although contemporary accounts say little about this, we can see it in the archaeological evidence. Pagans buried their dead with grave goods, but Christians normally didn't, and this makes it relatively easy to spot the change in religion."

- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml 

 

Thor's hammer amulet, possibly worn while at sea for protection. (Right)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml

In the age of the Vikings, both pagan and Christian religions were acceptable. Proof of this is shown by coins found that have the name 'St. Peter' on them, which would be a symbol of Christianity. However, on many coins, the 'I' in 'PETRI' was in the shape of Thor's hammer, which could mean that both Christianity and Paganism were acceptable at the time. 

Thor was a popular god among the Vikings, as, although he is believed to be quite stupid, was the god of strength. It is possible that many Vikings wore symbols of his hammer for protection. 

Loki was also a popular god among the Vikings, who was supposedly a fire-god. Loki caused many problems for the gods, although was mostly able to fix them.

As well as many of the gods, the Vikings may have also believed in giants. Loki was one of the few gods to have a relationship with a giantess, and had three children with her. 

Hel, their daughter, became the ruler of the underworld. 

One of their sons, Jormunagund, was a serpent so large that he was able to stretch all the way around the Earth. 

Their other son, Fenris, was a wolf so powerful that he scared the gods themselves, who eventually tricked him into allowing himself to be tied up until the end of time. 

Vikings believed that the world would end with the final battle of Ragnarok, between the gods and the giants. Loki and his children would take the side of the giants. 

A fire would sweep across the entire Earth, leaving only enough of each of the races to start a new world.

The Vikings believed that when they died in battle, they were sent to a place called Valhalla, located in Asgard, ruled by the god Odin, where they would feast and fight every day, waiting until the battle of Ragnarok. 
However, if one were to die from old age or sickness, they were to go to Hel, ruled by the youngest daughter of Loki, Hel. 

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hel.html