History of the Vikings

Valhalla and beyond with Viking Heritage Magazine

At their zenith the Vikings' weight was spread from Constantinople - where they served as mercenary bodyguards to the court of Byzantium, to America - Leif Ericson first set foot in ' Vineland ', present day Newfoundland, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. As for hobbies, they were big on looting(the Old Norse vikingr translates as pirate), but by far the most popular pastime was paganism. The ultimate destination being Valhalla, a celestial property belonging to the one eyed Nordic Zeus, Odin - easily recognised as he sits astride an eight-legged horse. Valhalla was open only to warriors who died in battle, always accompanied with their weapons and often their horse and the occasional human sacrifice.

Anyone who's seen Kirk Douglas' two Norwegian sagas, The Vikings and The Heroes of Telemark, will know that their warrior spirit still lives on and while they have bettered their international relations since the eleventh century they still steadfastly refuse to join the EU. Norway 's littered with Viking gravestones, barrows and farmsteads, which the site helps you to pinpoint, along with its nine Viking museums and details of up-and-coming Viking related events. There's also a quiz where you'll find out why the kingdom folded and whether or not they had horns on their helmets.

viking.hgo.se

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