Viking Myth-Busting

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today we're exploring the Viking period, where we’re going myth-busting!

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let's wander a little deeper into the past.

When you hear the word Viking, what comes to mind?

It’s probably a tall, broad fellow with a two-handed axe or sword, a shield on his back, and—of course—a horned helmet. He’s likely clad in sombre tones, with a long beard and wild hair.

Well, I’m afraid I’m about to turn that image on its head—but I promise you, the reality is so much cooler (if a little less dramatic).

MYTH 1: Vikings Wore Horned Helmets

Let’s start with the easiest and most popular misconception.

Most people now know Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets, but did you know this idea came from opera?

Yup—blame Richard Wagner, composer of Der Ring des Nibelungen. In 1857, he wanted his Valkyries to stand out on stage, so he gave them horned helmets. The image stuck, and the rest is (bad) history.

MYTH 2: Vikings Were Unclean

This is one of my absolute favourite myths to bust (yes, I did wiggle my fingers excitedly before typing this).

The Coppergate dig in York gave us all the evidence we need: combs—beautifully carved combs made from deer antler—along with earspoons, tweezers, toothpicks, and even nail care kits. These weren’t grimy barbarians; these were well-groomed people with serious self-care routines. They bathed weekly (which was quite impressive for the time), and many even shaved their heads to avoid headlice—practical and stylish. Short hair is much easier to manage on a sea voyage, after all.

MYTH 3: All Vikings Were Warriors

Here’s where we get linguistic.

"Viking" was originally a verb—to go Viking meant to go pirating. It wasn’t a job title or an ethnic label.

Most people from Scandinavia weren’t "Vikings" at all—they were farmers, merchants, craftspeople, and explorers. There was enormous cultural diversity across Scandinavia, and only a small portion of the population participated in raiding.

So next time you hear “Viking,” think "pirate," not "people."

MYTH 4: Viking Women Were Passive

Oh, the myths about Viking women! I could write entire volumes, but for now, here are a few delightful facts I’ve learned from years of working in a Viking-focused museum:

• Women ruled the home—and if there was only one bed, they got it.

• They held the keys to the money chest.

• They had the right to divorce for multiple reasons (including bad breath)

• They trained with weapons, even if they didn’t go raiding.

• And yes, there is evidence of female warriors. (I can’t believe we’re still debating that in 2025.)

MYTH 5: The Viking Age Was Dark and Colourless

No!

(Okay—Leo says I should give you more than that, so let’s look again at the Coppergate dig.)

Archaeologists found a dye bath still stained red after centuries, along with plant remains used for dyeing, and evidence of gutter systems for draining multiple dye colours. Reds, oranges, greens—and yes, pink.

It’s believed that pink, from madder root, was one of the most common clothing colours. So that gruff, bearded raider you’re picturing? He may well have been wearing pink. And pulling it off fabulously.

Final Thoughts

I’d love to explore these topics in more depth in future posts (and I probably will), but for now, I hope these little snippets have given you a richer, more vibrant image of the Viking world.

Let me know your favourite Viking fact—or better yet, the one that surprised you most!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.