Even today, Scotland has some of the highest amount of Viking Age Norse DNA of anywhere outside of Scandinavia. 

    It has been nearly one thousand years since the last Vikings ventured abroad raiding and pillaging peasant towns and Christian monasteries. Yet the enduring imagery of monks being slaughtered and churches being looted is ever present in our minds. Every time someone utters the word ‘’Viking’’ we tend only to think of violent, barbaric warriors in bloodstained tunics who went off raiding, killing, and plundering. Although Vikings did indeed raid, kill, and plunder many people fail to realize that most Vikings were primarily farmers, fishermen, merchants, carpenters, and craftsmen. Just like every other society during the Middle Ages, Vikings needed to provide food for their families which usually meant working the land and maintaining the family farmstead.  ...

For the Norse, though, mead was associated with Odin.  One of the most well-known stories of Odin was how he stole the Mead of Poetry whereupon drinking it he gained the gift of understanding and creating the most-treasured Norse art form.  This is another reason why the interlocking horns of the Triskele are one of Odin’s symbols.  It was said that great poets were blessed by Odin and shared in his mead, while less-talented poets only got the spittle that Odin dropped behind.   

Even the indomitable berserkers used shields (and are often mentioned biting shield edges in their frenzy), and wielders of the mighty, two-handed Dane Axe or the fell hewing spear still carried shields slung on their backs.  Displayed on the gunwales of their dragon ships, the shield became one of the most recognizable symbols of the Vikings.

          Scotland played an important role in Viking raiding, trading, and colonization; and the Vikings played an important role in the history and national identity of Scotland. While several references in surviving sagas and other Norse lore strongly state that Scotland was best avoided – being a land of fierce savages and abominable weather – many Vikings obviously ignored the advice. In addition to the rich supply of archaeological evidence, Scotland boasts some of the highest Nordic DNA outside of Scandinavia, and shares many cultural similarities with Norway. Within a relatively short period of time in the early ninth century, Vikings had taken enough territory in Scotland to form their own kingdom there (called Lothlend, or Lochlainn),...

All these aspects bear witness to how Swedes understood their participation in the building of the Russian state, and the link between the Russians and their Viking ancestors.

Symbols play an important role in Norse culture.  The spirituality of the Norse Vikings was so ingrained in their culture and thought process that they had no word for religion.  There was no separation – as there so often is today...

In December of 2017, the massive Irish DNA Atlas project published findings that today’s Irish population could be as high as 20% Norse.

Wardruna is a Norwegian group founded around 2009. They are responsible for much of the soundtrack and music heard on the TV series called Vikings.  Though some of their members came out of the Black Metal scene of the early 2000s, Wardruna predominantly relies on traditional instruments to achieve their unworldly, haunting sound.

Floki and his followers were so preoccupied with fishing that they neglected to cut and store hay for the animals that they had brought.

Ivar the Boneless was an extraordinary warrior whose ferocity and cruelty at times reached psychotic levels.  He was responsible for the death of ...

many of the Norse goddesses were also goddesses of war. It is clear from these stories that the Vikings did not see the battlefield in strictly masculine terms.

Can't wait!  Ragnar loved both Bjorn and Ivar but whose side will win?   Looking for viking jewelry (arm rings, torcs and more? Click here. Viking Jewelry

Note: We sell completed viking shields (including blank shields) for as low as $119. Prefer to make your own? Below are four videos on DIY Viking Shields: This first how-to video used a stainless steel dog bowl for the center piece and used hydrocholoric acid and some hammering to give it that aged, hand-made look.   This Viking shield build focused on a look to match Lagertha's shield from the TV show "Vikings". A request that came from the wife of the builder.   This homemade Viking Shield required little to zero metal working. Using plywood and other easy to find ingredients to make a fully functional shield.   This last video also used plywood and offers tips on how to give...

Check out the Viking Ship Gokstadfæring on Display! Interested to see a detailed replica of a Gokstadfæring? You can when you visit the Danish Canadian Museum in Alberta Canada! The Freydis Joanna Viking Ship and Naust is part of the museum’s permanent collection, just waiting to be discovered by visitors who love Viking history. The exhibit tells a fascinating story. First off, a little bit about longships: Longships were a vital part of the success of Viking expansion into remote territories. They were extremely competent at navigating open waters, with this group comprised largely of skilled craftsmen and sailors. As such, the Vikings easily and swiftly claimed control over both land and sea. As you know, longships were long, narrow...

More than 2,000 swords have been found so far from the viking age (around 800 AD - 1050 AD). However, unlike most of the swords that were made for battle, recent discoveries through the use of neutron scans have proven that some of these swords may have been purely created for decorative purposes. All three of these swords (found in Denmark and pictured above) were made through pattern welding which includes using thin strips of various metals, irons and steel. They are then welded together, folded and/or twisted and then forged in various ways to produce decorative patterns. Whereas swords made for battle were typically made of pure steel. Learn more at: http://www.livescience.com/58654-viking-sword-scans-reveal-norse-culture.html   Viking jewelry for sale:

Decorated horse bridles from the Viking era (950 ad) were recently discovered in Jutland Denmark.     Sources:http://www.realmofhistory.com/2017/03/21/viking-oriented-discovery-denmark/ http://cphpost.dk/news/archeologists-make-sensational-viking-discovery-in-denmark.html And for those of you who can read Danish, here is a site that provides live updates from the dig site: http://www.vikingfregerslev.dk/Nyheder-2966.aspx?Action=1&NewsId=904&M=NewsV2&PID=7022 View modern day Viking Jewelry here:

Thor's Rike (Thor's Kingdom): Welcome Viking Enthusiasts! You’ve probably been to Disney World or Six Flags or Cedar Point. Those are all well and good, but what if you could hit a park built on the Viking theme? Well, now you can. It’s called Thor's Rike (Thor’s Kingdom in English) and it’s designed to attract Viking enthusiasts from all over the world. It’s located in the western Norwegian county of Hordaland, with the goal of putting a spin on the traditional theme park. Flume rides and roller coasters will feature “infotainment” to educate visitors about Vikings and their history. Go back 1,000 years and discover what made the Vikings so great and all-empowering. You can even experience the thrill of authentic...

Mjolnir (pronounced MEE-OL-neer): Thor's Hammer. Recently I have been hearing that Stan "Lee" Leiber of Marvel Comics claimed that he invented the word mjolnir. Surely this can't be true? In a 2002 documentary with Kevin Smith, Lee claimed that it was actually his younger brother (and Marvel business partner) Larry Leiber who invented the word. Marvel was also using the term "the Uru Hammer" and then first used the word mjolnir in the issue "Journey into Mystery" #83 (August 1962).   While yet others claim that the word was first invented and used by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby of DC Comics when they used the word (with a slightly different spelling: Mjolnar) in their issue "Adventure Comics" #75 (June 1942). In...