Over time, however, the word “Viking” took on a broader and came to describe the people, events, and things associated with that period of Scandinavian history. The history of the word relates to plundering - as in stealing goods from other people - and Scandinavian women at the time didn’t commonly participate in such attacks (see below for possible exceptions). In the Viking period, the term “Viking” only applied to men. Strictly speaking, there were no “Viking” women The facts below will help the reader who these women were and what their lives were like. However, though a lot of information is fragmentary, it’s still trustworthy and helpful to understand the culture and the women who helped make it legendary. Often what can be known about Viking women is pieces of history rather than an entire picture. Separate fact from fiction: See Did Female Vikings Go On Raids? to learn more.ĭid Viking women go on raids? See #2 below Female Vikings: Separating fact from fiction Nevertheless, there are many things that can be known about real Viking women. A lot of information about them comes from ancient Scandinavian legends, sagas, and folklore. However, this is not as easy as it seems, because some of the sources about Viking women are ambiguous. To truly understand Viking women, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Some conducted business, some were master craftswomen, and a few may have fought in combat. Most were faithful wives and mothers who managed the home and helped on the farm. Women in the Viking culture in medieval Scandinavia were smart, hard-working, and resourceful. How did they live? What did they look like? Did they participate in raids? The depiction of Viking women in 21st-century popular culture has led to a lot of questions about them. Scandinavian women of the Viking era are among the most fascinating people in European history.
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