Origins of the Icelandic Vikings

Icelanders today are descendants of the Vikings . Before the Vikings arrived on the island , the country was inhabited by Irish monks, but they abandoned this isolated and infertile land, which they quickly deserted without even giving it a name.

So when the Vikings began arriving in the land of ice and fire, they tried several times to give it a name that would make sense.

There are many ways to describe the Viking Age in Iceland . But when you're interested in historical sites, it's good to have at least a little insight into their ancestors. This article will help you learn more about Viking history.

I also want to point out that I will not cover the entire history of the Vikings here because the article would be far too long. I will stick to essential information for "general Viking understanding " and remain focused on the ancestors of the Icelanders .

So now is the time to grab your drinking horn filled with mead and read this article. Of course, if you have a Viking beer mug , that works too!

A bit of history: Viking beginnings in Iceland

Iceland had many names before its final name was established and recognized or even accepted by all. In ancient documents, we find variants such as Thule , Snailand and Gardarskhoulmi , but none of them have really been confirmed.

It wasn't until one of the first settlers, Hrabna-Floki ( Crow Floki ), survived the winter in Iceland that the country received its modern name. If you've been following the Vikings series, you'll probably remember this passage. If you haven't, I won't say anything else so as not to spoil it for you!

In anticipation of the end of the long winter, Floki climbed one of the surrounding mountains, near Floukalundur, and from there he had a view of the ice-covered fjords . The desperate Viking named the country Iceland ( Land of Ice ).

Today, Crow Floki is one of Iceland's most famous Vikings . He set sail for Iceland with his Viking ship, taking three ravens with him to help him find land. One of them eventually returned with a straw in its beak, indicating which way to sail. It's a bit like sailors seeing seagulls flying. They never stray too far from the coast and thus signify that land is approaching.

This is how the great Viking warrior Floki found his way to Iceland. However, like many other Vikings , he eventually returned to Scandinavia after his expeditions, unable to cope with the Icelandic wilderness, where only the most resilient survive.

Where did the Vikings come from in Iceland?

First of all, it is difficult to explain who the Vikings were, because even the word " Viking " has different meanings in different languages. For some people it is a maritime activity, for others it is more of a liberal activity.

Historically, Vikings have been associated with violence, plunder, and barbarian invasions. This is not surprising, given that these pagan mercenaries carried out barbarian Viking raids on cities and villages during their seafaring voyages (North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel, etc.).

They took what they wanted without caring or bothering about who they plundered. I deliberately use the word pagans because that's how the Christian world described them. What a great idea to believe that multiple gods existed, right?!

So they not only got rich, but also enslaved people and even kidnapped women. Yes, like the Romans in their time, the Vikings were adept at slavery .

Their slaves were people taken from their homelands during Viking raids . They were indebted for life for having been spared and owed loyalty to their masters. Slave men and women were considered booty , just like food or valuables.

What if I presented you with a treasure a Viking would surely have coveted? It's our wooden beer mug. We call it premium because it's made entirely of wood by an artist with a passion for a job well done. Here it is:

This is the ultimate wooden mug. If you're going to drool over it, just click on the photo 😍

Most of the male settlers came from Scandinavian countries, mainly Norway, and most of the first women in Iceland came from the British Isles.

This supports the theory that the Vikings abducted women to give them offspring. Although some Viking women were warriors, the majority of them were "content" with cultivating the fields and raising children.

However, one of the greatest Viking warriors was a female Viking warrior ! She was the Birka Warrior :

Historians and archaeologists still find funerary relics from Nordic countries and various kingdoms (Germanic Kingdoms, Roman Empire, Great Britain, Wessex). This proves the numerous pillages of our dear Vikings .

The Viking Gods

Scandinavian Viking paganism imagined gods through an idealized image of humans. They were considered more powerful and more perfect than ordinary humans.

On the other hand, in no way did the Vikings see them as being all-powerful, immortal, or devoid of human passions and suffering. The gods were imperfect, like humans, but much better all the same! 😆

Myths tell of the birth of the gods and contain references to their imminent demise. Behind the humanoid gods lie ancient remnants of totemic ideas: sacred animals (for example, the wolf or the raven, companions of Odin ) were linked to the gods.

Belief in werewolves ("wolf-men") was widespread among the Vikings , who believed that the human soul appears in an animal form.

Norse mythology, originating from the Vikings , is renowned in many countries, including Sweden, Greenland, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Younger generations are less aware of it, but its traces are frequently found in Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and other Nordic cultures.

Even Germanic culture was not immune. Norwegians might discuss " ancient Viking gods " with Danes or even some Normans.

Thesupreme god of Scandinavian mythology is Odin. He is the father and ancestor of the gods, the creator and ruler of the earth, and the creator of the human race. Odin is the god of war, granting victory in battle to great warriors.

The bravest knights, fallen in battle, feast with him in Valhalla where they are led by the Valkyries, young warrior maidens, daughters of Odin. A Valkyrie is directly inspired by Viking warrior women, for example.

Every day, Viking warriors are pampered in battle by Odin, and the wounds they inflict on each other heal immediately, and the battle is followed by a joyous feast. Odin's religion reflects the military ideals of the Scandinavian warriors of the Viking Age .

Odin's most famous son is undoubtedly Thor, the god of lightning and thunder . A big thank you to the various Avengers films or those featuring him as the main character. Thor and his trusty hammer (well, until his sister broke it in Ragnarok) also inspired us to create a...bottle opener! Here it is:

It is available in two colors: gold or silver. If you want to see it in gold , just click on this link.

And here it is in silver, to be found on our site by clicking here!

10 Interesting Facts About the Vikings of Iceland

1. Many Icelandic Vikings who set sail on their Viking ships at the time were simply fleeing the laws and rules of the Scandinavian countries. This is said to be the reason why Icelanders have always been difficult to rule. It's a country that, in its early days, was populated by several hundred free spirits.
2. The Icelandic Vikings were among the first in the world to establish a democratic parliament! This must be partly due to their rebellious nature, as mentioned in the previous point.
3. Contrary to the popular image, the Vikings never wore horned headdresses. The warriors "simply" wore metal helmets ( Viking helmets ), which were also common at the time in other parts of Europe of Nordic origin. The myth of the horned helmet thus collapses, even if the collective imagination still prefers to imagine them with them.
4. It's quite unusual for the time, but Viking women in Iceland could divorce their husbands! Unlike women in other medieval cultures, Viking women could also be formidable warriors. The Viking warrior woman carried a sword or an axe and a shield . She participated in warship battles and pillaging just like the men. The Norse peoples did not have certain preconceived ideas such as the fact that a woman does not participate in the battlefield or that she is only good for raising children and cooking! It's funny how on this point, the Vikings had a vision of things so much more modern than their contemporaries. Even today, women are still fighting to be considered on the same level as men. These Vikings were visionaries!
5. Typical Viking pastimes included strength training, horse riding, swimming, horse racing, building, chess, archery, and eating and drinking contests.
6. Archaeological discoveries have proven that Viking men and women all wore jewelry. Much of this jewelry was plundered from the Anglo-Saxons. The Vikings didn't just plunder each other; their "favorite" adversaries were the peoples across the Channel.
7. Once they arrived in Iceland, the Vikings began building mud huts. Some of them can still be visited today! These huts are a treasure trove of medieval archaeology. Researchers have discovered, among other things, stories in Old Norse, an archaeological rune from Scandinavian legends (in runic inscriptions), and even stories in lost Scandinavian languages.
8. One of the most famous Viking women is Aud the Wise . She built a ship herself, gathered a crew, and settled in Iceland. This example demonstrates how independent and strong Viking women could be.
9. Even before the Vikings arrived in Iceland , Irish monks founded their colony on the island. But they didn't stay there long and set sail, without even having time to meet the navigators from the North. I want to tell you, fortunately for the monks because the Vikings did not give quarter to their enemies, ecclesiastic or not. The harsh climate and this inhospitable land got the better of our good monks.
10. It is said that the first person to settle in Iceland was Nuttfari, a slave of Gardar Svavarsson (the Viking who named the island Gardarskhoulmi). However, since he was a slave, this fact is not particularly considered, but it should be noted nonetheless.

Reading these facts has probably made you thirsty. Don't worry, if you like the Viking universe, I can offer you some beer mugs. I should add that you can also use them to drink other things! Here are the wonders:

Our legendary Viking Beer Stein, the envy of the world! It's truly like drinking from a wooden barrel. It holds 60cl for those thirsty souls! You can find it here.

Its Nordic cousin is our Viking Skull Tankard. I'll let you admire the attention to detail. Even this proud warrior's beard is braided! Check it out now via this link!

Vikings Today: Viking Village Festival

Every year in early June, the town of Habnarfjordur is rocked by a real Viking invasion . In the town center, the smell of grilled meat is everywhere, and everything around it resembles a 9th-century fairy tale setting.

It's like a real journey back in time! The Vikings (who were actually ordinary people, sometimes living like their ancient ancestors) set up camps, prepared meals, sold souvenirs, fought, and made crafts. It's all about adopting the Viking style to immerse yourself as much as possible.

In this 75-minute show, two fantastic actors introduce you to the most famous Icelandic sagas. The Viking immersion is complete! There's humor, Viking tales, and even some cruel or difficult truths to discover. If you're a fan of this world, check out this festival because it's definitely worth the trip.

This festival has also inspired others in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, who wanted to be inspired by it!

And if you're lazy or can't afford the trip to Iceland, you can still get the Viking spirit at home. Just take a nice cold beer out of the fridge and pour it into one of our tankards! Horn fans, here are these two models:

This one is gothic-inspired. You use the horns to grab it and enjoy the nectar it contains.

If you're looking for a beer mug with a mystical touch, this Viking rune mug should be just what you need!

The fascination of Viking myths

The airing of the Vikings series has rekindled people's interest in this people, their history, and their traditions. A warrior people par excellence, their fascination knows no bounds, even though, as you've seen, many myths persist.

Compared to everything that can be read here and there, I found it interesting to focus on these few individuals who braved the seas to reach Iceland and settle there. They were outstanding navigators thanks to their ingenious longships . Being accustomed to harsh living conditions, they managed to "domesticate" a territory like Iceland.

The Viking influence is still very strong in this country. As proof, in its capital, Reykjavík, this sculpture of a longship was built, ready to set sail and sail towards new adventures:

It's no wonder, then, that the Viking civilization continues to inspire so much, just like the Romans or the Egyptians, for example. They left their mark on a large area of ​​Northern Europe and the North Sea islands. It's no coincidence that we offer several Viking-inspired articles on our site to allow immersion in their world.

Writing these blog articles takes me a lot of time for research, writing, images, etc. You have noticed, there are no unwanted advertising banners for insurance, credits or other but suddenly it does not bring me any source of income.😢

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