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Myths about Vikings, Norway, Scandinavia, The Viking and The Courtesan, Vikings, Vikings as lovers
No. She never.
Oh, not at all dudes. Now then
Enough. Now, history has portrayed Vikings as violent, piratical, pillaging heathens who took to the sea in their droves to wreak mayhem on the tribes of Europe.
Today we bring them in from the cold and show that Hagar the horrible wasn’t so horrible after all, that Vikings are greatly misunderstood and a lot of the stuff said about them stems from early Christian misunderstandings about paganism. Are we ready dudes?
Right dudes. Enough. These things are things I did explore in my new book. Obviously the hero is a raider AND obviously no heroine worth her salt is just going to accept this. But there were a number of misconceptions that he puts her right on.
In fact there is no proof Vikings had horns. Well… Certainly not horned helmets. Putting aside the fact that no helmet with horns has ever been found, just consider will you, the difficulties of fighting, or moving about a very cramped long ship where space was at a premium and you slept where you sat, with the equivalent of a ram’s horns stuck on your head? It would give a whole new meaning to counting sheep.
Now my heroine might say that for the life of her she can’t understand why, but the fact was some Saxon women did. So when it came to raping and pillaging, of course that went on. These were barbaric times. However some Saxon women did find the Vikings attractive. Why?
Vikings were actually clean. Combs, tweezers, razors are frequently found in excavation sites. And they liked to bathe. Often houses had their own bath house if there was a heated spring nearby. As Malice finds out they also had soap, usually made from chestnuts. Not only were the Vikings cleaner than their Saxon counterparts, there was another reason some women liked them.
Yes. Apparently it didn’t just take the pressure off Saxon men to do that but the church preached that desire was a sin.
Okay. So the Vikings did raid. The problem was the way in which property was inherited. Unless you had a nice big brother, you were going to be left out in the cold. So, the younger sons turned to raiding, like my hero has. Also the big brothers didn’t just have a patch of land. They had acres, banjoing their baby brothers off the park. The Vikings were mainly famers though. Many settled in the lands they’d raided.
Which in turn brings us to
When they returned to their homes they laid their swords at the door. A wife’s word was law in Viking households. SO? Bloodthirsty and nothing else? I don’t think so. Also a number of Christian women married Vikings who had no objection to their religion despite pillaging churches..yes.
Totally abhorrent. But so did the Saxons. While re-inventing the Vikings, we need to set them in the context of their time.
But I’m reckoning over the piece Hagar wasn’t so horrible after all
shehanne moore 
I think considering the times is a valid point.
Sometimes we look at things with our modern eyes and are shocked. I’ve no doubt though in the future folks will look at us and shake their heads. I read recently how we already are shaking our heads and holding up our hands in horror that in WW2 countries took in Jewish children but no their parents and yet blind eyes are being turned to the refugee crisis. How will the future judge this age on that?
Lovely to see you. Hope to try to keep up with some of my fav blogs including yours. But if that is not possible, I will catch up when |I come back.
Great post as always, Shey. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, I’d heard that once the Vikings had got all that pillaging and raiding out of their system, they just settled down and assimilated. That’s how we have so much of their language incorporated into English and why those DNA tests in various parts of the country come up with a shared heritage. And, no, they didn’t wear horns. I think Hollywood is much to blame for that, isn’t it? I know we have Disney to thank for sending those poor lemmings crashing over the cliff when it was never in their nature to do anything of the sort. Now, hammies you must be on your best behaviour while Shehanne is away. Otherwise she won’t bring you back any nice presents!
Oh…..we are always on our best behaviour Cat…..We hope, that by Cat, Shey never meant you…. Love Tink, Sliv, Bobby bub, Wilbur, Donovan and all x
Thank you Cat my darling. The dudes best behave. Lovely to see you when you have so much going on. Yeah Hollywood does have a lot to answer for re these poor misunderstood dudes. They were just on their holidays….. x
Very interesting. I love this line “A wife’s word was law in Viking households.” I think that transcends centuries…as it should be.
Exactly….. The case is rested….. x
Love that line as well…:)
Hee hee. We are bad eh!! But I only told the truth here. Personally I love this idea that they went offski and were the big ‘he men’ but they came back and totally obeyed their women.
It is indeed a great shame they eventually converted to the new guilt ridden religion of ‘Rome’…indeed they not only used soap they invented the sauna and…not a lot of people know this…their gals were the first to discover the power of cleavage and in the 426AD Olympiad won gold in the skinny dipping triathlon…jolly good bunch in my book! Yours, Ivor Longship, Feltham nr Staines, Middlesex
Indeed it is a shame , Ivor and yeah, I knew re the saunas. Smart people. I am glad you managed to get your longship along the river. x
No burning, raping and pillaging ? Oh my. They didn’t smoke, weren’t horny and hit the sack then. Bit like the hammies ! I’ll look after them for you Shey. Party time little guys ! 😀 xox ❤
I mighta guessed! Mind you Ralpha…you got cats…. xx my friend.
Ah, cats ! I forgot about them 😦 xox
the hamstahs might eat them Ralpha…then where would you be?
Don’t you worry about that. They are so daddys pets. They will look after the guests just as well ☺
Oh, I can tell I’m in for a treat…more than just an entertaining read; an education too.
Lol….. Well…. (Clears throat) (Several times ) I am very educational… (I just don’t EVER expect to ever see my books on a school curriculum,)
Seriously, when I was looking into this business of Vikings just arriving in a place decimating it and taking their pick of what they fancied, as well as selling off folks along the coast in slave markets, I did kind of think ‘Houston, we have a problem here…’
Lovely to see you Ann xxx
I suspect there are many stereotypes and prejudices when it comes to Vikings… I am pretty sure you there is a whole new brighter side when it comes to this subject… Am I right?… 😉
Great post, as per usual, dear She.-.. I am wishing you a great day ahead. Aquileana 😀
Angel, xxxxxxx. We are heading off to warmer places, Been so dreary here this summer, can’t wait. Lovely to see you and yeah, I think there are stereotypes. We remember the Romans for the civilisation they brought and the law and order they created but look at the things they did. I have to go bat for Vikings since I was writing about them but I did find them very interesting in that they weren’t just savages looting for the hell of it.
Aw, I love the horns! Can’t I just keep one horned helmet for Sin? Fab post, Shey – the Vikings are certainly an underrated civilisation. Have a wild Viking-esque time of pillaging in Ancient Rome and say Hi to Russell Crowe for me. xx
ha ha…if only ! But will have a fab time.. Not long now. The Vikings are indeed underrated and of course you can keep a horned helmet for Sin. Always lovely to see you xx
Always enjoy your blog posts, Shey! Maybe that’s what I need…a nice, well-groomed Viking man! LOL
Hee hee. Of course yah do xxxxx With impeccable behaviour;.
It was a little viking boat… oh bless! 😀
So glad you cleared all that up about the viking… I was living under a great misconception… raping, burning, killing and, pillaging. Oh, I miss my old life… the good old days, before I was reborn. 😀
Kev, after what you said the last time I could not let you labour under a misapprehension………………. I felt kindly disposed you see to rid everyone of the demon of their old life. . .
Thanks to you, I have been… reborn! 😉
Great post! My grandma had a sauna in her backyard!
aW XXXXXXXXXXXXX Hugs. That is very kind of you. Hey, you can’t beat a sauna. Good for her.
I hope you’re having a wonderful time Shey, and the ‘leopard’ shoes remained comfortable. 🙂 Hoping the Hammies behave while you’re gone. I haven’t seen them post anything on their own so far, LOL.
Oh.. I had to buy myself another two pairs out there you know…. At 3 euros a pair though t’was a snip. That was cos my feet were in ribbons. Anyway, Had a lovely time and have some pix to share. Just back. I see the dudes are quiet but that won’t last. Lovely to see you xxxxxxxx
Lol, you crack me up! Yes, I think they behaved. They missed you so much they may stay behaved for a post or two. Looking forward to the pics! Welcome back! ❤
Nice post dear. Beginning to look at them in a new light😨
Oh they are very put upon by me of course… Lovely to see you my darling and loved your latest recipe. x
Thank you dear friend. Love to have you over ☺
Some neat re-balancing of the scales, Shey. What a fascinating post.
Lol… I am quite certain a lot of their bad press was deserved but taken in the context of their times, there was just as bad out there. I hopefully wasn’t just trying to whitewash my hero and why he raided. Lovely to see you fresh from the ‘maddening’ crowd!! When I was little I thought that was the title of that book.
I wonder how some of the twentieth century communities would be viewed in five or six hundred years? Even when there’s written evidence, historians disagree about how to put them in context. I think you presented a good case for the defence, and I’ve added The Viking and The Courtesan to my TBR list. Sounds very intriguing.
Cath that is ever so kind of you. In all respects. And avery valid point, re how we may all be judged one day. And yes it is the putting in context. This was a time of great upheaval, of small feudal communities, where the serf system also existed. And overall while the Vikings were raiders and did not come in peace shall we say, it was frequently the second sons who were at that caper because they got nothing and on the whole many of them did settle places like the Orkneys, SHetland, as well obvi as overrunning York and swathes of other places, a lot of the sources talk about how they often married local girls and let them keep their beliefs and customs, returned to farming and bowed to the women, which was all quite interesting. Thank you again Cath. Very honored you would do that with this book.