Whether or not the Norsemen discovered the barren Arctic archipelago of Svalbard in the Viking Age remains a rather debated matter nowadays. Theoretically, given their in-depth knowledge on ship building and navigation, the Norsemen were able of reaching Svalbard. There are far greater milestones with regard to Norse exploration which can be identified as furtherest…
The archaeological site of Jarlshof on the isle of Mainland (formerly known in Old Norse as ‘Megenland’), Shetlands, is doubtlessly one of the most remarkable historical vestiges of the British Isles. The site, comprising remains which date from Antiquity up to the Modern Age, preserves equally reminiscences of a past Norse settlement. South Mainland in…
Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, being observed most commonly on the 25 December on all of the continents across the world. Nowadays, this holy celebration brings people together in many ways, all the more by attending various Christmas markets globally. However, what some people might not know about this holiday is…
Even before the start of the Viking Age the Norsemen (Vikings) used to write and read in the Runic alphabet of their own language, namely Old Norse. This Runic alphabet that was used by the Norsemen before and in the time of the Viking Age is commonly known as ‘fu쎾ark’ (futhark). Regarding its origin, three…
Life during the Viking Age in the Norse realms wasn’t as dull as some people assume. On the contrary, the Norsemen had been practicing a series of games and sports that nowadays we collectively can call entertainment. According to medieval Icelandic literature and archaeological discoveries, it is known that they played both indoor and outdoor…
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