The
Vikings
Viking Country has throughout the time, obviously always been
associated with Denmark and the - Home
of the Vikings – as well as the heartland of
the great Viking society during the historical Viking
age from around 800 to about 1050
AC - which is a very important part of Denmark’s
history and culture that formed the way to build up the Danish
kingdom. As a descendant of the Vikings - ethnic Danes are
commonly coupled with the terms of being a Viking - coming
from the "Barbaric North" with
adventurous blood running through their veins.
Map
showing how the Vikings in the 9th and 10th century
expanded their territory by exploiting their seafarer
and navigation skills to find new trade routes
around Europe and North America, as far east as
to Turkey and Russia and as far west as to Iceland
– Greenland and Newfoundland. |
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Replica
of the Sea Stallion (Havhingsten) Viking Ship
that had a crew of 60-70 persons and was used
for voyages to England and Ireland. The original
ship was found at Roskilde Fjord in 1962 and now
exhibited at the Viking Ship Museum. The vessel
was the largest Viking ship ever built. |
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The Viking settlements
The
word Viking in Danish either means – People
of the bay – or – Pirates
– and their legacy was often as plundering barbarians
scaring most of Europe or talented merchant traders. As great
seafarers - the Viking settlements were usually placed alongside
Denmark’s coastline – either as small villages
or huge fortresses - where the fleets of Viking ships called
“Long ships” for warfare and
the smaller merchant ships called the “Knarr”
were harboured at the shores of the Viking colony. The Viking
settlements were centered around The “longhouse”,
where families lived with their cattle in one large room -
and it was from these locations the Vikings expanded their
territory as traveling as far east to Turkey
and Russia and as far west as to Iceland
– Greenland and Newfoundland.
A
typical Viking outfit with the tunica armour set
- horned helmet and broad warrior sword. |
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Amber
was the Viking gold and was used to make jewelry
and other holly ornaments. |
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The
Aggersborg ring fortress from 980 in North Jutland
on the banks of the Limfjord. |
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Ingenious
shipbuilders and runic alphabet
The
Vikings were best known as ingenious shipbuilders and clever
craftsmen, who invented the amber jewelry and
wore horned iron helmets. They developed their own alphabet
with 16 individual letters called runes and
the runic stones carved with this script
can be seen all over the countryside.
Heroic
Vikings
In Denmark there are long traces after the legendary Danish
Vikings as well as their culture and before the Danes turned
towards Christianity about 960 - their ancestors professed
to the Gods of the Nordic Mythology - Odin
and
Thor. Many historical landmarks are left
after these heroic Vikings that can be visited
and experienced several places in Denmark.
The
Viking Centre Fyrkat from 980, with its circular
fortress and houses placed in a square. |
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Lindholm
Høje near Aalborg is the largest Viking
burial area in Denmark, with over 700 plots. |
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Replicas
of Viking ships at the Viking Ship Museum that
was used to conquer England in 1015. |
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Viking
Landmarks and Historical Venues
Jelling - Jutland
The
Runic Stones in Jelling erected more than 1000 years ago –
Jutland
Aggersborg - Jutland
Aggersborg Ring Fortress built in 980 on the banks
of the Limfjord – North Jutland
Lindholm Høje - North Jutland
Lindholm Høje – The largest Viking burial area
with over 700 plots – North Jutland
Fyrkat - North Jutland
Fyrkat Viking Fortress built by King Harald Bluetooth around
980 – North Jutland
Viking Centre - Ribe -Jutland
Ribe Viking Centre built as a museum on the grounds of a former
Viking marketplace – Jutland
Trelleborg Viking Fortress - Sealand
Trelleborg Viking Ring Fortress from year 980 with “longhouses”
and artefacts – South Sealand
Viking Ship Museum - Roskilde - Sealand
Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde situated on the bay of an ancient
Viking Settlement – Mid Sealand
The National Museum - Copenhagen
The National Museum - The voyages of the Vikings - Copenhagen
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