![]() ![]() Ibn Fadlan described each woman as wearing brooches on her chest and necklaces based on the wealth of her husband. Women and men had similar tastes in apparel, including a fondness for colors and accessories. Related: Did Viking Face Paint Exist? What did Viking women wear? The striations in the hair of one depiction has been frequently used as evidence for hair braiding by Vikings, but the small statue and representational nature of Viking artwork makes it inconclusive without other evidence. ![]() The most common depictions are ponytails drawn together by intricate knots of hair at the base. Like the Viking men, Viking women would keep their hair long. Women were as likely to participate in Viking adventures as men, making up a fair portion of Viking populations in far-ranging settlements. More rigorous physical demands from a self-sufficient lifestyle would contribute to larger, more muscular builds. Archaeologists report an easier time identifying the sex of the skeleton based on pelvic bones, but DNA testing is preferred for verification. When looking at facial structure, female Scandinavians had an austerity and firmness more commonly associated with masculine faces. Scandinavian women from the Viking Age were more similar to males in facial structure and skeletomuscular strength. They also wore more protection than many Viking depictions, but heavier mail and better quality armor were more expensive items reserved for more successful Vikings. Instead, their association with Vikings would not come for hundreds of centuries in the work of the opera composer, Wagner. Despite what we see in pop culture, Vikings didn’t actually wear horns on their helmets. In battle, Vikings would likely have worn mail or leather armor with a sturdier iron helmet. A chieftain was buried around 600 CE in an ornate coat of mahogany and green, complete with animal depictions woven into the front and collar. Natural materials were dyed with plants, like woad, to add color, and they traded for rarer colors of cloth like purple and red.ĭid you know: Scandinavians were weaving together fabric well before the dawn of the Viking Age. Instead of drab earthen tones and animal skins, Vikings were fond of color and accessories in their tunics and trousers. Related: Did Vikings Have Tattoos (and What Were Their Meanings)? What did Vikings wear? For the roving Vikings, they would let the hair stay long in front, but the back was kept shaved to remove a potential handhold for enemies. Braids and dreadlocks on Vikings were not common despite media depictions. ![]() Hairstyles were not uniform, but they were typically long with an accompanying beard. Viking artwork was not photorealistic, centering more on ornamental additions to household objects, so only loose details can be gathered from most examples. First-hand accounts from the time are limited, coming largely from Islamic scholars like Ahmad ibn Fadlan and Christian monks. It’s possible to generate a fair idea of what Vikings looked like from the available archaeological remains, but there may be missing details lost to time. That said, the core Scandinavian Viking traits were shared with each other and cultural ones with those who joined their society. Vikings had a wide variety of backgrounds throughout the Viking Age, so any Viking could have a unique appearance. For all seafaring Vikings, physical size and strength was typically beyond that of other cultures. Dark hair was common, and red hair had a higher prevalence in Norwegian Vikings compared to the general population of Europe. Fair hair and complexions were common, but not ubiquitous. Overall, Scandinavians had softer brows and jawlines during the Viking Age.
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