Random Things You Might Not Know About Vikings (16 items)

(#3) They Had Contact With Native Americans

Because of their exploration of North America, it's likely that Viking sailors had at least some contact with Native Americans. Inuits and Vikings fought multiple times in Greenland. Moreover, scientists have discovered a genetic link between some Icelanders and Native Americans, which suggests a Native American woman might have traveled to Iceland with Vikings.

Trade likely took place as well. The Maine Penny, a Norwegian silver coin dating to the late 1000s found in a large trove of archaeological objects in Maine in 1957. Some scholars have said the coin is evidence of at least some Viking contact in the United States, with others saying it likely was brought from Newfoundland at some point, and a few simply writing it off as a hoax.
(#1) Burning Funeral Boats On The Open Water Wasn't Really A Thing

The image of a flaming funeral ship drifting into the sea may be powerful but it's not totally accurate. It is true that some Vikings - especially important ones - were cremated in boats. But these ships were usually buried on land as part of the funeral ritual. They likely weren't sent into open water.

Though funeral traditions varied in the Viking world, many burials included grave goods, or items that the deceased might need in the afterlife.
(#10) Some Norse Warriors Really Did 'Go Berserk' Before Battle

While they seem like the stuff of legend, there were actually Norse warriors called berserkers who went into battle seized by an uncontrolled fury. The term translates from Norse as "to change form," indicating strong men who fought wearing bearskins and were imbued with otherworldly power. Sagas of the time describe them as mad dogs who shrieked when running into combat and could slay an opponent with one blow.

Modern theories for what caused berserker rage usually revolve around intoxicants like mushrooms or strong alcohol.
(#11) Some Vikings Became Elite Bodyguards In The Byzantine Empire

Perhaps given their legendary fighting ability, Vikings became bodyguards for some of the most significant rulers in the pre-modern world. The Varangian Guard - a high-ranking unit made up of Vikings - protected Byzantine emperors from the late 10th century. The Varangian Vikings came to Constantinople by way of modern-day Russia. Though they continued to serve emperors, their status diminished by the 1200s.
(#13) Vikings Didn't Stick To Europe

Viking ships sailed almost the length of the known world, reaching everywhere from North America to Constantinople. Archeological evidence and medieval sagas even suggest they sailed the Tigris River all the way to Baghdad. Many of these expeditions were either exploratory voyages or raids, and most Norse colonization was limited to the Northern Hemisphere.
Due to their contact with so many regions, the Viking world was large, expansive, and diverse.
(#7) They Sold 'Unicorn Horns' In Their Extensive Trade Networks

Vikings are perhaps best known for their devastating raids on coasts and along rivers. But they were also traders connected to networks that stretched all the way to North America and the Middle East.

Among the goods that they circulated: narwhal tusks, which they sold as unicorn horns. Given the popularity of unicorns in medieval Europe - fueled by the belief that unicorns were real creatures - there was no shortage of wealthy buyers.