What Vikings really looked like. (Spoiler: They looked like women)

[Sandersson Jankins]

Anyone with half a brain could assume that vikings really didn't use horned helmets. (I hope)
Other than that, yeah, vikings and their hair/cleanliness was huge. Very similar to some Asian cultures. (Or if you want a movie thing, think the Dothraki in Asoif)

For the whole weapon thing, its generally the same as 99% of Europe. If it kills someone when you hit them with it many times, it is a weapon. Many peasant tools hurt on contact, so yeah it is generally a good read.

Everyone back then was shorter, so that isn't too crazy.

All in all, good read.

(13th warrior is a good movie to show some of this stuff. Based on Beowulf.)

Also, if you are interested in this kind of stuff, spend some time learning about random germanic "barbarians". You will find they aren't actually as savage as you might think.

While the 13th warrior is based vaguely on Beowulf, it was actually adapted from a Micheal Crichton book entitled "Eaters of the Dead" that was later republished as "The 13th Warrior" when the film came out. If you enjoy reading, I would certainly recommend it, along with just about anything that Crichton published.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaters_of_the_Dead

[John_Merz]

That post is historically inaccurate.  Check out this picture to explain the standard viking so you all know what they were truly like.

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(I drew it all using MS Paint.)

[IR_Kuoin]

Well that picture was a really accurate representation of my ancestors, but viking helmets with horns? There's only been found one viking helmet that sort of looks like it has horns in whole Scandinavia :/

[spiritus]

what horns have so much practical use, you can fucking headbutt people... well if they dont grab your horns pull your head down and puncture a vessel in your neck first.

[Taser]

what horns have so much practical use, you can fucking headbutt people... well if they dont grab your horns pull your head down and puncture a vessel in your neck first.

Dat fucking bump.

Also I need to rewatch 13th warrior.. only time I saw it I was sick as fuck and remember like 2 minutes of the whole movie.

[IR_Kuoin]

What is up with the necros already? 1 year older thread each time.

[Oberyn]

What's the name of that opera with 'Ride of the Valkyries'? Pretty sure the myth came from there, the villian had to have horns cos villian, and it was all Scandinavian themed, thus the horned helmet was born and made popular. And there was a general romanticization of Vikings, Greeks etc in 'modern' art ('modern' meaning last 400ish years lol).

There were decorative golden horned helmets in the Bronze Age, before Scandinavia's formal 'Viking Period'.

Ther romantization/mythification of vikings and germanic peoples happened in the 19th and 20th century, mostly linked to a growing pan-germanic sentiment that coalesced into unification of a bunch of smaller german states into one nation. Not to mention the whole racial classification philosophy that grew from it, in which germanics and specifically northerners were placed at the top. 
Also pretty sure it's the valkyries who wore the horned helmets. Every stereotype of the "fat lady singing" (as in it's not over til the fat lady sings) is always some fat, matronly woman with blonde tresses and a horned helmet.

[Olwen]

(click to show/hide)

and jesus was black

recently discovered paintings from 30 AD found in Jerusalem confirm it

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Jesus was a jew and therefore he cannot be black. Cut your heresy, american scum.

[//saxon]

i typed Viking in Google Images and on the first line was this picture. its all true, google said so. 

(click to show/hide)

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[Kafein]

Atleast they didn't use kuyaks with vaegir warmasks, Rus cavalry boots, plate mittens and katanas.

[Sniger]

we all prefer to look clean and smell nice. but if a man is unable, so be it.

3-4 months on a pre-historic boat wont make you a model :p

[HarunYahya]

Well...
History is written in most dramatic way possible so when Vikings start raiding towns,exterminating populace they earned their "Barbarian" title. Like Turks. Like Mongols.

Imagine getting slaughtered by some people who wears stuff you haven't seen and fights in a completely different way than you. You'll alianate them and call them Barbars,savages and shit and fear takes over the rest.

Same happened in first crusade,turkish expansion,mongolian invasion,viking raids,attacks on mayans and aztecs,third reich total war.
If you scare people they'll spread the word with even more horror and once it's there, your enemies will be so scared to fight against you which will make your expansion easier.

So adding Horns, filthy clothing and barbarian looking might be an addition in European's eyes just to fully agree on they are demons sent by lucifer. Religion has an important role, declare a man heretic, you'll find warriors to fight them.

[CrazyCracka420]

Sounds like turk propaganda   

[engurrand]

no pictures?

fucking garbage

[Sniger]

I think the horns has been mixed with the similar Belgian (Germanic? i think they were back then) Vikings, many of them did actually have wings and horns on their helmets.

Goscinny and Uderzo was actually quite accurate

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(pretty sure this is a fact, i use to be semi-hardcore Asterix-fan as well as Viking-fan, i cba to search google im pretty sure im right hehe but please by all means, correct if im wrong)

Horns on Scandi Vikings helms is unheard of though. Found zillionz of Viking helmets all over Scandi but not a single one with horns, not to my pretty good knowledge anyway.