[4] The Viking beard was a source of pride and honor among the free men, and insulting ones beard could result in a deadly outcome or sometimes even prolonged feuding between families. Scientists are now able to create eerily realistic facial reconstructions, getting us closer than ever to find out who they were and what the Vikings looked like. Gedde-Dahl, Issel-Tarver, DiRienzo, Pbo. Stereotypical Scandinavian traits and facial features have since the early 20th century included straight, blonde hair; blue eyes; tall figure; a straight nose; thin lips; and non-prominent cheekbones, according to Werner & Bjrks 2014 book Blond and Blue-eyed. (Yli-Kuha), [3] There is a general belief among Norse historians that Vikings and Germanic people in general assigned special powers to long hair and beards, with the Suebi knot and Merovingian kings being two good Germanic examples where longer hair presented in a certain way was believed to have an effect on strength and power. Vikings largely had similar genetic markers linked to eye color as modern-day Scandinavians according to a massive Viking DNA study published in 2020, meaning the vast majority (50-80+% depending on region) would have blue, green, or hazel eyes following the findings in Peter Frosts European hair and eye color. WebIn research made by M. Ingman and U. Gyllensten in 2006 is a slightly different setting shown: Norwegian Sami belongs to U5b as well as U5b1b1 to 56.8%, Finnish Sami with Todays Scandinavians are about 65%-80% Scandinavian as far as DNA goes, with the rest of the DNA being primarily Finnish, Western European, British, Eastern European, and Irish (all are > 1%). The most common light eye colors in Sweden include: According to an article by WorldAtlas, up to 78% of Swedes have blue eyes [2]. She goes on passing the basin round from one to another until she has taken it to all the men in the house in turn. He describes them this way: I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). For many years, there was a common belief that the Smi may have migrated from the east and have an Asian genetic background rather than a European one. Denmark The greater width and length of the mean Dutch female face are highlighted, respectively, in the lateral (Figure 1b: opposing redblue at the left and right exocanthi at 0.7 SD) and vertical heat maps (Figure 1c: yellow on chin at 0.7 SD). Light skinned, balanced facial features, blue eyed and topped with various shades of blond hair for the most part. Some very beautiful some not Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Shopping Popular Post To elaborate on this, facial hair is included under the term androgenic hair, so based on data from the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, we see that over 70% of Nordic men (along with Mediterranean men) can grow a beard or mustache (which is well above the global average). The size and strength of Vikings are discussed further in William Shorts Icelanders in the Viking Age where he writes the following: One significant way in which Viking-age Scandinavians differed from modern people is in their physical strength. By Chris Drew (PhD) / February 26, 2023. Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. If a light-haired and light-eyed Swede had a child with a dark-haired and dark-eyed person, the child is less likely to have light hair and eyes because the darker colors will be more dominant. They also have a rather rounded face and very delicate facial features. Though they speak a Finno-Ugric language, they are genetically distinct from other Finno-Ugric and Indo-European people. For another deep-dive into Scandinavian looks, Ive plowed through massive amounts of archaeological objects and DNA analysis to find out how Vikings actually looked (how big they were, how they wore their hair, where they came from, their hair and eye color, etc. But again, this isnt exclusive to every Swede, so its still possible for some to have more angular faces. DNA analysis of specimens from this period shows that people with this cultures distinctive facial features have dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and blue eyes. This percentage is exceptionally high because light eyes generally are not dominant in most countries outside of Scandinavia. Many of the names of rivers and lakes have no linguistic roots. Gods Viking Age Hairstyles: Historical Examples & Modern Takes, You mightve seen some very cool Norse hairstyles in one of the many Viking-inspired TV shows or movies lately, and thought to yourself are those elaborate picture-perfect haircuts really historically accurate?. The new Battle Axe culture that slowly spread and took over the Scandinavian region is thought to have been a bit more individualistic and was known for how their men were buried with their big battle axes. Some famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. The Swedish and Danish samples were similar with regard to age distribution, sample size, dental conditions and radiographic procedures. [11], It has been established that the Smi were isolated for many years and come from European roots; however, at some point the Finns appeared. The Nordic people as a whole really like the Swedes and Norwegians. Your email address will not be published. Comparisons A study by the National Library of Medicine concluded that its more challenging for skin with more pigmentation (i.e., darker skin) to absorb vitamin D [4]. Very few adult Scandinavians have natural platinum blonde hair, but plenty has achieved this hair color by means of artificial coloring (as in the rest of the world). This indicates that Vikings intermingled with people they met on their explorations, both on-location but also bringing them home to Scandinavia in some cases. After all, there could be more reasons Ibn Fadlan described the group of Rus he encountered on the river Volga as tattooed from top to toe, as he mightve wanted them to appear more exotic and barbaric to the Muslim world. However, a survey done by the Swedish Institute in November 2020 do point towards the Swedish image being affected negatively during the 2020-2021 pandemic. White Caucasian features, either fair or darkhaired with fair skin.Whithin Sweden there are some different complexion types, not everybody has blue The Scandinavians have high cheekbones, which makes them more likely to be a desirable type of person. an average adjusted for the population of each country within the region), we can see that the Nordic and Baltic men are the tallest in the world, but as the Baltic ladies are slightly taller (0.5 cm / 0.2 in) than their Nordic sisters, the Baltics narrowly takes the prize as the tallest region in the World in front of the Nordics. High cheekbones werent always seen as a positive trait in the Nordic region though, as it was fairly common for the Germanic Scandinavians to look down upon the Finno-Ugric Samis as less civilized, at least up until the late 20th century. A few of these characteristics are common to all Europeans while others are mainly found in certain ethnic groups. The sagas often tell tales of exceptional strength, which is supported by several forms of archaeological evidence. Additionally, there is also a lack of melanin in the skin, causing it to turn pale. The Origin of the Baltic-Finns from the Physical Anthropological. Quiz Its a matter of perspective, in other words, but what we do know specifically is that Vikings washed themselves every morning, and even had one dedicated day (Laugardagur / Lrdag / Saturday) to get thoroughly clean. Is there a link between Scandinavians, Vikings, and the Germanic people who migrated across Europe during the fall of the Roman Empire? Therefore, other traits need to be studied in order to identify the sex of skeletons. Nordic Two eyes, one nose, a mouth. Probably a chin and ears. I think. (Carpelan), [6] Old Norse mythology is filled with fascinating symbolism, and the runic alphabets of Germanic Europe have told numerous tales of heroic deeds and tragic deaths over the years. It would really help me in my studies, thank you for reading! Sweden Data Vikings have been found to weigh up to 140 kg (309 lbs) in archeological findings, and were described as stronger (on average) than most people they encountered. Whether the Scandinavian beauty myth is real or not is hard to say, but Nordic magazine The Local listed Beautiful Women and Handsome Men among the top 10 things US expats notice after theyve lived in Sweden for a while. Life So we can safely assume that there were Vikings who shaved their heads. (Carpelan), [4] Furthermore, it has been observed that northern Europeans in general also have a much higher frequency of a specific genetic trait that is linked to straight hair. Data Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. Graphs All shades of blonde and light brown colors are standard in Sweden, and some Swedes even have red or ginger-colored hair. Scandinavian, Viking & Germanic Links Explained (With Maps). A high cheekbone is a sign of a high cheekbone. (Sajantila), [10] It is estimated that at least 50% of Scandinavians have a light hair color, with some regions in Sweden, Finland and Norway reaching 80%. Top Articles Enjoy your visit! Those with these facial features have high cheekbones, but they are not considered attractive. Top 5 Most Innovative and Futuristic Cars of 2023, Ways To Store Marijuana Correctly to Maintain Freshness, How Chemistry And Business Are Interrelated, A Beginners Guide To Coin Grades: How They Are Calculated, Six Marketing Methods Every Pest Control Company Should Try, 10 Best And Cheapest Sites To Buy Instagram Followers in 2023, Reasons Why a Real Estate Company Buys Houses for Cash. How are Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) so tall? The cheeks tend to be rounder, and there is generally less definition around the face. Research surrounding the EDAR gene indicates that Scandinavians (along with most Europeans) generally have thinner hair, than for example East Asians and Native Americans. The Nordic countries share a history that goes back hundreds of years. Gene Expression. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. And since many Swedes lack this melanin, their eyes take on different light colors. If youre curious about how exactly Nordic people communicate with each other, Ive written an article where I go into detail aboutwhich languages each Nordic nationality actually uses when communicating with fellow Nordics. Curious how modern-day Scandinavians look compared to their Viking ancestors? How Did Vikings Actually Look? Modern Swedes are closely related to hunter-gatherers of the Pitted Ware culture. One was Finnish and the remaining five were Karelian. Required fields are marked *. [10] The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. So, whether or not a Swede has dark hair ultimately depends on the parents genetic makeup. If this is true, they would have been separated from other Europeans, who traveled back south during this time. There have been multiple publications that have looked at how the Scandinavian Personality Traits are prevalent as much as the light hair and light eyes are prevalent in people with heritage in this region of Europe. Though the Smi do have some Asian genetic influence, at its highest rate it is only 20-30%, which is no higher than the European average. WebSwedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. Design The Swedish also tend to be very athletic. Only approximately 17% of the worlds population has blue eyes, a stark contrast with Swedens 78% [3]. In general, Vikings were genetically disposed to be tall on average and started training to become capable warriors from a very young age. Blonde hair. Karl, Clothes soc.culture.nordic. Depending on which combination of the genes you have, you will develop either red hair and freckles, only red hair, or only freckles. Scandinavian people also have traditionally had a diet rich in protein, fat, and carbs (crucial for significant muscle growth). Facts Besides their high noses, they have high cheekbones. A high and narrow face with marked features, mildly However, this doesnt mean that all Swedes are tall. You can also add to the list being introverted, confident and very focused. The Scandinavians are known for their high cheekbones. This false belief was due to linguists of the time believing that Finno-Ugric languages had an eastern origin. Shopping The DNA study of 442 Viking skeletons (published in Nature) reveals that while Viking bands were mostly sourced from Scandinavia, they could also be comprised of Picts and Britons, as well as people with Southern European and even Asian ancestry (sometimes mixed with Scandinavian). Still, genealogists from Stockholm university believe modern Swedes are most closely related to the hunter-gatherers from the so-called Pitted Ware culture when it comes to physical appearance. The Scandinavian facial features are unique in terms of appearance. Sweden Ragnar & Uthred), it is of course possible that some Vikings styled their hair like that. All living humans who descended from Africa have about 2% Neanderthal DNA, and this includes Scandinavians. Archeological evidence on display on the Viking Museum of Oslo shows some very large Norsemen that are believed to have weighed around 130-140 kilograms, which amounts to 287-309 pounds. Gods & Goddesses So it seems that all the pieces of the Smi puzzle have almost been put into place; however, with a history as long as theirs, pieces are always bound to be missing. High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan instead of burn. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. Is History ChannelsVikingsworth watching? Ovmar has even been accused of having undergone plastic surgery due to her high cheekbones, a claim she rebuffs by simply pointing to her Sami background (which seems plausible judging by the picture below to the left). It was also due to the Finns and Smis tendency to have a phenotypic resemblance to the Mongoloids. Combining all of these sources (archaeological evidence, DNA findings, and written texts) gives us a fuller picture of how Viking Age hairstyles mightve looked, does show some interesting findings. For more information on what we actually know about Viking hairstyles, Id recommend listening to Dr. Jackson Crawford who specializes in Old Norse (he teaches Scandinavian Studies at my Alma Mater UC Berkeley, on top of talking about Norse mythology on YouTube): We do not have as many archeological findings of different female hairstyles as we have for male cuts, but nonetheless here are some that are fairly historically accurate: The hairstyles come from artifacts, sculptures, engravings and similar left behind in Viking graves, so they are likely to have been at least somewhat popular during the Viking Age. The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800s. Since sunlight exposure is one of the best ways to absorb vitamin D, its normal to wonder if Swedes are often deficient in this vitamin. Most people from the Nordics have light eyes and hair, and are quite tall compared to other nationalities. Their eyes are blue and their hair is blond, which is the most common color in Scandinavia. Although the rest of the Nordics generally view Sweden in a positive light still, there has been a slight shift towards more people having a more negative image of Sweden and Swedes lately. In the rest of the Nordics (namely Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands) the people tend to look very similar to the Scandinavians, with especially Finland having a very large majority of their population being light-haired (blonde, light-brown, red) and light-eyed (blue, green, grey) according to Peter Frost. By the way, if you'd like to connect to your inner Scandinavian with some stylish prints and clothing, I've created a collection of high-quality and authentic Nordic posters and apparel. So lets see what we know about what the Vikings actually looked like, based on what weve established through DNA studies, archeological findings, and documented history. I love this site, and I dont want to make sound as Im complaining now but I must say that I am very skeptical of the dark-skinned and blue-eyed people who are said to be the first Scandinavians. Language Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! Its also important to note that while there is no evidence of the mohawk-style haircut we see so much in TV shows (i.e. The recent rise of medieval fantasy and Viking-themed TV series (with the likes of Vikings, The Last Kingdom, and Game of Thrones) has spawned some Viking looks that are equally iconic as they are historically questionable. Sweden's Saami Policy 1550 Present: Racist? Curious about where the Vikings came from and how they ended up in Scandinavia? This mystery still remains to this day and may possibly never be uncovered, but one must not forget how historically wrong science had been about the history of the Smi. One of the few written accounts we have on specific Viking hairstyles is an Old English text where an Anglo-Saxon man is angry at his brother for adopting a heathen haircut and forgetting his own customs. We exists to inform people about the people, culture, and history of Northern Europe. In 2005 a reported coined the term the Seattle Freeze and added the large amount of Nordic immigration in the early 19th century as one of the key components of this unwelcoming vibe that Seattle evidently gives off. (Julku 191), [13] Can You Get By With English Only In the Nordic Countries? While not every Swedish person has delicate features, many do. (Sajantila), [16] Lets take a more detailed look at how the Nordic peopleboth male and femalestack up against each other and the world when it comes to height: The Danish are the tallest people in the Nordics, with the average male Dane reaching 182 cm / 512, followed by the Icelandic men at 181 cm, and finally the Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns at 180 cm. All of our knowledge about pre-Viking Scandinavians comes from DNA analysis and theories, but for an idea of how modern-day Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians look like we can turn to some cold hard data and settle some standard questions right off the bat. When you couple this with the opportunity to spend time on athletic endeavors and have access to a protein-rich and generally plentiful diet it is easier to see why some Nordic people tend to generally do well in muscle competitions. The theory is that this has had a long-term effect on the genetical makeup that determines skin color and tanning ability in the Scandinavian region. Another wave of migrants came into Scandinavia around 4800 years ago from the Russian steppes, originating from the northern shores of the Black sea and commonly called the Western Steppe Herders. The Swedish have a blue eye and are taller than their Nordic neighbors. A Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other parent has dark hair. In the past, the Finno-Ugric Sami were looked down on by Germanic Scandinavians. Filed Under: Psychological Articles and Infographics, 2023 HealthResearchFunding.org - Privacy Policy, 14 Hysterectomy for Fibroids Pros and Cons, 12 Pros and Cons of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, 14 Pros and Cons of the Cataract Surgery Multifocal Lens, 11 Pros and Cons of Monovision Cataract Surgery. It should be noted that human length, in general, is determined by a mixture of nature (genes) and nurture (diet), and there are also regions of the world that are believed to have a taller or shorter average height due to primarily genetic reasonssuch as the short Pygmee people of central Africa, and the tall Dinka people of South Sudan. Whether these traits stem from a diverse pre-bronze age population, geographical conditions, or the modern diet of the region as a whole is hard to say, but they all likely played some part at least. Their cheekbones are high and their noses are thin. This article will discuss what Swedish people look like in more detail. Another common facial (and body) feature of Swedes is their pale skin. Take your pick and continue learning about the Vikings and Norse history! Swedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. Symbolism When he has finished, the servant carries the bowl to the man next to him. In this article, Ill use the terms interchangeably, because although the term Viking stems from the Old Norse word for pirate, it gradually came to encompass all Norse people who embarked upon elaborate naval expeditions from Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Though it is likelier that it was used for the cosmetic effect since most Vikings had light hair, and it was likely seen as a sought-after trait for some. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3d130deea91a297e34a58becbda175b" );document.getElementById("j39e62affa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In life Swedish people can generally act calm and reserved, seem a bit cold, like to keep things professional, prefer a well-planned approach, and believe maybe is a conflict-free way to say no. The two species met and started having reproductive relationships in modern-day Israel some 60 000 years ago, before ultimately clashing and resulting in the demise of the Neanderthals. Viking, Norse, or Scandinavians from the Viking Agewhats the correct term? Of course, thats not to say there arent many Swedes with brown eyes. What Is a Survival Benefit in Life Insurance? [7] Gods A small percentage of Swedish adults may be below the national average. As briefly mentioned earlier, light eyes are a common trait among Swedes. Scandinavians do have curly hair, but as weve established most of them have wavy or straight hair. Streaming Tips DNA analysis from specimens from this period has shown people with dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and most likely blue eyeswhich sounds like a lot of modern-day Scandinavians I know. Ive noticed that surgeons in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all offer surgery to counteract this condition in case it disrupts your eyesight, or as an elective procedure for cosmetic reasons, and this procedure isnt as commonly seen in other areas of the world. I would say 5050, there has always been mosty people with brown hair in Sweden, the vikings did dye their hair blonde. But most have blue eyes, no Over 70% of male Scandinavians have some form of body hair (androgenic hair), which is among the highest rates in the world (along with Mediterranean men). Q: What are the most common Swedish facial features? Hmm Thats a hard one, but Id have to go with Cheeks. Or maybe chins. People can lose an According to a 2020 study published in The Lancet, Danes are the 4th tallest people in the world, followed by the Icelandic in 6th, the Swedes in 12th, Norwegians in 13th, and finally the Finns as 17th tallest people in the world. The lack of empathy may not win you popularity contests but it certainly is a valuable trait in a competitive career field. How do the modern-day Scandinavians compare to their ancestors? In very recent studies, some overwhelming new evidence has challenged the myth of the Finns and the Smi as having a strictly Asian origin. She proffers it to her master, who washes his hands and face in it, as well as his hair. This procreation keeps these genetics alive. Get in to the Scandinavian spirit at home with our premium museum-quality prints and original apparel sent right to your doorstep with free shipping worldwide. Lets dig a little deeper and look at what we know about the first Scandinavians: The first inhabitants of the Scandinavian peninsula came from the south with darker skin and blue eyes (known as Western Hunter-Gatherers), later joined by migrants from the east (known as Eastern Hunter-Gatherers) who had lighter skin but darker eyes.During the following centuries, these two hunter-gatherer groups intermingled and produced one of the most diverse populations of the stone age, with a population at the time of about 10 000 to 20 000 in all of Scandinavia. There is argument as to whether the Finns and the Smi arrived in their present day locations either as a still undifferentiated ethnolinguistic group or as linguistically and ethnically separate people. With modern technology, it now appears that the Finns and the Smi may have originated from an old population in Europe which diverged from other European populations prior to subsequent linguistic and cultural diversification. Vikings were known to use strong soaps made of ashes and animal fats, which had a high lye content that bleached their hair. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Females had stronger jawlines in general, while men had slimmer faces.. Genome Research. Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. March 22, 1996. If youd like to try your hand at making your own valkyrie knot, heres a detailed video with instructions: Vikings were known to at least partially shave their heads in order to achieve specific hairstyles, such as the Norman cut with shaved back and long hair in the front, and a similar but differently angled high bowl cut found in the Oseberg cart. Read Article Now. Swedish people are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries (like Denmark and Norway). As a result of their high cheekbones, they have a high chance of being considered more attractive by foreign men.
