The Viking myth

Le Regard Libre N° 74 - Guillaume Moix

The figure of the Viking has steadily gained in popularity over the last few decades. Its depictions in a whole range of works and video games are often caricatured, sometimes grotesque and even dangerous in terms of identity ideologies. So let's take a look at who the Scandinavians of the early Middle Ages really were, and how the image we have of them today has been created over the centuries.

First of all, when someone mentions Vikings, what comes to mind? Chances are you’ll picture a band of gigantic warriors, wearing horned helmets, stepping off their longship to slaughter terrified Christian monks while shouting Odin’s name—all with the utmost barbarity. Or perhaps you’ll picture them drinking copious amounts of beer from hollowed-out horns, laughing and getting ready…