Runes are heavily associated with Vikings. Not only did they leave thousands of runestones behind them that still dot the Scandinavian landscape, but they also carved runes during their expeditions, forever marking Greek statues and walls in magnificent temples. What are the runes, where did they come from, and do they possess magical powers?
It might be old news to some, whilst others will be surprised by the fact that Vikings were considered the cleanest, best dressed and most groomed Europeans of the early medieval ages. Fact is that they were flamboyant show-offs that managed to seduce even married women. Let’s have a look at how far they took their grooming.
We get asked a lot about what Viking-related sites should be visited when in Sweden. The truth is that it’s a very difficult question to answer. We do, after all, have thousands of runestones dotting the landscape, burial mounds, ship settings, and countless other historical sites...
Who were the Varyags? What is a Norseman, or a Norman for that matter? There are a lot of different terms and definitions which can be quite confusing. Let’s have quick look at it and go through the basics.
