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How Tall were the Anglo-Saxons? The average Anglo-Saxon male would have stood around 5 feet 8 inches tall (172cm). This compares with the present day average male height of 5 feet 9 inches (175cm) in England.Despite their ferocious tales of battle and lifestyle, you may be surprised to know that the average height of Viking men was 5 ft 9 in (176 cm), and the average height of Viking women was 5 ft 1 in (158 cm). The height of an average Viking was shorter than the height of today’s Englishmen by almost 3-4 in (8-10 cm)!“The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in.
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Were Vikings taller than Anglo Saxons?
Despite their ferocious tales of battle and lifestyle, you may be surprised to know that the average height of Viking men was 5 ft 9 in (176 cm), and the average height of Viking women was 5 ft 1 in (158 cm). The height of an average Viking was shorter than the height of today’s Englishmen by almost 3-4 in (8-10 cm)!
How tall was the average Viking?
“The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in.
How tall were Vikings back then?
How tall were the Vikings? The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. The skeletons that the archaeologists have found, reveals, that a man was around 172 cm tall (5.6 ft), and a woman had an average height of 158 cm (5,1 ft).
How tall was the average Viking warrior?
In general, Vikings weren’t tall by modern standards. According to recent studies on the height of European men in the Middle Ages, the Vikings were 5’8″ to 5’9″ (173.4 centimeters) on average. However, relative to men in other cultures at the time, the Vikings were above average in height.
How tall was the average Celt?
The average man was 1.69 metres (5 foot 6 inches) in height, the smallest known was 1.6 metres (5 foot 2 inches) tall and the tallest was 1.8 metres (5 foot 11 inches).
How tall is Ragnar Vikings?
…
Travis Fimmel | |
---|---|
Years active | 2002–present |
Modeling information | |
Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
Hair color | Blonde |
How tall was a medieval knight?
Anyway once again you’ll find these guys were not that short. This article gets into specifics, noting that of 31 bodies excavated in the grave, heights ranged from 158.5 cm (5′ 3″) to 183.5 cm (6 foot) with a mean stature of 5′ 7″.
Why were Vikings so physically strong?
Experts in the element of surprise
One of the reasons for this was the Vikings’ superior mobility. Their longships – with a characteristic shallow-draft hull – made it possible to cross the North Sea and to navigate Europe’s many rivers and appear out of nowhere, or bypass hostile land forces.
How tall was the average medieval man?
According to Steckel’s analysis, heights decreased from an average of 68.27 inches (173.4 centimeters) in the early Middle Ages to an average low of roughly 65.75 inches (167 cm) during the 17th and 18th centuries.
How common is Viking DNA?
The genetic legacy of the Viking Age lives on today with six percent of people of the UK population predicted to have Viking DNA in their genes compared to 10 percent in Sweden. Professor Willerslev concluded: “The results change the perception of who a Viking actually was. The history books will need to be updated.”
Are Vikings big?
Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards, with adult Norse males in Sweden, Norway, and England found to average around 176 cm (5 ft 9¼ in) in height, compared to 175.3 cm (5 ft 8⅞ in) in modern-day USA and England. The taller Vikings reached around 190 cm and the shorter around 170 cm.
Who would win Vikings or Spartans?
Most people agree that Spartans would win any battle with the Vikings. Spartans would be victorious because of their superior war tactics and since-childhood training. The Spartans fought in the Phalanx formation, considered one of the most effective war tactics in history.
How tall was the average man in 1800?
Period | Location | Height (centimeters) |
---|---|---|
Denmark | 173 | |
1600–1800 ( c) | Holland | 167 |
1700–1800 ( c) | Norway | 165 |
1700–1850 ( c) | London | 170 |
Do I have Viking DNA?
Through DNA testing, it is possible to effectively trace your potential inner Viking and discover whether it forms part of your genetic makeup or not. However, it’s not 100% definitive. There’s no exact Nordic or Viking gene that is passed down through the generations.
What is the average height of a Swedish man?
Country | Avg Male Height (cm) | Avg Male Height (in) |
---|---|---|
Sweden | 180.46 | 5 ft. 11 in. |
Germany | 180.28 | 5 ft. 11 in. |
Dominica | 180.15 | 5 ft. 11 in. |
Bermuda | 179.72 | 5 ft. 11 in. |
Are Vikings big?
Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards, with adult Norse males in Sweden, Norway, and England found to average around 176 cm (5 ft 9¼ in) in height, compared to 175.3 cm (5 ft 8⅞ in) in modern-day USA and England. The taller Vikings reached around 190 cm and the shorter around 170 cm.
Was thorkell the tall real?
Thorkell the Tall, (born late 950s, southern Sweden—died after 1023), Viking warrior and chieftain who gained renown during his lifetime for his fighting prowess and who played a notable role in English history in the 11th century. Little is known of Thorkell’s early life.
How tall was the average man in 1800?
Period | Location | Height (centimeters) |
---|---|---|
Denmark | 173 | |
1600–1800 ( c) | Holland | 167 |
1700–1800 ( c) | Norway | 165 |
1700–1850 ( c) | London | 170 |
How tall was the average medieval man?
According to Steckel’s analysis, heights decreased from an average of 68.27 inches (173.4 centimeters) in the early Middle Ages to an average low of roughly 65.75 inches (167 cm) during the 17th and 18th centuries.
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How Tall Were Vikings? Fascinating Facts For All History Buffs
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How Tall Were Vikings? Fascinating Facts For All History Buffs
The word ‘Viking’ means ‘someone who came out from the sea or man of the bay’.
Vikings hailed from Scandinavia (northern Europe) which is modern-day Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. They were members of Scandinavian seafaring pirates who raided and later, settled in northwestern areas of Europe during the 8th-11th centuries.
The Viking age lasted from 793-1066 AD. The term ‘Viking’ came from the old Norse word ‘Vik’, meaning ‘creek, inlet, or bay’ with ‘ing’ as a suffix. However, the etymology of the word is highly debatable. Since both Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Frisian languages have a similar vocabulary, it is possible that the word originated from the Anglo-Frisian language rather than Nordic languages. The word might have been inculcated in the Scandinavian tongue.
Nowadays, most television shows depict Vikings as sword-wielding warriors with an uncontrollable rage who sought battle and destruction wherever they went. These depictions are mostly not accurate and have no factual basis. The historical narrative is exaggerated and restructured to fit into the criteria for the sole reason of entertainment. Even though Scandinavian men and women were settlers, traders, and explorers, their reputation is limited to being pirates and raiders.
But there are some Viking warriors who gave reason to such prejudice, especially Freydis Eiriksdottir, Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivar the boneless, and Rollo of Normandy.
Scroll ahead to know more about the Viking Age, the height of Viking men and women, clothing, colonies, and much more.
You may also be interested to discover how fast does electricity travel and how to breathe underwater here on Kidadl!
Who were Vikings and were Vikings taller than Englishmen?
Vikings are also known as Norseman or Northman. They spoke the Old Norse language.
Vikings were primarily pirates who hailed from the regions of Scandinavia (modern-day Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden) and raided several cities and towns along the coast of Europe. Later on, they started colonizing these places and settled there.
So, how tall were the Vikings? Despite their ferocious tales of battle and lifestyle, you may be surprised to know that the average height of Viking men was 5 ft 9 in (176 cm), and the average height of Viking women was 5 ft 1 in (158 cm). The height of an average Viking was shorter than the height of today’s Englishmen by almost 3-4 in (8-10 cm)!
The height of Scandinavians depends on many factors. There are two key factors: genetics and environmental factors. Genetics has a dominating role in deciding heights. It is estimated that about 60-80% of the difference in heights among individuals is due to genetics. The other 20-40% difference in heights is because of environmental factors such as food, shelter, healthcare, and safety.
According to a study, northern Europe experienced a warmer climate than the normal climate in the Medieval period. This climate change led to an extended harvest season and ultimately, there was an increase in the food supply. Good nutrition provides for good health and height. Viking people were skilled craftsmen and settlers owing to the good nutrition provided in early childhood. Therefore, for the Scandinavians, most of the factors played in their favor.
But the same factors steered them towards a drawback. During the Viking age, Scandinavia had a surplus population which created a number of issues like insufficient resources for food, wealth, and land. In lieu of these reasons, skilled Scandinavian men started terrorizing nearby cities of Europe for their wealth, food, and slaves. These Viking groups consisted of members like chieftains, clan heads, freemen, warlords, and any other Scandinavians who wanted to join them.
Viking society also had a class system divided into four classes. These classes were thrall, Karl, jarl, and lastly, kings and queens. Thrall and Karl were considered the lower classes among the four. Thralls were Viking slaves and the lowest class of the Viking society. They had no rights protecting them from injustice. Karls was just above thralls and had legal rights. Most Karls could own land and were farmers.
Viking jarls were similar to English earls, they were very rich and owned several lands. Viking kings and queens were the last emerging class when Vikings started colonizing parts of European land. They were very powerful and appointed jarls to manage their finances or land.
Who was the tallest Viking?
The average height of Viking men was 5 ft 9 in (176 cm), and the height of Viking women was 5 ft 1 in (158 cm). Thorkell the Tall, a renowned chieftain and warrior, was the tallest Scandinavian Viking. Modern-day Englishmen are around 3-4 in (8-10 cm) taller than medieval Scandinavians.
Recent findings of the height of Scandinavians came after thorough research on skeletons found during excavations in Scandinavia in northern Europe. These bones were found in burial sites in Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Great Britain. Most researchers estimate the height of skeletons based on the length of their femur (thigh bone). Our femur bones are considered to be a quarter of our height.
Evidence suggests that heights fluctuate depending on environmental factors. For instance, during the Roman Empire, the average height of European people increased because of proper sanitation and clean water but saw a decrease after the end of the Roman Empire. It was due to the spread of diseases and unhygienic food resources.
Similarly, during the Viking age, heights increased because of warmer climates and extended growing seasons resulting in a surplus food supply. Near the end of the Viking age, Scandinavians’ height once again decreased because of land infertility and overpopulation.
Do Vikings still exist?
We have always assumed Vikings to be giants, ruthless, and the cause of tyranny across parts of Europe. This perspective comes from the centuries-old historical records kept by the victims (mostly) of Viking battles. From their view, Vikings were incredibly strong, buff, and tall like giants. But in reality, it is most likely an exaggeration.
However, their strength might not be an exaggeration because it would have taken incredible hard work to live in the Scandinavian region during their time and it would have made them (both men and women) muscular and hardy.
The most famous account of such depiction comes from a 10th-century Arab traveler, Ibn Fadlan, who described the Rus (referring to the Kievan Viking clan) as encamped by the Volga on their merchant journeys. He described them as perfect specimens: tall, blonde, and ruddy. Even though Vikings have a sense of mystery and fantasy to them (0wing to the Viking lore trope in novels), they no longer exist today. However, their culture, stories, and history continue to live.
But today’s media does not portray Vikings so accurately. For example, Vikings had both blonde and red hair as a dominant hair color. Women would often braid their hair stylishly with beads or other accessories. Even though the reverse mullet hairstyle was popular among men, it didn’t mean that everyone had it. Everyone had their own choice of fashion.
Another classic example would be the association of horns on their helmet. Vikings did not wear helmets with horns in the battle. It would have been problematic. It was merely for display or a ceremonial costume.
How tall was the average Saxon?
Research has concluded that Scandinavians of the Viking age were taller than Anglo-Saxons. Based on evidence (skeletons found in burial sites), the height of an average Anglo-Saxon male would have been 5 ft 8 in (172 cm). Viking age Scandinavians were 5 ft 9 in (176 cm) tall.
Did you know that white men are taller than any other race? The average male height was 5 ft 10 in (177 cm). Other men such as Asian and Hispanic had an average male height of 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
How tall were the Vikings?
How tall were the Vikings? Dear Viking Answer Lady: How tall were the Vikings? (signed) Wondering If I Measure Up Gentle Reader: When medieval writers from Europe and other lands wrote about the frightning Norse raiders, they frequently mentioned that the invading Vikings were very tall. In 921, an Arab, Ibn Fadlan was sent by the Caliph of Bagdad to accompany an embassy to the King of the Bulgars of the Middle Volga. Ibn Fadlan wrote an account of his journeys with the embassy, called a Risala . During the course of his journey, Ibn Fadlan met a people called the Rus, a group of Swedish origin, acting as traders in the Bulgar capital. Ibn Fadlan tells us: “I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blonde and ruddy…” European observers made similar observations. The Annals of Fulda record that, in 884, the Franks defeated a party of attacking Vikings in a battle in Saxony, mentioning their great size: Quales numquam antea in gente Francorum visi fuissent, in pulchritudine videlicet ac proceritate corporum.
[In that battle such men are said to have been killed among the Northmen as had never been seen before among the Frankish people, namely in their beauty and the size of their bodies]. (Coupland, pp. 188-189) The question is, do these anecdotal reports reflect reality? To answer this question, archaeologists turn to studies of bones from Viking graves. A study by Richard H. Steckel, Health and Nutrition in the Preindustrial Era: Insights from a Millennium of Average Heights in Northern Europe , presents a convenient summary of height data from Northern Europe: Average Heights in Northern Europe Estimated from Adult Male Skeletons Era Location Avg.Height
(cm) Avg.
Height
(in) Sample
Size Source 9-11th C Iceland 172.3 67.8″ 22 Steffensen, Jon. Stature as a Criterion of the Nutritional Level of Viking Age Icelanders . Arbok hins islenzka fornleifafelags, fylgirit. 1958. 9-17th C Iceland 172.2 67.8″ 71 Steffensen (1958) 10-11th C Sweden 176.0 69.3″ 8 Gilberg, Rolf. “Stengade-vikingernes skeletter.” In: Stengade II: en langelandsk Gravplads med grave fra romerskjernalder og vikingetid . Jorgen Skaarup, ed. Rudkobing: Langelands Museum, 1976. Pp. 220-27. 11-12th C Iceland 172.0 67.7″ 27 Steffensen (1958) 11-17th C Iceland 171.0 67.3″ 16 Steffensen (1958) 12th C Norway 170.2 67.0″ 42 Hanson, C. “Population-Specific Stature Reconstruction for Medieval Trondheim, Norway.” International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 2 (1992), pp. 289-95. 12th C Britain 168.4 66.3″ 233 Munter, A. Heinrich. “A study of the lengths of the long bones of the arms and legs in man, with special reference to Anglo-Saxon Skeletons.” Biometrika XXVIII (1928), pp. 258-294. 12-13th C Norway 172.2 67.8″ * Huber, Neil M., “The Problem of Stature Increase: Looking from the Past to the Present”. In: The Skeletal Biology of Earlier Human Populations . D.R. Brothwell, ed. Pegamon Press, Oxford, 1968. Pp. 67-102. 12-16th C Iceland 175.2 69.0″ 6 Steffensen (1958) 13th C Denmark 172.2 67.8″ 31 Boldsen, Jesper. “A statistical evaluation of the basis for predicting stature from lengths of long bones in European populations.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 65 (1984), pp. 305-311. 13th C Sweden 174.3 68.6″ 66 Gejvall, Nils Gustaf. Westerhus; Medieval Population and Church in the Light of Skeletal Remains . Lund: H. Ohlssons boktr. 1960. 13-14th C England 171.8 67.6″ * Huber (1968) Average Heights in Northern Europe Estimated from Adult Male Skeletons Similar heights are reported by Else Roesdahl: “The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in. The most extensive recent anthropological study was carried out in Denmark, but the situation must have been similar elsewhere. Skeletons of people as tall as 6 ft 1/2 in. have been found, and those in richly furnished Viking graves – belonging to high- ranking people – were on average considerably taller than those in the more ordinary graves, undoubtedly because of better living conditions. A double grave on Langeland in Denmark contained two adult males, typically, the smaller one had been decapitated, and had probably had his hands tied behind his back, while the other was interred with his spear in the normal fashion – obviously a case of a slave (measuring 5 ft 7-1/4 in.) who had to accompany his master (5 ft 9-3/4 in.) in death. However, the skeleton found in Jelling church, thought to be that of King Gorm of Denmark (later known as Gorm the Old), was only of average height. This man was 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall, with heavy, robust features, but not heavily built.” (Else Roesdahl, The Vikings , p. 31). Heights in Scandinavia and Denmark Reported by Roesdahl It is still within the realm of normal variation that there would have been some individuals who were taller than these averages, as well as some shorter. Still, on the average, the Vikings would have been slightly shorter than average people today.
Bibliography Coupland, Simon. “The Vikings on the Continent in Myth and History.” History 88:290 (April 2003) pp. 186-203.
88:290 (April 2003) pp. 186-203. Montgomery, James E. “Ibn Fadlan and the Rusiyyah.” Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies , vol. 3 (2000) pp. 1-25.
, vol. 3 (2000) pp. 1-25. Roesdahl, Else. The Vikings . Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1987.
Buy this book today!
. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1987. Buy this book today! Smyser, H.M. “Ibn Fadlan’s Account of the Rus with Some Commentary and Some Allusions to Beowulf.” Franciplegius: Medieval and Linguistic Studies in Honor of Francis Peabody Magoun, Jr. eds. Jess B. Bessinger Jr. and Robert P. Creed. New York: New York University Press. 1965. pp 92-119.
eds. Jess B. Bessinger Jr. and Robert P. Creed. New York: New York University Press. 1965. pp 92-119. Steckel, Richard H. Health and Nutrition in the Preindustrial Era: Insights from a Millennium of Average Heights in Northern Europe. NBER Working Paper Series 8542. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research. October 2001.
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What did the Vikings REALLY look like?
Today when many people think of the Vikings they often tend to think of them as being tall, dirty, and violent with horned helmets. But is that really how the Vikings looked in the Viking age, let’s take a look at this question.
There is a lot of different sources available from the Viking age to us, about their physical appearance, but the most important source is probably from excavations, where there has been found around 500 Viking skeletons in Denmark.
What did the Vikings look like?
How tall were the Vikings?
The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. The skeletons that the archaeologists have found, reveals, that a man was around 172 cm tall (5.6 ft), and a woman had an average height of 158 cm (5,1 ft).
People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having a better lifestyle. The height of a Viking is often mentioned by the people they came in contact with. For instance, the Arab diplomat, Ibn Fadlan met the Rus people at Volga, which is today in modern-day Russia.
Ibn Fadlan said, quote:
“I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blonde and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free.“
”Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife and keeps each by him at all times. The swords are broad and grooved, of Frankish sort. From fingertips to their neck, each of them has a collection of trees, figures, and the like.” (Did the Vikings have tattoos?)
Other sources also mention the Vikings as having been tall, for instance in the East Frankish chronicles called Annals of Fulda. It mentions the appearance of the Vikings at a battle in 884, were the Franks defeated a Viking raid in Saxony.
Latin: Quales numquam antea in gente Francorum visi fuissent, in pulchritudine videlicet ac proceritate corporum.
English:In that battle, such men are said to have been killed among the Northmen as had never been seen before among the Frankish people, namely in their beauty and the size of their bodies.
Were the Vikings strong?
Vikings are often portrayed as being strong with big muscles, and that is actually not that far from the truth. The Vikings were more robust and muscular than the average person, and that was for both women and men. One of the reasons for this is, of course, the hard physical work, that was needed to survive in a landscape like Scandinavia in the Viking age.
Viking facial features
In the Viking Age, the facial features of the men and women were more alike than they are today. The women had more prominent brow ridges which are typically a masculine feature, and the men had a more feminine face than today with a less prominent jaw and brow ridges.
Because of the facial features being more alike for men and women, it is sometimes difficult to decide if a Viking skeleton was a male or a female based on the skull alone.
Photo: Jelling – riget og regenten
Viking hair and beard styles
In movies and series about the Vikings, we often see them portrayed with blond hair, which is not entirely accurate. Just like today, people have all kinds of hair color in society, but of course, some hair colors were more dominant in the Viking age.
If you think that the most dominant hair color in the Viking age was blonde hair then you are unfortunately wrong. There were, in fact, two dominant hair colors in the Viking society, blonde hair, and red hair. People with blonde hair were mostly located in northern Scandinavia, for instance, around Stockholm in Sweden, and people with red hair were mostly located in the western part of Scandinavia, for instance, in Denmark.
The men in the Viking age loved their hair and beard, in fact, they loved it so much they sometimes got their nickname after it. For instance, the famous Vikings Sweyn Forkbeard (In Danish: Svend Tveskæg) and Harald Fairhair both got their nickname because of it. Sweyn Forkbeard most likely got his nickname because his beard was divided in two, so it looked like a fork, and Harald Fairhair probably had a fine head of hair that earned him his nickname.
One of the most popular Danish hairstyles in the Viking age was a reverse mullet. A reverse mullet is when you have long hair in the front and short hair in the back of the head somewhat like Bjorn from the series Vikings had, I think it was in season 2.
The women also had beautiful hairstyles, and they often had long hair that was attractively styled, maybe with some beads or other accessories in their hair, if they could afford them.
The people in the Viking age were not robots coming off an assembling line, and by that I mean, not all of the Vikings had a long beard as the media often likes to portray them, they were all individuals with their own opinions and styles to express themselves, just like we do today.
So just because you have short hair and no beard does not mean you can’t be part of a Viking community. The amount of hair that grows on your head does not determine if you can be a Viking or not. I know it might be silly that I say this, but I think some people need to hear it.
Hygiene and beauty in the Viking age
We know from excavations and written sources that the Vikings took good care of themselves and had good hygiene. There have been found many beauty items such as combs, ear picks, and tweezers.
According to a Spanish Arab who visited Hedeby (In old Norse: Heiðabýr, in German: Haithabu) around the year 1000, both men and women wore make-up to look younger and more attractive.
Viking men had, in general, a lot of success with the local women in England, they looked great, were clean and smelled good. Unlike the English men, the Vikings took a bath every Saturday, which was more often than they did. Today the Danish word for Saturday “Lørdag” comes from the old Nordic word ”laugardagur”, which means washing day, so we can probably assume there is some truth to it. (Read more in the: Viking Lunar Calendar).
How long did the Vikings live?
The average life expectancy in the Viking age was much lower than it is today. A man could on average expect to live to around 40 to 50 years. A Women had the shortest life expectancy in Scandinavia, and could on average expect to live 38 years. The reason why women had a lower life expectancy than a man in the Viking age, was because of the risks of giving birth to a child.
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