Why Are Vikings So Popular And Everywhere Now?

By Stephen M

If you are wildly obsessed with the history/story of the Vikings, you are not alone. Despite the many movies about the eighth-century culture, including History Channel’s Vikings, which debuted in 2013, many still yearn for more. So why so much interest in Vikings, and were they very powerful as portrayed in movies?

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Maybe Norse cosmology has done a great job in describing the life and afterlife activities of Vikings. From the great tree of Yggdrasil and how dead Vikings had a blazing boat on the sea burial, you can’t ignore but enjoy their story. The majestic Valhalla, located in Asgard and ruled by god Odin is a full mooe with its heavenlike setup. These and more make the life and afterlife of Vikings very interesting to follow.

This is not to say that Vikings had an easy and comfortable life. In fact, it was quite the opposite, but it is all made to look as glamourous and exciting as possible. They were also brutal and fearless people who settled their differences on the battlefield than in a diplomatic manner. To them, revenge, glory, honor, and power mattered.

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It is, therefore, not surprising the kind of attraction and interest many people show towards Vikings. However, most of what we watch and admire is fake. Unlike seen in movies, Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets during battles. Also, not everyone received the honorable flaming ship burial, except the greatest and most famous persons.

The Vikings didn’t commit war throughout their existence. At a point in time, they began to live an everyday life like other Europeans.