The Northman: A Glimpse into Viking Culture
Summary
In this article, we discuss the accuracy of the portrayal of Viking culture in the movie “The Northman.” The movie is praised for its attention to detail and historical accuracy by Neil Price, an archaeologist who served as a historical advisor on the film. The film features several weapons commonly used by Vikings, depicts their violent raiding, and portrays their rich inner and spiritual life.
Table of Contents
- Weapons of the Vikings
- Viking Raiding
- The Spiritual Life of Vikings
- Accuracy of Depiction
Weapons of the Vikings
“The Northman” features several weapons commonly used by Vikings, including spears, bows and arrows, axes, swords, and shields. The spears have straight ash wood shafts and iron spearheads, which can be used for throwing or close combat. The bows and arrows are versatile and come in various types, including those designed to penetrate armor or cause severe injuries. Axes, made of iron with wooden shafts, are devastating in close combat and can also be thrown. The shields, made of thin but strong lime wood with iron bosses in the center, are crucial for defense and can also be used offensively.
Viking Raiding
The film takes place in the early 10th century during the Viking Age, where Scandinavians have established themselves on rivers connecting the Baltic and Black Sea. The Vikings used shallow-draft longships to travel deep into the mainland to attack towns and villages for loot, plunder, and slaves. The settlements along the eastern rivers were defended with earth banks or palisades. The film portrays the Vikings as violent raiders who did appalling things. Enslaved people were a fundamental foundation of Viking Age society, and the film depicts their ubiquitous presence.
The Spiritual Life of Vikings
The rich inner and spiritual life of Vikings is also depicted in the movie, including rituals and magic resembling shamanism, which were primarily controlled by women. The Vikings were not Christian but followed an ancient set of beliefs. The Valkyries were depicted as the choosers of the slain, who took the best warriors into the afterlife to serve. The Valkyries in the movie are portrayed accurately as warlike, violent, and terrifying.
Accuracy of Depiction
The Viking Age is a thousand years old, and there is much that is unknown about it. The historical advisors cannot provide the same level of detail to the filmmakers due to the gradual distortion of the Viking Age over hundreds of years. The image we have of the Viking Age is the result of this distortion, which started during the Viking Age and has continued since then. The hope is that this movie will remove some of the distortion and provide a glimpse into what the Viking Age was really like.
Conclusion
“The Northman” is a movie that accurately portrays Viking culture in terms of their weapons, raiding, and spiritual life. While there is still much that is unknown about the Viking Age, this film provides a glimpse into what life was like during that time. The hope is that this movie will help remove some of the distortions that have accumulated over the centuries and provide a more accurate depiction of the Viking Age.
