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The Vikings!

Guess these facts about the Vikings and their mythology.
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: June 14, 2017
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First submittedFebruary 28, 2017
Times taken19,065
Average score60.0%
Rating4.33
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Answer
Language of the Vikings
Old Norse
Island nation settled by Vikings in 874
Iceland
Explorer who was the first European to settle Greenland
Erik the Red
Son of the above who settled in Canada
Leif Erikson
Name of that Canadian settlement
Vinland
Group of Vikings who settled in France and went on to conquer England in 1066
Normans
King who ruled over Norway, Denmark, and England
Cnut the Great
Term for a Viking slave
Thrall
Term for an epic Viking story
Saga
An inscribed stone with writing and/or pictures on it
Runestone
An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey
Mead
God with one eye and a long beard
Odin
God of thunder
Thor
Shape-shifting god sometimes called a "trickster"
Loki
The Viking version of the apocalypse
Ragnarök
Land of the gods in Viking mythology
Asgard
Majestic hall in that land where those who die in battle are taken
Valhalla
Female beings who bring warriors to that hall
Valkyries
Eastern empire that employed Vikings in its elite "Varangian Guard"
Byzantine Empire
Slavic city on the Dnieper River which was conquered by Vikings
Kyiv
+1
Level 76
Feb 28, 2017
These guys were scary and tough and all-conquering - I wonder why they've all faded away by now? And to where?
+3
Level 90
Feb 28, 2017
For lack of a better word, the Vikings were basically 'savages'. They were not well trained and organized, like an army, but just bold and brazen. In the height of their 'reign', the lands that they attacked were docile and unorganized, and therefore easy to overcome. The Vikings reign fell as the people of other lands organized, trained, and developed warfare/fighting strategies, at which point, they were able to defend themselves and effectively repel the Viking attacks. When the Vikings dominance was no longer guaranteed, and defeat the more likely outcome, the Vikings stopped their attacks.
+19
Level 83
Mar 13, 2017
You should visit a museum in one of the scandinavian countries, or alternatively read a book about the vikings.

The notion that they were "savages" is one that contemperary historians have largely refuted.

Of course, I can see why anyone would think that, seeing how they are generally portrayed in films/cartoons/...

But I would suggest reading a (decent) book about them to find out more.

+5
Level ∞
Mar 13, 2017
Certain of their practices, such as human sacrifice, could definitely be construed as savage.
+3
Level 57
Jun 13, 2017
A very common understanding of historians maintains that spreading of Christianity - a new set of values - marked the end of the Viking era. The new leadership, with the help of Rome, organized society in a new way. Some areas remained longer under the savage viking rule.
+9
Level 57
Jun 13, 2017
Human sacrifice can certainly be considered savage, though there have been MANY societies throughout history in various parts of the world that employed human sacrifice as a sacred rite, and the Norse were hardly the worst practitioners of human sacrifice. Even the Greeks and Romans practiced human sacrifice to some extent!
+9
Level 38
Jun 13, 2017
"Savages" is just a wee bit of an oversimplification.

And this business of where are they now? They're dead of course! That was a thousand years ago. But you have a look at the spread of Anglo-Saxons all over the world... I'd say the Vikings descendants have kicked on pretty well...And are probably more barbaric then they were, what with our colonies all over the world, massacring local populations, blowing up the middle east, dropping nuclear bombs on people...

"Where are they now" ~ honestly dude...

+2
Level 54
May 28, 2019
They actually plundered and killed thousands of african People, jews and many more muslim. They conquered much of france (rollo and his army (not big) and netherlands, belgium, germany, poland, Estonia, Latvia, lituania, Finland, sweden, Iveland, Newfoundland, greeland, iceland, scotland, parts of ireland, almost all of England and Wales, the Balkan countries by the sea, constantinople, russia. They were well trained, strong good with sword, axe, bow, shield and boats. The Main factor for winning Battle was fear and mushrooms. Mushrooms to make them angry, stronger and without mercy. Its true. Later ON they got more empati for Christians and started making deals and So ON. Then the Christians christianed the country and breaking the deals with some vikings. Oof
+3
Level 73
Jan 26, 2021
I don't know if you could consider the Viking's greatness as just savagery. The Varangian Guard were the best force of the Byzantine Empire. The Vikings had good discipline.
+8
Level 73
Jun 13, 2017
In some cases, they mingled well with people in the lands they conquered. They were underrated traders and diplomats. In France, some years after sailing to Paris and plundering it, a Jarl among them (I think it was Rollo) was granted formal control of Normandy at the condition he converted to christianism, which he did. They never went back in Norway, one of their offsprings is known as William the Conqueror and the rest is history. So rather than fading away, I'd say they succesfully did what was in their best interest. If you go to the Channel Islands one day, you could find that there is a lot of traditions and even some laws that date back from the times where it was the possession of the Jarl of Normandy. I even think that the Queen reigns there as the Duchess of Normandy. Not every conqueror can claim to have succeeded that much about integrating and keeping for centuries the places they conquered. They are a big influence in a lot of Western Europe civilizations.
+2
Level 82
Jun 16, 2017
From Wikipedia:

"The Channel Islands fall into two separate self-governing bailiwicks, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. Both are British Crown dependencies, and neither is part of the United Kingdom. They have been part of the Duchy of Normandy since the tenth century, and Queen Elizabeth II is often referred to by her traditional and conventional title of Duke of Normandy. However, pursuant to the Treaty of Paris (1259), she governs in her right as The Queen (the "Crown in right of Jersey", and the "Crown in right of the république of the Bailiwick of Guernsey"), and not as the Duke. This notwithstanding, it is a matter of local pride for monarchists to treat the situation otherwise: the Loyal Toast at formal dinners is to 'The Queen, our Duke', rather than to 'Her Majesty, The Queen' as in the UK."

+2
Level 75
Jun 13, 2017
My husband, who has always thought he was mainly Irish, had the DNA testing done and was quite surprised to discover he is more Scandinavian even though his ancestors came to the US from Ireland. So I'd say quite a few of the Vikings settled in Ireland and likely other areas of their conquests.
+5
Level 75
Aug 21, 2018
The Vikings started settling in Ireland in the 9th century after years of raiding. They developed the settlements of Dublin, Waterford and Limerick into cities. Dublin was the largest and richest Viking city outside Scandinavia. They intermarried with the Irish and dominated areas like North County Dublin - an area traditionally known as Fingal (Gaelic Fionn Ghaill i.e. the "fair strangers" - Norwegian Vikings) and within it the smaller areas of Baldoyle (Gaelic - Baile Dubh Ghaill i.e. place of the "dark strangers" - Danish Vikings) and Howth (from Hoved, Old Norse for "headland"). Their descendants have names like Doyle, Harford, Rickard, McLoughlin, Thunder erc. An attempt to take over the country in 999AD was repulsed by High King Brian Boru. Another attempt by the Vikings + Irish allies in 1014 (Battle of Clontarf) was also repulsed by the Irish + Viking allies (Brian Boru again but not so clear cut). Many Irish of Viking descent & many Norwegians / Icelanders of Irish descent.
+5
Level 45
Mar 18, 2019
They didn't disappear. Just like other populations across the world, they mingled with others, evolved with time and became part of something else.

So if you're looking specifically for descendants of "vikings" (or more accurately, scandinavian people of the viking age), you can look at norwegians, swedes, danes, icelanders, british or even french people, among others.

(and as much as I want to I'm not gonna say everything that's wrong with your comment because I'm sure others already did)

+3
Level 71
Oct 9, 2022
Yes, that. But to also add something to the conversation, I've read that the Medieval Warm Period (900-1300) may have played a role in "civilizing" them. With warmer weather, much more land in Scandanavia opened up for farming, allowing Vikings to move inland and lead more settled lives. If you also add in Christianization, this basically led to Viking culture resembling the rest of Europe by the 1200s and 1300s. It's absurd to act as though they all died out--their descendants seem to be pretty alive and kicking today.
+1
Level 43
Nov 30, 2023
They turned into the modern Norse: Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Icelanders and Faroese
+2
Level 85
Feb 28, 2017
You don't require the old Norse "mjöð" for "mead", so why not allow "Gotterdammerung" or "Twilight of the Gods" for "Ragnarok"?
+5
Level 76
Feb 28, 2017
Because Ragnarok is the common English term for it?
+2
Level 62
Jun 13, 2017
Not if you're a Wagner fan...
+3
Level 86
Jan 21, 2019
Ah yes, Wagner, one of the great English composers.
+3
Level 78
Apr 7, 2021
Götterdämmerung is a German word with the same meaning as Ragnarök, namely Twilight of the Gods, the end of the period in which the (old) Gods reigned.
+8
Level 71
Mar 1, 2017
You should also accept Knut/Knud.
+3
Level 77
Mar 1, 2017
I never saw "Cnut" before. Canute, yes and that's how I got it after "Knut" didn't work. Agree Knut/Knud should be accepted.
+1
Level 59
Jun 21, 2017
I think (but don't take this as gospel!) that Cnut was the original spelling in England, which got "modernized" in later centuries to Canute, as happened with a lot of other names from that period (the Victorians changed many Anglo-Saxon names). Cnut has been used within academia for some time now, and that has seeped through into mainstream usage in English.
+3
Level 89
Jan 12, 2020
Some auto corrects would misplace the vowel.
+1
Level 56
Jun 11, 2020
I agree, I've never heard of Knut, always Cnut or Canute. But if that's a valid spelling, then...
+1
Level 84
Mar 1, 2017
Wow, I know a lot less about Vikings than I thought.
+1
Level 67
Mar 6, 2017
Got 15, which is actually a bit better than I expected. Six of those I owe to the Thor movies, so thank you Marvel ;). Thanks to Quizmaster for accepting Anse-aux-Meadows for Vinland, by the way. For the life of me I couldn't remember the viking name so I tried the French name, knowing it was correct but never expecting it to work :).
+3
Level 63
Mar 14, 2017
If you're accepting "Oden", then why not "Tor" and "Loke" as well?
+3
Level 63
Mar 14, 2017
Or "träl" or "Valhall" even?
+4
Level 75
Jun 13, 2017
So thrall must be the origin of the word, enthrall. I've learned my new fact for the day. Thank you, QM.
+2
Level 83
Jun 13, 2017
Were the Rurik dynasty not invited to come and rule Kiev, rather than it being an invasion? (traditionally)
+3
Level 32
Jun 18, 2017
That feeling when you know the answer in Danish, but not in English.
+3
Level 56
Jun 11, 2020
Erm can't say I'm familiar with "that" feeling...
+3
Level 62
Jun 29, 2017
I'm very amused that you'll accept "L'anse aux meadows" and then it turns into Vinland...
+1
Level 60
Aug 30, 2017
trell = thrall? or is that norse?
+1
Level 46
Jul 3, 2018
How about The Dell-Vikings?
+2
Level 76
Sep 18, 2018
It's hard to find good mead these days. Nearly impossible. Have found two companies producing/brewing and always in short supply.
+3
Level 95
Nov 1, 2018
Simple suggestion. Technically speaking, there were two halls to which a viking could be taken upon their death in battle, but most WANTED to go to Valhalla. The easy fix, of course, would be to just change the wording of the clue:

Majestic hall in that land where those who die in battle wish to be taken

The four possible homes in the afterlife (with respect to how one died) were Hel for non-battle deaths (dying of old-age or illness) and Valhalla/Fólkvangr. Freyja would choose half of those who died in battle for Fólkvangr and the valkyries would take the others to Odin's realm of Valhalla.

There was also a fourth realm under the sea whose name currently escapes me to which Rán took those who died at sea.

+4
Level 68
Sep 21, 2020
Thank you Marvel. How I got Thor, Loki, Odin, Asgard, Valkyrie and Ragnarok!
+1
Level 89
Oct 9, 2022
Valhalla might also help too, although I didn't need Marvel's help on that one.
+1
Level 32
Oct 9, 2022
Today is also the Korean Alphabet Day. I wonder why Jetpunk didn't put up the quiz about the Korean Alphabet Day on 'Everyday's a holiday list' as well... Here's the link for that quiz: https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1695314/korean-alphabet-day-hangul-day
+1
Level 68
Oct 9, 2022
Some spelling flexibility for Valkyrie? I tried Valkerie, Valkarie, Valkery, and Valkary.
+6
Level 79
Oct 9, 2022
Happy Leif Eriksen day! Hinga dinga durgen!
+1
Level 76
Oct 9, 2022
A hinga dinga durgen to all!
+1
Level 46
Oct 9, 2022
Would it be possible to accept swedish spellings of words. i.e Valhall or Oden??
+2
Level 66
Oct 10, 2022
Please accept Knud for Cnut. It's the danish spelling of his name, it should be accepted
+1
Level 32
Oct 10, 2022
I clicked on this quiz thinking it was a quiz about the Minnesota Vikings, I couldn't have been more wrong.
+1
Level 64
Oct 10, 2022
Leif Erikson Day! Hinga Dinga Durgen!
+1
Level 14
Oct 11, 2022
I clicked on the quiz thinking it was the football team vikings lol
+1
Level 60
Oct 12, 2022
Damn it, thought it was thrawl
+2
Level 75
Oct 14, 2022
"Where are they now?" - Well this Viking here is currently in Peru...
+1
Level 23
Dec 7, 2022
14/20

did worse than i thought I would. Ironically tho, I am playing God of War Ragnarök so that definitely helped me during this Haha

+1
Level 21
May 31, 2023
You should add "Trell" as accepted for "Thrall", as it is norwegian for thrall. I didn't get it right because I forgot the english spelling of it.
+1
Level 21
May 31, 2023
The same for "Mjød" = "Mead". Not that I expect it to accept all languages for said words, but rather for the nordic versions of them to have a role in the quiz
+1
Level 39
Jun 2, 2023
Valhöll should be accepted.