A new exhibit in town is hoping to change misconceptions about a once feared group of medieval warriors: The Vikings.
A thousand years ago the Vikings were the most feared warriors in Europe, but surprisingly little is known about them since they didn’t leave a lot of written records. One of the best surviving exhibits in the world is in Oslo, Norway, where visitors can take in a preserved 1,200 year old Viking ship and burial.
Fortunately, you don’t have to fly across the Atlantic for a great view of Viking artifacts. The American Swedish Institute’s new exhibit right here in Minneapolis hopes to shed light on the fierce Nordic culture.
"So we have the beginning of the vikings, the reasons why they left Scandinavia. Why did they start traveling and get that bad reputation?" ponders Ingrid Nyholm-Lange of the American Swedish Institute. "It's really trying to get a broader understanding of who the vikings were as a people."
Researchers piece together clues from what few preserved artifacts can be found, and what they can tell us about the people that owned these items:
"Inside you can see all the various objects found in this boat grave many of which are in this exhibit," says Nyholm-Lange. "One of the unique things about this exhibit is there are a couple of things that we don't normally get to see. One of those is a Viking helmet. First and foremost this helmet did NOT have horns."
The image of the horned Viking warrior was created by artists and operas in the 1800s to make the Vikings seem more barbaric and dramatic. A sword on display also adds to the swashbuckling illusion. "Here is a sword," Nyholm-Lange said, showing off an impressive weapon. "What we do know for sure is that they didn't belong to your average Sven in a viking boat."
That sword was not likely owned by a commoner, but someone with status as it has gilded jewels.
"What we really hope that our visitors get out of the Vikings Begin exhibit but also playing in the family gallery, is that the Vikings are much more complex, other than the stories that they were warriors," Nyholm-Lange concludes.
The exhibit is on display at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis through October 27th.