Vikings are often portrayed in popular culture as having blond hair and blue eyes. But is this an accurate representation of what Vikings actually looked like? Let’s examine the evidence.
What are Vikings?
The term “Viking” refers to the seafaring Scandinavians who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided and traded from their northern European homelands across wide areas of Europe, and explored westward to Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland (North America).
The Vikings came from what we now call Scandinavia – Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They spoke Old Norse and traveled far and wide in their iconic longships, reaching as far as North America in the west, Russia in the east, and North Africa in the south.
What did Vikings look like?
According to historians and archaeologists, Vikings varied significantly in their physical characteristics:
- Height – Their average height is estimated to have been around 5′ 7″ for men and 5′ 2″ for women.
- Build – They were generally sturdy, muscular and strong.
- Hair – Ranged from blond to light brown to redhead. Dark brown hair was rare.
- Eyes – Also spanned a spectrum from blue to green to light brown. Dark brown eyes were uncommon.
- Skin – Fair or ruddy complections were typical, owing to the climate of their native Scandinavia.
However, it’s important to note that Vikings originated from and settled across a wide geographic area over several centuries. So there was significant diversity in their appearances and no single “Viking look.”
What do archaeological remains reveal?
Archaeological evidence from Viking burials offers clues about what they actually looked like:
- Skeletal measurements indicate averages heights and builds.
- Hair color can sometimes be determined from remains.
- Computerized facial reconstructions bring approximations to life.
A sampling of remains shows examples of Vikings with blond, brown and red hair. Blue and green eyes seem to have been common based on samples, but we can’t know exact percentages. Overall the archaeological evidence paints a varied picture when it comes to Viking appearances.
What do written records say?
Written descriptions of Vikings by medieval Islamic explorers and European chroniclers also provide insights:
- Ahmad Ibn Fadlan (10th century Persian explorer) described tall, strong, ruddy complexion Vikings with tattooed skin.
- Ibrahim Ibn Yaqub (10th century Spanish explorer) reported Vikings had white skins and blond hair.
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (9th century England) described invading Vikings as having bright eyes.
Such accounts reinforce the diversity of Viking aesthetics but highlight typical features like height, strength, fair complexions and bright eyes commonly associated with the Norse raiders.
Were all Vikings blond and blue-eyed?
Based on evidence from various sources, these key points emerge about Viking physical traits:
- Most Vikings had fair skin, hair and eye colors, but variation within those ranges did occur.
- Truly blond hair was likely between 10% to 40% prevalence, not universal.
- Blue eyes were common but not the only eye color among Vikings.
- Darker Swedish Vikings sometimes mixed with traded with Eastern Europeans and Eurasian peoples.
In summary, while many Vikings did have traits like blond hair and blue eyes, not all did. The common image of Vikings as universally blond and blue-eyed is an over-simplification. Their diversity should not be overlooked.
Distribution of hair and eye colors
Here is a table estimating the distribution of hair and eye colors among Vikings based on sources:
| Hair Color | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Blond | 10-40% |
| Red | 10-20% |
| Light brown | 30-60% |
| Dark brown | 5-10% |
| Eye Color | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Blue | 35-55% |
| Green | 15-35% |
| Light brown | 15-40% |
| Dark brown | 5-15% |
Genetic studies of modern Scandinavians
Recent genetic studies of contemporary Scandinavians provide further clues about Viking traits:
- About 40% of Swedes have blue eyes today.
- Roughly 36% of Norwegians have blond hair in modern times.
- Blue eyes and blond hair are less common in Denmark at around 30%.
- Red hair is present in about 10% of Scandinavians.
Allowing for some evolution over the centuries, this data is largely consistent with estimates for Viking eras. Genetics confirm their diversity – blond and blue-eyed Vikings existed but were far from the majority.
How accurate is the stereotypical Viking look?
In summary, the common modern image of Vikings as uniformly tall, muscular and blond or red-haired with blue or green eyes is not wholly accurate. While those attributes certainly described some subset of Vikings, there was significant variation in their appearances. Not all Vikings were blond, nor did they all have blue eyes. Their diversity should be appreciated.
Why the stereotype?
If historical and genetic evidence indicates Vikings were more diverse than stereotypes suggest, where did the blond and blue-eyed image come from? A few factors may explain the stereotype:
- Idealization in art – Romantic depictions often emphasized blond hair and blue eyes.
- Modern pop culture – Media portrayals popularized the stereotype.
- Nazi appropriation – Fascist groups invoked the blond and blue-eyed Viking image.
- Memorable minority – Distinctive blond and blue-eyed Vikings left an outsized impression.
While kernels of truth underlie the blond and blue-eyed Viking, the stereotype ultimately reduces and misrepresents their diversity.
Conclusion
Historical and archaeological evidence indicates Vikings spanned a spectrum of hair and eye colorations. Though many did likely have Nordic blond or red hair and blue eyes, such traits were far from universal. Modern genetic studies confirm this diversity continued in their Scandinavian descendants. The stereotypical image of uniformly blond and blue-eyed Vikings is an oversimplification not supported by facts. While some Vikings did fit that description, they displayed a range of physical attributes across ages and regions. Any portrayal of Vikings should reflect that nuance and avoid falling back on tropes at odds with reality.