History of the Vikings

The aim of this paper is to investigate discourse strategies of outgroup construction in the Alfredian period (late ninth century), by using critical discourse analysis and testing its relevance for the Anglo-Saxon data. The study focuses on the Viking outgroup and its presentation in the texts of the period. The analysis also tackles earlier and later sources containing the episodes of the first encounter with the unwelcome “Other” to trace typological features of outgroup construction in medieval political discourse. The genres that are taken into account are historical writings and legislation in Anglo-Latin and Old English. It is postulated that the Alfredian texts are commissioned by the political elite—the West Saxon kingship—and produced by the symbolic elite—writers, chroniclers, copyists, the clergy more generally, with the Alfredian circle being reconstructed as a “Community of Practice” with a distinct political, cultural, and discourse agenda. The Viking raids of the period provide a “bid for counter-power,” to which the elites have to react both militarily and ideologically. The ideologies of the Anglo-Saxon elites are analyzed at the discourse level, concentrating on the strategies of outgroup derogation, e.g., criminalization of the Vikings in the chronicles. It is concluded that the chronicles can be analyzed as analogous to modern press, that they were produced and circulated to shape “public opinion” of politically and economically prominent social groups.

This is a synopsis of my 2 volume work. It provides a new perspective on the origins of many Scottish Clans - identifying many of the lies fabricated to suit the necessity of the times and since believed and consistent with a sensible chronology. Supporting this there is a wholly new understanding of Pictish place names and of the origins of Heraldry, a rechronologising of Norwegian history covering the period 800-1015 together with a narrative overview of the politics of the Scotland of the day. Many people, such as Crinan and Duncan I's wife are identified for the first time.

[ENG] This paper proposes to examine the evidence for homosexuality among the early medieval Scandinavian peoples, popularly known as the Vikings. A variety of literary , legal, and religious sources from medieval Iceland and Norway provide an indirect window on Viking attitudes towards homosexuality. These include sagas such as Njal's Saga, Ljósvetninga Saga, Kristni Saga, Gisla Saga, Biskupa Sögur Íslenska Bókmenntafélag, and Fóstbraeðra Saga along with the Eddaic poems Lokasenna and Þrymskviða. This literary testimony may be supplemented by evidence from the Law of Gulathing and the Gray Goose Laws (Gragas), as well as Staðarhólsbók and the Icelandic Homily Book. Homosexuality was termed "nið" in Old Norse and the term varies according to certain actions or behaviour. In the sagas, the word "nið" was used in several ways with different meanings, to denote a coward, sexual pervert , or a homosexual. The word was mostly used in the meaning of coward and homosexual which were more or less synonymous for the Vikings.

[TR] Bu makale, popüler olarak Vikingler olarak bilinen erken Ortaçağ İskandinav halkları arasındaki eşcinselliğin kanıtlarını incelemeyi önermektedir. Ortaçağ’dan kalan İzlanda ve Norveç'ten çeşitli edebi, yasal ve dini kaynaklar, Vikinglerin eşcinselliğe yönelik tutumlarına dolaylı bir pencere sunmaktadır. Bunlar arasında Njal's Saga, Ljósvetninga Saga, Kristni Saga, Gisla Saga, Biskupa Sögur Íslenska Bókmenntafélag ve Fóstbræðra Saga gibi destanların yanı sıra Eddaic şiirleri Lokasenna ve Þrymskviða yer almaktadır. Bu edebi tanıklık, Gulathing Yasası ve Gray Goose Yasaları'nın (Gragas) yanı sıra Staðarhólsbók ve Icelandic Homily Book'dan gelen kanıtlarla desteklenmektedir. Eşcinsellik Eski İskandinav dilinde "nið" olarak adlandırılmaktadır ve bu terim belirli eylemlere veya davranışlara göre değişmektedir. Destanlarda "nið" kelimesi bir korkak, cinsel sapık ya da bir eşcinsel olduğunu belirtmek için farklı an-lamlarla çeşitli şekillerde kullanılmıştır. Kelime çoğunlukla Vikingler için aşağı yukarı eşanlamlı olan korkak ve eşcinsel anlamında kullanılmıştır.

Research Question: To what extent did the seafaring technology of the Vikings influence the evolution of European seafaring technology?

This was my chosen topic for my IB EE for the class of 2020. I scored a B and hoped this might help anyone who needs it. Thank you.

Viking Age pictures seldom appear as self-sufficient monuments. More often, they survive as Animal Art on utility goods. The role of the caster gives important clues towards the conditions of ornamental production, as well as the meaning of Animal Art. Did some motifs work as pictograms in the context of Viking Age orality, or do they represent mere nonsense?

This study provides the first evidence for the extraction of lead in the later early medieval period in Lancashire, in the North West of England. Archaeological evidence for human activity in the region during the later medieval period is modest, although the material culture that is known supports the historic accounts of settlement by people of Scandinavian origin, which is reinforced by studies of place names and local dialect. Investigation of two upland sites in the western Pennines, on Anglezarke and Rivington moors, indicates that lead was being extracted in the period c.680-1000 cal.AD, most likely from known veins at Lead Mines Clough. The emergence of extractive activity coincides with contact with the Norse who are known from both historic and archaeological evidence to have been present in Lancashire during the later early medieval period.

KEYWORDS
EARLY MEDIEVAL, LEAD, MINING, MINERAL EXTRACTION, MAGNETIC MEASUREMENT, SATURATION ISOTHERMAL REMANENT MAGNETISATION ASSAY, HEAVY METAL (LEAD) ASSAY, METALLURGY, UPLAND, PEAT, LANCASHIRE, ARCHAEOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD, NORSE ARCHAEOLOGY

Considers the evidence for framing a narrative of the containment of the Viking threat to Wessex in the late 870s by the building of a system of burhs or strongholds over all of Wessex (the extent of Alfred's kingdom at the time), arguing that this time (879-880) provides the most suitable histtorical window for what can be recognised as a dramatic reorganisation of the political and military landscape.  This was made possible through King Alfred's decisive victory against the Vikings at Edington at the time.

This week's blog I address one of the 'key' objects in the Viking Age, the key as a symbol of female status and independancy.

Keys were a symbol of a woman's status in the home and in society. Women would run farms both in the
presence of their husband or while he was away.

The history of ‘vikings’ in Aquitaine encompasses, on and off, more than two centuries, from their first attested appearance and attacks on some ‘islands off Aquitaine’ in 799 until the early eleventh century. It is a subject that historians have only touched upon sporadically and generally in a very piecemeal fashion, and it has never hitherto been studied in any real depth. The objectives for this study were twofold. The first has been to attempt to fill the yawning historiographical gaps in terms of our understanding of the activities of the various Scandinavian groups operating in Aquitaine, from the Loire valley southwards, over the course of these two hundred years. The aim was not just to research and present some general summary, but was rather to provide to the extent possible an in-depth assessment and interpretation of which chieftains were involved, what they did and precisely when, what relationship they had with each other, and, at various times, with Frankish kings and magnates. In addition, we wanted to see if there is any real evidence for a very long-lasting, almost permanent, settlement of Scandinavians in Aquitaine, as has sometimes been suggested. The second objective of this study is to examine the different connections of the Scandinavians involved and to place them in a wider European context. It appears evident that, as elsewhere, all the groups and fleets of ‘vikings’ active in Aquitaine have been connected by complex links that this research attempts to explore and expose. They constantly moved around from one region of western Europe to another, as some raiding opportunities were exhausted or closed down by local defences whilst more appealing ones opened up elsewhere. These regions do not just include other territories in present-day France, but also those situated ‘overseas’, notably Britain, Ireland and the Irish Sea zone, the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean, as well as Frisia and Scandinavia itself.

[Ахмад ибн Фадлан]. Книга Ахмада ибн Фадлана / Перевод с арабского и примечания Вяч. С. Кулешова // Путешествие Ибн Фадлана: Волжский путь от Багдада до Булгара : Каталог выставки / Государственный Эрмитаж. Государственный историко-архитектурный и художественный музей-заповедник «Казанский Кремль». Научный редакторы А. И. Торгоев, И. Р. Ахмедов. М.: Издательский дом Марджани, 2016. — С. 18–47.

This paper relates diachronic change in discourse strategies of the Viking-age historical writing to political changes of the period and to communities of practice that produce these histories and chronicles. It examines the labels and stereotypes applied to the Vikings and establishes their sources and evolution by applying a fourfold chronological division of historical sources from around 800 to 1200 (based on the political developments within Anglo-Saxon history and on the manuscript history of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The data for the study come from both Old English and Anglo-Latin chronicles. The results are interpreted in terms of critical discourse analysis. It is demonstrated that the chroniclers employ strategies of dissimilation exploiting the notion of illegitimacy and criminality of the Viking outgroup. These strategies change over time, depending on the political situation (raiding vs. settlement vs. reconquest period) and communities of practice involved in the maintenance and dissemination of a particular political discourse.

In English. The longest inscription from the Viking Ages is a sophisticated challenge to the mind. The rune stone was inspired by the contemporary Frankish renaissance, but  as a counterpart it was converted into a pagan and runic Scandinavian style around 815 AD. The context was the political confrontation between the pagan Scandinavians and the Christian Franks initiating the viking raids against the Franks.

The scholars solved the cryptation after 40 years and after 90 years a translation close to the final official translation was published. After 150 years  this interpretation is claimed to explain all the translation in a meaningful way. A partly solution was in 2007 published in the Swedish book "Guld, kult och Makt", where also Bo Ralph presented his partly solution. Today the 750 runes are in the attached version totally interpreted as two coherent and expectable messages. This interpretation is based solely on the official reading and translation by Runverket (Swedish National Heritage Board), while Bo Ralph, who used his own alternative translation, has never returned with an overall translation and interpretation as promised in 2007 - and other attempts to explain his translation failed as unlikely messages.

Due to encryption of the last stanzas and the riddles, the interpretation may appear complicated, but all the many details are fitting in a very clear and planned structure of the runes at the stone – ending up in two simple messages. The text is organized into stanzas fitting a front side and a back side surrounded by an encrypted frame. The riddles are initiated by “sakum” (I tell) followed by an interrogative pronoun, and they are indirectly answered in the next riddle creating together a coherent message – a coincidence is very improbable in that pattern.

The first part in contemporary Rök runes is simply a memorial inscription telling about the dead son of Varin and his family line of heroes back to the Herulian king Hrodolphus – weapon son of the Germanic hero over all, Theodoric.  The son of Varin apparently died in the Danish/Frankish wars 812-815 AD.

The second part is an invocation of Thor and the unmentional Odin hidden in three riddles regarding divine myths in the encrypted frame consisting of symbols and incantations. Inside the frame we find two kennings in the text – a Valkyria and the EinherjaR. It must be a hidden prayer asking Odin to receive his son as an EinherjaR in Valhall – probably with the later picture stone in Tjängvide as a close parallel.

The stone shall also be regarded as a manifestation of power. Varin erected a pagan Swedish counterpart to the Frankish culture in perfect accordance with the context, when the Christian emperor threatened the pagans in Southern Scandinavia.

Francisco FRANCO-SÁNCHEZ: «Los ataques normandos a las costas de Šarq al-Andalus en el siglo IX. Consecuencias militares y sociales». In Manuel Espinar Moreno (coord.). Los Vikingos en la historia. 3. Granada: Libros EPCCM (Col. Estudios, 22), 2018, pp. 121-153.  | 
ISBN: 978-84-09-01496-5  |
Norman attacks to the coasts of the Šarq (East of) al-Andalus in the 10th. century. Military and social consequences  | 

Resumen: Comienza el estudio enumerándose los datos conocidos sobre los sucesivos ataques normandos a las costas y ciudades peninsulares, recogiéndose las distintas oleadas y ataques: Del año 844 (durante el reinado del emir ‘Abd al-Raḥmān II) con descripciones distintas según el cronista que los refiere. La segunda oleada del periodo de 858-861 (en el reinado de su sucesor Muḥammad) también es descrita con toda prolijidad. A las anteriores les sucedieron otras oleadas del 966 al 972 (en época del califa al-Ḥakam II). Luego se estudia con detalle el ataque a Orihuela en el año 859 con descripción de las fuentes y análisis de los hechos sucedidos en la ciudad del río Segura. Las consecuencias militares de los ataques a al-Andalus fueron la creación de la marina andalusí del Atlántico en el s. IX para rechazarlos y atacarlos; en segundo lugar, se instaura un sistema de vigilancia en las costas, se construyen arsenales para construir barcos para la marina de guerra en Lisboa, Sevilla, Denia, Tortosa, etc., y se envía una embajada al reino vikingo. Para finalizar se analiza lo ocurrido e la zona del río Segura en relación con el resto de al-Andalus, destacándose el origen de las rábitas de Guardamar del Segura como elemento esencial de la vigilancia "civil" de la desembocadura del río  | 
Abstract: The study begins by enumerating the known data on the successive Norman attacks to the iberian coasts and cities, picking up the different waves of this attacks: From the year 844 (ruling the emir 'Abd al-Raḥmān II) was collected different descriptions fron chronicles that refer these attacks. The second wave was produced between 858-861 (in the reign of his successor Muḥammad) and is also described neatly. The previous ones were followed by other waves from 966 to 972 (at the times of Caliph al-Hakam II). The attack to teh city of Orihuela was in the year 859 and is studied in detail, with the description of the arabic sources that refers it and an analysis of the events that took place in the city of the Segura river. The military consequences of the attacks on al-Andalus were: the creation of the Andalusian navy of the Atlantic in the s. IX to reject these attacks; secondly, on the coasts a surveillance system was installed, thirdly, arsenals were constructed to build ships for the navy in Lisbon, Seville, Denia, Tortosa, etc., and an embassy was sent to the Viking kingdom. Finally is analyzed  what happened in the area of the Segura River in relation to the rest of al-Andalus, highlighting the origin of the rawàbit of Guardamar del Segura as an essential element of the 'civilian' surveillance of the mouth of the river  | 
Palabras claves: Ataques normandos, Vikingos, historia andalusí, s. IX, emirato andalusí, Orihuela, río Segura, rábitas, vigilancia de las costas  | 
Key Words: Norman attacks, Vikings, History of Al-Andalus, Emirate of Al-Andalus, Orihuela, Segura  river, rawābiṭ, coastal vigilance  | 

Link for downloading the book: https://www.librosepccm.com/estudios/los-vikingos-en-la-historia-3/

Intervista fattemi per "Query. La scienza indaga i Mysteri" del CICAP, ad opera della Dott.ssa Agnese Picco
Barbuti e villosi uomini del  Nord che discendono nella civilizzata Europa per devastare e saccheggiare tutto quello che incontrano, antiche civiltà in contatto con la natura e le loro misteriose divinità pagane, valorosi baluardi di un dorato passato ormai perduto: sono i Vichinghi.

Representaciones del Poder en la Escandinavia medieval temprana (ss. VII al IX) .
Una aproximación desde las fuentes literarias

El artículo refiere a exponer diversas caracterizaciones en torno a la representación del poder en la sociedad escandinava temprana, evidenciado en las Sagas de los tiempos antiguos y las Eddas, con el objeto de realizar una aproximación a la manera en que el poder era entendido, vivido y expresado por estas sociedades.
La investigación comparará y contrastará los corpus literarios mencionados con elementos propios de la legislación nórdica temprana, gracias al análisis de Las Leyes de Gulathing (noruego) y el Codex Grágás (islandés) a modo de identificar los elementos mencionados, dándole una dimensión histórica a los pasajes relatados por las narraciones míticas y legendarias de estos textos, toda vez que, pese a narrar historias ficcionales, se inscriben en la pretensión de educar y exponer una realidad cultural conocida y validada por toda la comunidad nórdica.
La representación del poder se expresará en una dimensión material, pero también actitudinal por parte de los personajes, quienes deberán comportarse dentro del contexto de un ethos cultural aceptado, el cual interpela a la comunidad a una suerte de superación del destino, o modificación, en donde, es el hombre por medio de su actuar en la vida, quien puede alterar su destino, teniendo como meta el acceder al Valhala, y en contrapartida, teniendo como destino negativo al Hellheim.
Lo anterior implica que, a diferencia del destino griego inalterable, en el mundo escandinavo, las personas pueden alterar su destino en el más allá por medio de su actuar en vida. En este sentido, el poder y su ejercicio da cuenta de una praxis angular en la vida de los nobles nórdicos, quienes deben manifestar en su cotidianidad, la capacidad de conducir a sus comunidades por un camino que asegure un tránsito exitoso hacia el más allá deseable.

'Viking Age kings' is the first comprehensive presentation of the Norse genealogy. The chronology and genealogy of the Norse kings is here based on the contemporary literary texts describing family relationships.

'Vikingetidens konger' er den første samlede fremstilling af vikingernes slægtshistorie. Vikingekongernes kronologi og slægts­forhold tager her afsæt i samtidens litterære tekster, hvor familie­forholdene beskrives.

A HOMOSSEXUALIDADE NA ERA VIKING? UMA ANÁLISE DO “SER” FEMININO E MASCULINO EM SAGAS: Em comemoração ao mês de Junho dedicado a diversidade e aos grupos LGBTQIA+, lanço um trabalho que visa lançar “luz” sobre as questões relacionados aos relacionamentos homo afetivos na Era Viking, e que caíram no gosto popular pelo termo vikings “gays” e “vikings lésbicas”, com o intuito de desmistificar informações que circulam sobre determinadas figuras que aparecem em peças arqueológicas, e na literatura escandinava medieval.
Mesmo não fazendo parte desta comunidade respeito e apoio qualquer forma de amor entre as pessoas, o trabalho foi feito de forma acadêmica e visa melhorar o entendimento sobre questões que cercam este lado pouco divulgado da história dos Vikings, portanto não utilize essa pesquisa para fomentar o ódio e o preconceito com os termos empregados oriundos da documentação analisada.
Palavras - Chave: Junho, Homo afetividade, Era Viking, Arqueologia.

AS QUESTÕES AMBIENTAIS NA ESCANDINÁVIA MEDIEVAL: Um dos meus maiores questionamentos sempre foi o de como os vikings utilizavam seu território e como eles o modificaram a partir de suas necessidades, a interação entre homem e ambiente sempre existiu em todas as sociedades, mas ainda pouco se sabe qual o impacto que algumas delas causaram no meio ambiente em que habitavam.Nesse trabalho discuto alguns desses fatores na Escandinávia Medieval e como os nórdicos influenciaram e foram influenciados pelo ambiente em que viviam sobretudo os impactos causados por suas ações na fauna e flora Escandináva.

The present paper attempts to shed more light on the society of the Danish high middle age, or more specifically “the long twelfth century”. Traditional scholarship has claimed that until the time of Harald Bluetooth (app. 958- 987), the country that later became Denmark was a realm of only occasionally gathered chiefdoms with no central organisation. Further it is held that even when the realm was united the king had little real power, but was instead more of a first amongst equals. According to traditional scholarship a slow development towards centralisation started at the time of Harald with the acceptance of Christianity and thus europerisation. A development that was completed in the time of the Valdemars (1158- app. 1250) with a strong and centralised kingdom based on titled royal representatives and institutions. Archeologists, however, have found evidence of centralisation before the Viking age. While recent historical research has uncovered evidence that society even under the Valdemars retained an organisational form where royal power was based on personal alliances with powerful magnates. This is a discrepancy that I try to shed some light on: how did power work in the twelfth century?

According to archaeologists the centralisation in the Iron Age started as magnates rose and began to make and uphold alliances with less powerful leaders by handing out gifts necessary for social reproduction and thus make them dependants. The feast played a vital part in this as a demonstration of power and setting for the exchange of gifts for loyalty, and the institution continued into the Viking Times where kings tied supporters to their cause this way in personal alliances. However, we do not know whether the institution continued into the middle age, and I undertake the task of shedding some light on that. Did personal alliances; parallel power hierarchies and the giving of gifts still permeate Danish society in the long 12th century? I specifically attempt to analyse the role and rituals of the giving of gifts and feasts in this respect. The development of institutional power can, however, not be overlooked and I also attempt to shed some light on that, as well as the development of the early state in the Iron Age. More specifically I analyse the role of personal alliances, gifts and feasts in that development.

It is impossible to say exactly when the realm of Denmark was united. However, there is archaeological evidence that the state in its earliest form did indeed develop during the Iron Age.

A state based on personal alliances and relations of its king. Alliances created by leaders showing generosity towards followers and allies, hence creating the strongest alliance to attain kingship.

This pattern seems to have continued even into the time of the Valdemars. Here we still find magnates with independent military forces and power, and consequently a large influence. We find that the king must tie these to his cause in order to attain and retain the throne. Hence, much of royal power in the long 12th century rests on the ability of the king to build alliances with the magnates of the realm. Valdemar the Great was a master of this and it appears that his successful bid for the throne is founded on an alliance with the relam’s greatest men. Despite the institutionalisation of power that is hastened under his and his successors’ reigns, much of their power is still based on the personal alliances with the magnates of the realm. In Valdemar’s case much of the power stems from the alliance with the Hvide family whose power is enhanced in the process. However, institutionalisation and feudalism on a European model is consciously furthered and encouraged in the reign of Valdemar and the processes are thus parallel.

The role of gifts and feasts in upholding these alliances are apparently also unchanged for much of the time. The ideal of the generous prince/ruler permeated society as we see it in our sources and the riches to reward one’s followers was still acquired mostly by plunder and tribute from neighbours as well as conquests. Even as we draw near to the close of the 12th century where our sources dwindle it seems as if the rewards were still handed out as gifts at feasts. This happened in a strict ceremony for the exchange of these gifts with loyalty that had not changed much from the Iron and Viking Ages. Alliances between the king and magnates and probably between the magnates themselves were confirmed in the same way, by exchange of gifts at lavish feasts.

As these rituals were apparently largely unchanged and played an unchanged role in the long twelfth century we have established continuity from the Iron Age gestation of the state to the medieval kingdom. We have further confirmed the role of personal alliances and identified one of the important elements in the maintenance of these alliances. However, it is impossible to overlook the fact that institutionalisation is indeed a fact of the long twelfth century as well, especially under the Valdemars. The two systems can easily have existed side by side in accord and interplay though and there is no need to believe that one excluded the other. Part of the rewards for the faithful followers of the king may likely have been titles and functions in the emerging institutions that slowly superseded the traditional system. This development started long before the middle ages though, and society and power was thus not as different in the long 12th century from the Viking and Iron Ages as we have traditionally been inclined to believe.

Улав Триггвасон вошёл в историю Киевской Руси после появления в дружине князя Владимира I. В Норвегии, куда Триггвасон вернулся и был избран королём в 995 г., современные историки рассматривают его как одного из правителей, заложивших основы государственности, собирания земель и христианизации страны. Он стал энергичным реформатором эпохи викингов, времени проведения глубоких религиозных и финансовых преобразований. Именно в правление Владимира на Руси появляются собственные деньги, а в правление Улава – в Норвегии. Одновременно с Норвегией началась чеканка монеты викингами в Дании и Швеции. Для всех, интересующихся наиболее ранним этапом денежной политики Киевского княжества, статья предоставляет возможность узнать, какие денежно-финансовые процессы протекали одновременно в трёх королевствах викингов.

This remarkable tiny-34mm x 10mm strap end from the Viking Age, found in England (Norfolk area) is a one-off. Decorated in the Urnes style with interlacing snake design, it can be addressed to the 11th century, the early 12th century the latest. The strap end seems to have attached on a small strap, considering its size. What kind of strap, or where the strap was part of, is unknown. This artefact is once again witness to the fact to what great extent craftsman would go adorning all details of every day use objects like straps. The image depicted is that of a zoomorphic animal head (could be the head of a snake, could be another animal like a dog or wolf) holding a captured snake in its jaws. The pierced holes on the end of the strap end were for attachment on the leather. The interwoven design of the curling snake is of great quality and is made by a very skilled craftsman within this tiny frame. The brown vaguely 'reddish' bronze is typical by artefacts from the Viking Age, made (and found) in England. Shown to Barry Ager, former curator in the British Museum, he reacted: 'It does appear to be a strap-end in the form of some kind of canine, wether a dog or wolf, as you suggest, catching a snake in its jaws. Could it be Fenrir, up to his tricks, maybe? Viking examples of the type are usually decrated in the Urnes style, but this more is more naturalistic, so is presumably late in the series, later 11th centuries and stylisticaly in the Viking/Norman range'. James Graham-Campbell adresses the design of the strap end as Anglo-Scandinavian. Shown to Kevin Leahy, Archaeological Finds Specialist and National Adviser at the Portable Antiques Scheme he responded that he would look for any parallels. Meanwhile, although the precise find spot won't be given by the metal detectorist who found it, I have mailed the Find Liason Officers of the Norfolk area, and await their response. If new insights pop up, I will add them on this article.

Os sons são obtidos das mais variadas formas mesmo que não se possam vê-los é possível senti-lo, de um simples bater de pedras ao som produzido pela boca logo, depois desenvolvemos a capacidade de adaptá-lo às nossas necessidades só que desta vez com o intuito de modifica-lo e a estuda-lo, para criar formas de reproduzir esse som de forma amplificada para todos e assim a música começa a se desenvolver, acrescentando histórias contadas de forma oral, ritmo, e um ou mais instrumentos musicais, as composições começam a ganhar vida. E não foi diferente para os Escandinavos da Era Viking, suas crenças logo tomaram forma em canções populares que foram ouvidas e analisadas até os dias de hoje por diversos povos e em suas próprias comunidades, desde uma celebração até um rito funerário tudo tinha a presença da música, o que os fez ter diversas compilações trabalhadas para as mais diversas ocasiões e instrumentos que despertam a curiosidade de muitos.       
Palavras-Chave: Música, Instrumentos musicais, Era Viking, Sons.

comes at an opportune and promising time for the Brazilian field of Scandinavian studies. Although Brazilian historiography has been demonstrating an interest in the Viking peoples since the XIX century, the academic and historical production on them has been quite scarce in the country. Before the XXI century, the books on Vikings written in Brazil were mainly divided into two types, which are translations of academic works (generally of English and French origin) and works of popularization and entertainment, usually sold in newsstands. 1 Therefore, considering that these were the types of products regarding the Vikings and Medieval Scandinavia, we had no serious and academic-based dictionary about the history of culture of these peoples. As far as Portugal is concerned, the situation is quite similar. PhD in History, Hélio Pires (a member of the Institute of Medieval Studies), has presented a bibliographical survey in his book Os Vikings em Portugal e na Galiza (The Vikings in Portugal and Galicia) and pointed out the fact that studies on Vikings in Portugal date back to the XVIII century. However, Portuguese researchers interest in such a theme was merely punctual, according to what Hélio Pires showed when quoting some studies from scholars from the XIX and XX centuries. In the occasion, he has also made a comment on the lack of Lusitanian studies on the subject. This absence of studies on the Vikings is even more striking in the case of Portugal if one bears in mind that the Vikings travelled to Lusitania between the X and XI centuries, what is not, of course, the case of Brazil, which did not count on these incursions or expeditions from the Norsemen into its territory. 2 Suffice to say, the fact is that in Brazil we had not previously had a dictionary about the Vikings, a situation also observed in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries. However, it is possible to argue that the absence of such a study is due to an economic and commercial situation, with the editors fearing that a dictionary about such a specific subject would not be profitable (even though the Vikings have been popular around the world since the XIX century through a large number of paintings, operas, movies, novels, comic books, games, etc.). Unfortunately, such an argument has its validity. Despite this condition, taking into consideration the current historiographical needs in a Brazilian conjecture, a dictionary on the medieval Scandinavian people's history and culture was of extreme importance and obviously dearly needed. This new dictionary published by NEVE is the second produced by the academic group, the former being Dicionário de Mitologia Nórdica (Dictionary of Norse Mythology). This second dictionary presents a series of researches and thoughts on the Viking matter, counting with the collaboration of 33 Brazilian and foreigner researchers who deal with History, Archaeology and other Humanities, as well as the collaboration of scholars from the field of Religious Studies and Architecture. Among the foreign contributors, some are members of NEVE group, such as the previously-mentioned PhD Hélio Pires from Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), currently one of the main specialists in the history of the Viking Era in the Portuguese context; PhD Teodoro Manrique Antón of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and PhD Mariano González Campo of the University of Valladolid (UVA), who wrote some of the entries on the Norsemen's language and literature. 3 As for the Brazilian contributors, we highlight Professor PhD Johnni Langer (UFPB / NEVE), the main name in the field in Brazilian context and Latin America; PhD Álvaro Alfredo Bragança Júnior (UFRJ); PhD Guilherme Queiroz de Sousa (UFPB); PhD Luciano José Vianna (UPE); PhD Isabela Dias de Albuquerque (UFRJ) and PhD Luciana de Campos (member of Northern Women Arts Collaborative and of NEVE). Other several doctoral students, masters and master's degree students were also among the authors of the dictionary. The close work of these 33 authors resulted in the preparation of 224