Ragnar and Lagertha, from the historical-documentary series Vikings
Much of the popular image of Vikings and Norse mythology is based on later interpretations rather than original sources, researchers say.
The conclusion comes from several experts in Scandinavian studies, who warn that our knowledge of pre-Christian Norse paganism is, to a large extent, a reconstruction made centuries after the events.
Roland Scheel, researcher at the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster, recalls that “the available information essentially comes from reports written by Christian scholars in the High Middle Ages, more than a century after the facts”, quotes SciTechDaily.
Apart from brief runic inscriptions, there are no contemporary texts that directly describe the Viking period, between the 8th and 11th centuries.
According to Scheel, the current image of the Vikings—fearless adventurers, rugged warriors, and relentless navigators—was shaped by films, series, video games and museum exhibitionsand not by direct historical evidence. The sources that have reached us are reinterpreted memories, not direct testimonies of the time, explains the researcher, regarding the international conference Imagining Nordic Paganism, held in November.
An idealized legacy
Today, the term “Viking” generally evokes positive connotations. Pre-Christian Scandinavian society is often portrayed as having a unique warrior culture, a relatively advanced position of women, and unusual religious freedom. This romantic vision continues to influence modern identities, notably in neopagan groups who seek to revive Norse paganism in opposition to monotheistic religions.
But Scheel emphasizes that this portrait ignore dark aspectssuch as the violence and devastation caused by Viking raids. The Council of Europe, for example, promotes the “Viking Cultural Route” as a unifying element of European identity.
Research shows that Norse mythology was frequently reinterpreted to serve ideological goals. The most extreme example occurred in the 20th century, when the Nazi regime appropriated Nordic symbolism to justify racial theories. Although links to extremist movements persist, the current reception is much more diverse and ranges from academic interest to art and music.
