Viking Warriors

Viking Warriors were like no others, the history of vikings extended over many lands and the images created of fantasy warrior art were frighteningly beautiful.

Now there were fighting men like no others.

Many were apparently as tall as giants - some with blonde hair and often red beards.

So many art forms have imagined and played with the giant viking image - as wild beserkers swinging their huge battle axes, and heavy swords.

They were actually great adventurers and seamen. They had fleets of ships and loved to sail and explore.

In fact the name Viking is an old norse word for "overseas expedition"

fara i viking "to go on an expedition"

In old english the word "wicing" is a term that refers to "pirate"

Imagine that!

Who Were The Vikings?

The vikings were Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes.

The Norwegians explored, battled and settled in the north and the west in places such as Ireland, Iceland, and even Newfoundland.

The Danes did the same in England and France. Normandy or the Normans in France were descendants of the vikings.

The Swedes travelled to the East - mostly the Slavic Countries and in fact the vikings named an area of the Eastern Europe "Rus" or Russia. There is evidence that they traded as far as Baghdad.

While they were great warriors, explorers and pirates, they were also farmers and settlers.

They were known for their ferocity in battle and created a reputation of being absolutely ruthless.

Much fear exploded on the shores when a viking ship was spotted.

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Maybe you already draw and only need a little brushing up of your skills - my drawing book will have you drawing great characters like the ones in the free practice on this site.

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