40+ Amazing Facts About What Hygiene Was Like For The Vikings

Runes continue to captivate archaeologists and history buffs today, and their discovery has provided us with crucial knowledge and hints about life in the Middle Ages. It’s ironic that these priceless examples of ancient art and Viking culture were, to them, as commonplace as our shopping lists. Futhark, the runic alphabet, was only the writing system used by literate men and women (far from everyone). Nothing about it was unique or noteworthy.

Using animal sacrifices to get what you want is a recurrent motif in ancient societies, and Vikings were no exception. They would do this in order to gain more health or strength, raise their chances of victory in combat, or even resolve domestic problems. Additionally, before being married, Vikings would perform a blood ceremony in an effort to boost the likelihood that the union would be successful. It was rather extreme: a fertility-related animal would be slain, its blood gathered in a dish, and then sprinkled on the pair getting married.