Frans G. Bengtssons ”Röde Orm” holds a prominent place in Swedish literature, particularly cherished by a certain demographic. The iconic scene where Orm and Toke savor blood sausage at King Harald Bluetooth’s Yule feast is etched into the collective memory, encapsulating the boisterous spirit of a Viking celebration. The feast, laden with roast boar, ale, storytelling, and even a fatal duel, paints a vivid picture of Viking revelry, albeit a romanticized one. While not entirely historically accurate, ”Röde Orm” draws inspiration from historical accounts of Viking feasts, like those described by the skalds Torbjörn Hornklove and Snorri Sturluson, providing a glimpse into the customs and traditions of the era, such as the simultaneous invocation of Christian and Norse deities. The novel’s enduring popularity suggests its potential inclusion in a hypothetical Swedish cultural canon.
Bengtsson’s work is not the only exploration of Viking culture, however. Neil Price, a British archaeologist who immigrated to Sweden, driven by his fascination with the Vikings, offers a different perspective in his book ”The Viking Way” and subsequently in ”Children of Ash and Elm.” Price argues that to truly understand the Vikings, we must acknowledge their inherent elusiveness. They inhabited a world teeming with supernatural beings – elves, dwarves, trolls, and giants – and held a reverence for mystical locations like bogs and wetlands. Their complex relationship with their gods, like Odin with his over two hundred names, remains shrouded in mystery, and the motivations behind their offerings and rituals are largely unknown.
The Vikings’ penchant for sacrificial rituals is well documented, ranging from animal sacrifices in their feasting halls, where blood stained the walls and severed heads adorned the space, to human sacrifice. This violent aspect of Viking culture contrasts sharply with attempts to portray them as peaceful traders. Price, however, emphasizes the inextricable link between violence and Viking society. Their raiding activities, driven by the pragmatic pursuit of wealth and resources, played a pivotal role in shaping their identity.
Price challenges the sanitized narratives that downplay the Vikings’ violent nature, arguing that their willingness to plunder and enslave rather than trade was fundamental to their success. He paints them as piratical entrepreneurs, operating in a lawless frontier environment, their trading posts akin to Wild West towns. In a remarkably short period, they transformed from small raiding parties to formidable armies, besieging Paris, reaching the Silk Road, and penetrating North Africa. Their impact on the Frankish Empire and Britain was profound, reshaping the political landscape of Europe.
While Bengtsson’s “Röde Orm” offers a captivating, albeit idealized, portrayal of Viking feasts and camaraderie, Price’s work delves deeper into the complexities of Viking culture, examining their rituals, beliefs, and the pervasive presence of violence. He acknowledges the difficulties in understanding a culture so different from our own, emphasizing the need to grapple with their brutality while resisting the temptation to simplify or sanitize their history. The enduring fascination with the Vikings, fueled by both fictional and academic explorations, testifies to their lasting impact on our imagination.
Despite their violent tendencies, the Vikings were not driven by racial prejudice, as Price notes the absence of any evidence suggesting discriminatory attitudes or epithets based on skin color. Their expansion and interactions with other cultures were driven by pragmatic considerations of wealth and power, not by racial ideology. The Viking Age ultimately came to an end through assimilation and integration with the populations they encountered, leaving behind a complex legacy of both conquest and cultural exchange. This complex legacy continues to captivate our interest and inspire further investigation into the enigmatic world of the Vikings.
