Tattoo • ology

The term Viking would normally denote entire populations of Viking Age Scandinavia and their settlements, as an expanded form of the meaning. Viking voyages decreased and ended during the slow process of the Christianization of Scandinavia.

The word gained positive popularity when poet Erik Gustaf Geijer wrote a poem called The Viking, written at the beginning of the 19th century. A myth about a glorious and brave past was the need of the hour for giving the Swedish people the much-required boost to regain Finland, lost during the Sweden-Russia war in 1809. The Geatish Society, of which Geijer was a member, popularized this myth to a great extent.

• Some of the famous Vikings in history include:
• Olaf Tryggvason – Forced thousands to convert to Christianity. Once burned London Bridge down out of anger of people disobeying his orders (thought to be the origin of the children’s’ rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down”).
• Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark, England, Norway and founder of Swansea
• Magnus Barelegs, King of Norway
• Askold and Dir, legendary Varangian conquerors of Kiev
• Helgi or Oleg, ruler of Kiev
• Björn Ironside, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, pillaged in Italy
• Brodir, Danish Viking who killed the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru
• Egill Skallagrímsson, Icelandic warrior.
• Erik the Red, colonizer of Greenland

As is evident from the above that the Viking tattoos had its origin from the Scandinavian belt and till today, people wear it as a symbol of historic courage, bravado and guts.

The designs of the Viking tattoo bear testimony to the fact that it has Celtic roots too as people of this group wore tattoos themselves. The designs carry their typical identity of cross, swastikas and and triskeles (these were swirl designs with three arms or triangle like symbols).

Both Ireland and Scotland have historically known to have borne the onslaught of various invasions and they have successfully pushed away influences of Celts, Gauls, Romans, Vikings from Norway and Denmark, Saxons and Normans, who may have been French Vikings.

Though Viking tattoos carry the design of the horned helmet, historically there is no evidence that Vikings indeed wore such head gear. You could say that the Viking tattoos are an ideal combination of the art of the Celtic and the Scandinavian people.

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