Scholars Challenge Longheld Beliefs About Viking Culture

Recent research by scholars from the University of Münster challenges prevailing notions about Vikings and Norse mythology, suggesting that many common beliefs are based more on later interpretations than historical accuracy. According to Roland Scheel, a researcher at the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics,” the majority of our understanding stems from medieval sources that emerged well over a century after the Viking Age, which is typically defined as spanning from the 8th to the 11th century.

Scheel asserts that modern depictions of Vikings—often characterized as fearless adventurers and skilled fighters—have been heavily influenced by contemporary media, including films, television series, and video games. He emphasizes that the historical record is far more complex and nuanced than these portrayals suggest. The surviving texts represent what he describes as “memorialized history,” rather than a direct reflection of Viking life and beliefs.

Simon Hauke, another scholar involved in this research, highlights how popular narratives often romanticize pre-Christian Scandinavian culture, attributing to it a warrior ethos and a relatively progressive status for women compared to later medieval societies. This idealized perspective continues to shape contemporary identity and influences modern neo-pagan movements, which draw inspiration from these ancient beliefs.

One notable example of this is the Council of Europe’s Viking Cultural Route, which promotes a vision of Viking heritage as a unifying aspect of European identity. Scheel notes that such narratives frequently exclude the violent realities of Viking raids, presenting a sanitized version of history that is more palatable to modern audiences.

The researchers delve into the ways these interpretations have evolved over time, examining works ranging from the 13th-century “Edda” by Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson to references made by influential figures like Otto von Bismarck. They assert that understanding how Viking paganism has been imagined throughout history reveals much about the societal goals and ideologies of different eras.

Scheel points out that the image of the “pagan North” has often been manipulated for political ends. The Volk movement and the National Socialists, for instance, appropriated Norse mythology to support their racial ideologies. Although some associations with right-wing extremism still exist, the contemporary reception of Norse mythology has diversified, reflecting a broader range of interests and interpretations.

At the heart of this research project, titled “Paganisations: Memorialised paganism as an element of Scandinavian and European identities,” is an upcoming conference scheduled for March 15, 2026. The event, “Imagining Nordic Paganism: Cultural Memories and Scholarly Thought Since the Middle Ages,” will explore various aspects of Scandinavian paganism, including its gender dynamics and its role in shaping collective identity.

The conference will feature contributions from international experts in Scandinavian studies, including Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir from Oslo, Alessia Bauer from Paris, Jonas Wellendorf from Berkeley, and Philip Bockholt from the Cluster of Excellence. Their discussions aim to shed light on how the interpretations of Scandinavian paganism have developed from early historical texts to modern scholarly discourse.

This research underscores the importance of critically examining the narratives that have emerged about Vikings and Norse culture. By disentangling the threads of myth and history, scholars are not only redefining our understanding of the past but also influencing how these ancient cultures are perceived in contemporary society.