In the old Viking country on the west coast of Norway, there are people today who live by their forebears' values, albeit the more positive ones.
The short answer to this question is no. Vikings, as a distinct ethnic group or society, no longer exist. Nonetheless, the descendants of Vikings can still be found in many parts of the world, especially in the countries where they settled during their expansion.
Who was a Viking? If we are speaking ethnically, the closest people to a Viking in modern-day terms would be the Danish, Norwegians, Swedish, and Icelandic people. Interestingly though, it was common for their male Viking ancestors to intermarry with other nationalities, and so there is a lot of mixed heritage.
These names can be found in many countries, where Scandinavian settlers migrated, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, and parts of eastern Europe. Despite the passing of time, many Viking descendants proudly carry on their family names through generations.
There are a few different ways that people today can test for their Viking heritage. One option is to research their family history and look for any ancestors who may have had Viking ancestry. Another option is to take a viking DNA test from a company that includes Viking ancestry in its analysis.
The genetic legacy of the Viking Age lives on today with six per cent of people of the UK population predicted to have Viking DNA in their genes compared to 10 per cent in Sweden.
It turns out most Vikings weren't as fair-haired and blue-eyed as legend and pop culture have led people to believe. According to a new study on the DNA of over 400 Viking remains, most Vikings had dark hair and dark eyes.
Thor and Odin are still going strong 1000 years after the Viking Age. Many think that the old Nordic religion - the belief in the Norse gods – disappeared with the introduction of Christianity. However, it did not, but was instead practised secretly or under a Christian cloak.
The evidence to suggest Ragnar ever lived is scarce, but, crucially, it does exist. Two references to a particularly eminent Viking raider in 840 AD appear in the generally reliable Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which speaks of 'Ragnall' and 'Reginherus'.
The genetic legacy of the Viking Age lives on today with six per cent of people of the UK population predicted to have Viking DNA in their genes compared to 10 per cent in Sweden.
The Viking DNA
The DNA test shows that there is a strong Viking heritage on few countries in Europe from England, Ireland, and Iceland to Greenland. Samples of the DNA suggest links to Viking heritage. In Finland and Estonia, there are links for Swedish Viking heritage.
A million Vikings still live among us: One in 33 men can claim to be direct descendants from the Norse warriors.
The faces of men and women in the Viking Age were more alike than they are today. The women's faces were more masculine than women's today, with prominent brow ridges. On the other hand, the Viking man's appearance was more feminine than that of men today, with a less prominent jaw and brow ridges.
The afterlife
Many Norse Pagans believe that the dead go to another realm (such as Valhalla, where it's said that half of those killed in combat would be taken to meet Odin). Things are definitely not as clean cut as with Christianity, which sees good people in heaven and bad people in hell.
The average height of Vikings as found by researchers and scholars, varied depending on a number of factors, including their age and gender. Typically, the average male Viking would usually be between 5 foot 7 and 5 foot 9, while the average female would be between 5 foot 1 and 5 foot 3.
The Vikings typically lived to be around 40-50 years old. But there are also examples of upper class Vikings who lived longer – for instance Harald Fairhair, who was King of Norway for more than 60 years.
As the oldest son of Ragnar and the only surviving child of Ragnar and the famous shield-maiden Lagertha, Bjorn already has the makings of a great warrior. Both of his parents are well-known for their actions during battle, and their leadership outside it.
The largest mound on the island of Munsö located in lake Mälaren is said to be the final resting place of this legendary Viking. The mound is part of an old collection of graves that consists of around 45 smaller mounds.
Unlike other characters in the series, Bjorn is based on a real-life person, and he was a legendary Swedish king and the first ruler of the Munsö dynasty.
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, lit. ''the Eternal Dharma'') which refers to the idea that its origins lie beyond human history, as revealed in the Hindu texts.
Old Norse: the Viking language
By the 8th century, Proto-Norse (which was spoken in Scandinavia and its Nordic settlements) developed into Old Norse – also known as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian.
Valhalla is mentioned in euhemerized form and as an element of remaining Norse pagan belief in Heimskringla. In chapter 8 of Ynglinga saga, the "historical" Odin is described as ordaining burial laws over his country.
Vikings worked long hours, carrying, and using heavy equipment which contributed to the formation of muscles, even from an early age. Another reason for the significant strength of the Vikings was their diet. Vikings were mostly hunters, not gatherers, due to their cold, harsh environment.
The highest concentration of people with green eyes is found in Ireland, Scotland, and northern Europe. In fact, in Ireland and Scotland, more than three-fourths of the population has blue or green eyes – 86 percent!