WOMEN IN VIKING CULTURE
I.
WOMEN IN VIKING CULTURE
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
NO CONTEMPORARY SOURCES GIVE US PRECISE & DETAILED
KNOWLEDGE OF VIKING AGE SOCIETY
2.
MYTHOLOGY OF VIKINGS GIVES US MASCULINE WORLD
3.
WHERE WARRIOR MAIN HERO
4.
GODDESSES, GIANTESSES OR ORDINARY WOMEN ARE GENERALLY
DECORATIVE & PERIPHERAL
5.
ALMOST ALL ACTION IS MALE ACTION
6.
WHERE WOMEN ARE INVOLVED IN ACTION,
a.
IT IS OFTEN AS CATALYSTS FOR CONFLICTS
b.
THAT MALE ACTION HAS TO RESOLVE
7.
GIANTESS & OTHER SUCH FIGURES ARE FROM A REMOTE
LEGENDARY PAST NOT IN A MODERN RECENT ERA
8.
BUT THERE ARE FEW POEMS BY FEMALE POETS SUGGESTING
TRADITION OF POETRY DONE BY WOMEN
9.
BUT IT WAS NOT PRESERVED BECAUSE IT DID NOT CONFORM TO
PREVAILING MASCULINE DISCOURSE
10.
BUT BOTH FATHER & MOTHERS' KIN MADE OF FAMILY GROUPINGS
11.
INDIVIDUAL OWED OBLIGATIONS TO BOTH FAMILIES
B.
STRUCTURE OF VIKING SOCIETY
1.
GREAT SOCIAL & ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES EXISTED IN VIKING
SOCIETY
a.
DEAD MIGHT BE BURIED IN WONDERFULLY FURNISHED
GRAVES
b.
OR CARELESSLY DISCARDS
2.
WE KNOW ABOUT KINGS, CHIEFTAINS
3.
FREE FARMERS
4.
SLAVES
5.
PLUS VARIOUS SOCIAL STATIONS IN BETWEEN
6.
WE KNOW LEAST ABOUT THESE MIDDLE GROUPS
a.
WE KNOW NAMES BUT NOT WHAT THEY MEAN
b.
& NOT GENERAL AGREEMENT EITHER
7.
THE FREE
a.
FREE BACKBONE OF SOCIETY
b.
FREE HAD RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AT THE "THING"
c.
ASSEMBLY
d.
WHERE PUBLIC ISSUES DISCUSSED AND DECISIONS TAKEN
e.
BUT NO INDICATION WOMEN INVOLVED IN THIS ASSEMBLY
C.
ECONOMY OF VIKINGS
1.
AGRICULTURE BASIC OCCUPATION ALMOST EVERYWHERE
2.
LAND CONFERRED STATUS
3.
ESSENTIAL PART OF POWER BASE OF ROYALTY & ARISTOCRACY
a.
LARGE LAND HOLDINGS
4.
HISTORIANS NOT SURE WOMEN OWNERS OF LAND
5.
TRADE IN AMBER, WALRUS TUSKS, SLAVES
D.
ROLES & STATUS OF WOMEN IN VIKING SOCIETY
1.
MUCH EVIDENCE WOMEN HELD THEIR OWN
2
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
EVEN THOUGH MEN HAD UPPER HAND
MANY WOMEN EXERCISED INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY
& RESPECTED AS MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN SOCIAL CLASS
WOMEN'S STATUS MAY HAVE IMPROVED DURING VIKING AGE
SINCE MEN OFTEN AWAY ON LONG MILIARY EXPEDITIONS OR
TRADING VOYAGES
LEAVING WOMEN IN CHARGE AT HOME
MANY RUNE STONES ALL OVER SCANDINAVIA RAISED BY WOMEN
OR IN MEMORY OF WOMEN
WOMEN PRAISED FOR GOOD HOUSEKEEPING & OTHER
TRADITIONALLY FEMININE QUALITIES
a.
& SKILLS NB TO FARMING COMMUNITIES
ODINDISA FROM VASTMANLAND IN SWEDEN GIVEN THIS OBITUARY
BY HER HUSBAND
a.
THERE WILL NOT COME TO HASSMYRA A BETTER MISTRESS
WHO HOLDS SWAY OVER THE FARM
GUNNVOR HAD THIS WRITTEN ABOUT HER YOUNG DAUGHTER
ASTRID ON FINE STONE IN DYMNA IN SOUTHERN NORWAY
a.
SHE WAS THE HANDIEST [MOST SKILFUL] GIRL IN HADELAND
GIVEN NB OF FAMILY UNIT, CONSISTING OF SPOUSE & SIBLINGS
IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT LARGEST & MOST SPLENDID RUNIC
MONUMENTS MENTION WOMEN
KINGS RAISED MONUMENTS IN MEMORY OF THEIR QUEENS
SONS IN MEMORY OF THEIR PARENTS OR IN MEMORY OF THEIR
MOTHER
ROYAL DESCENT ON MOTHER'S SIDE SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH
LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THRONE
a.
LIKE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
WITHIN SAME SOCIAL SPHERE WOMEN';S GRAVES JUST AS SPLENDID
AS MEN'S GRAVES
IN FACT WOMAN'S GRAVE AT OSEBERG IN VESTFOLD, SOUTHERN
NORWAY
IS MOST MAGNIFICENTLY FURNISHED OF ALL VIKING AGE GRAVES
DEMONSTRATING ARISTOCRATIC WOMEN COULD HAVE GREAT
WEALTH & STANDING IN COMMUNITY
QUEEN DIED SOMETIME FIRST HALF 9TH C.
GREAT SHIP 21.6 METERS LONG & 5 METERS WIDE
MADE OUT OF OAK ELABORATELY CARVED
TWO WOMEN, ONE IN HER 20'S
OTHER ABOUT 50 WITH VERY BAD ARTHRITIS
a.
WHICH WAS QUEEN & WHICH SLAVE NOT KNOWN
b.
CONTENDERS FOR QUEEN
(1)
ALFHILDR & ASA,
(2)
BUT PROBABLY ASA
(3)
AS ASUBERG IN OLD NORSE (OSEBERG)
EVERYTHING THEY MIGHT NEED INCLUDED
a.
CART & FOUR SLEDGES,
b.
SADDLE, 12 HORSES
c.
3 BEDS, CHAIR, LAMPS, OAK CHESTS, TAPESTRIES
THESE WOMEN & OTHERS BURIED WITH ITEMS THAT PERTAINED TO
3
E.
THEIR ROLE
a.
HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS
(1)
INCLUDING IRON FRYING PAN FOR OSEBERG BURIAL
b.
IMPLEMENTS FOR NEEDLEWORK, SPINNING & WEAVING
c.
JEWELLERY
d.
LAPDOGS
28.
OSEBERG BURIAL NOT UNIQUE
29.
ONLY MOST SPLENDID OF GROUP OF 9TH C BURIALS
a.
TO BE SEEN AT VIKING SHIP MUSEUM IN OSLO, NORWAY
30.
AS VIKINGS BECAME CHRISTIANIZED RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS
MENTIONING WOMEN & ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY WOMEN
RISE
31.
RUNIC MEMORIALS BY HUSBANDS TO THEIR WIVES ALSO RISE WITH
ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY
32.
OUTSIDE FAMILY & FARM WOMEN HAD FAR FEWER OPPORTUNITIES
THAN MEN
33.
THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN FELAG AS FAR AS WE KNOW
a.
FELLOWSHIP
b.
FELAG MIGHT CONSIST OF
(1)
JOINT OWNERS OF SHIP,
(2)
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
(3)
OR BAND OF WARRIORS
c.
MEMBERS OF FELAG OWED EACH OTHER MUTUAL
OBLIGATIONS
34.
WITH SCANDINAVIA'S CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY CHURCH
CONGREGATIONS REPLACED OLD FELLOWSHIPS
35.
& THESE SEEM TO HAVE ATTRACTED MANY WOMEN
36.
IN THEIR CAPACITY AS LANDOWNERS SOME WOMEN LENT THEIR
NAMES TO NEW SETTLEMENTS
37.
BOTH IN SCANDINAVIA & ABROAD
38.
ALTHOUGH MOST PLACE NAMES BASED ON MAN'S NAME
39.
VIKING WOMEN HAD RIGHT TO DIVORCE
40.
DENMARK
a.
MEN PUNISHED BY DEATH FOR ADULTERY,
b.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE OF VIRGINS
41.
IN PAGAN PERIOD UNWANTED CHILDREN EXPOSED
42.
ONCE CHRISTIANIZED BANNED IT EXCEPT IN CASE OF DEFORMED
CHILDREN
43.
NO RUNE STONES RAISED IN MEMORY OF CHILDREN
RELIGION OF PAGAN VIKINGS
1.
BELIEVED IN VARIETY OF DEITIES
2.
MANY OF THESE GLORIFIED IN WAGNER'S OPERAS IN 19TH C.
3.
THOR - GOD OF THUNDER
a.
MOST POPULAR
b.
THURSDAY DAY SACRED TO THOR
4.
ODIN, CHIEF GOD
a.
PRESIDED OVER VALHALLA, WARRIORS' HEAVEN
b.
ONLY BY DEATH IN BATTLE COULD NORTHMAN ENTER
VALHALLA
c.
SEXUAL ROLES SO DEEPLY ROOTED AMONG WARRIOR
4
ARISTOCRACY
THAT 2 SEXES HAD DIFFERENT REALMS FOR DEAD IN PAGAN
TIMES
e.
ANOTHER NAME FOR ODIN WAS WOTAN
(1)
WEDNESDAY IS WOTAN'S DAY
5.
ODIN'S WIFE FRIGGA OR FRIGG
a.
FOREMOST OF GODDESSES
b.
HER ROLE IN MYTHOLOGICAL NARRATIVES TRAGIC MOTHER
c.
WHEN HER SON BALDR DREAMS HE WILL DIE, SHE TRAVELS
EARTH GETTING PROMISES THAT BALDR WILL NOT BE
HARMED BY FIRE, WATER, ETC.
d.
HOWEVER SHE OMITS MISTLETOE, THINKING IT TOO YOUNG
TO MAKE SUCH PROMISE
e.
BALDR'S BROTHER IS TRICKED INTO THROWING SOME
MISTLETOE AT HIM & HE DIES INSTANTLY
f.
BALDR'S DEATH IS BEGINNING OF END OF WORLD
6.
FREYJA OR FREYA
a.
MOST COLORFUL GODDESS
b.
GODDESS OF LOVE
(1)
EQUIVALENT OF VENUS OR APHRODITE
c.
HER BEAUTY & DESIRABILITY ARE CAUSE OF TROUBLE FOR
OTHER GODS
d.
SHE LIVES IN LARGE & BEAUTIFUL HALL & DRIVES AROUND
IN CHARIOT DRAWN BY 2 CATS
e.
FRIDAY IS NAME AFTER HER
7.
GODS ENGAGED IN CONSTANT BATTLE WITH GIANTS
a.
GERDR, WIFE OF FREYR & SISTER-IN-LAW OF FREYJA
ORIGINALLY GIANTESS
(1)
MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL WOMEN
8.
SIF,
a.
WIFE OF THOR
b.
MOST DECORATIVE GODDESS
c.
GOLD IS CALLED SIF'S HAIR
d.
MISCHIEVOUS GOD HAD ONCE CUT OFF ALL SIF'S HAIR
e.
& THOR THREATENED TO BREAK EVERY BONE I HIS BODY
UNLESS HE GOT DWARFS TO MAKE SIF SOME HAIR OUT OF
GOLD THAT WOULD GROW LIKE ANY OTHER HAIR
9.
OTHER FEMALE ENTITIES IN MYTHOLOGY
a.
VALKYRIES
(1)
FEMALE FIGURES WHOSE JOB IS TO SERVE IN
VALHALLA BRINGING DRINK, ETC.
(2)
ODIN SENDS THEM TO EVERY BATTLE,
(3)
& THEY CHOOSE WHO IS TO DIE & WHO IS TO WIN
(4)
THESE HANDMAIDENS OF ODIN WELCOMING DEAD
HERO WITH DRINKING HORN WELL REPRESENTED IN
VIKING ART
VIKING ATTACKS ON ENGLAND & CONTINENT
1.
789 IN THIS YEAR KING BEORHTRIC TOOK TO WIFE EADBURH,
DAUGHTER OF KING OFFA. AND IN HIS DAYS THERE CAME FOR THE
FIRST TIME 3 SHIPS OF NORTHMEN FROM HORTHALAND: AND THE
d.
F.
5
G.
REEVE RODE THITHER AND TRIED TO COMPEL THEM TO GO TO THE
ROYAL MANOR - FOR HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE - AND
THEY SLEW HIM. THESE WERE THE FIRST SHIPS TO COME TO
ENGLAND
2.
THUS ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE REPORTS FIRST RAID & FIRST
VICTIM OF VIKINGS
3.
4 YEARS LATER IN AD 793 FOLLOWED MUCH MORE FAMOUS RAID
ON ISLAND MONASTERY AT LINDISFARNE:
a.
THE HARRYING OF THE HEATHEN MISERABLY DESTROYED
GOD;S CHURCH IN LINDISFARNE BY RAPINE &
SLAUGHTER...BEHOLD THE CHURCH OF ST. CUTHBERT,
SPATTERED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE PRIESTS OF GOD,
DESPOILED OF ALL ITS ORNAMENTS; A PLACE MORE
VENERABLE THAN ANY OTHER IN BRITAIN HAS FALLEN PREY
TO PAGANS
4.
WHY DID THEY COME?
a.
REASONS OFFERED BY SCHOLARS ARE MANY & VARIED
b.
OVERPOPULATION AT HOME IS USUALLY CITED AS PRIME
FACTOR
c.
NORWAY & ESPECIALLY DENMARK POPULATION EXPLOSION
7-8TH CENTURIES
d.
LOOT, PILLAGE, ADVENTURE
e.
GRADUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRM GOVERNMENTS
THROUGHOUT MUCH OF WESTERN EUROPE,
f.
ESPECIALLY WITH CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE UNDER
CHARLEMAGNE
g.
RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN EUROPEAN
MERCANTILE TRADE
h.
WHICH LED TO INCREASED PIRACY OPPORTUNITIES
i.
ALSO EVOLUTION OF SHIPBUILDING ART IN COURSE 8TH C.
j.
NOT ONLY FAMOUS LONGSHIPS
k.
BUT LESS WELL-KNOWN KNORRS OR MERCHANT VESSELS
l.
SO VIKINGS COULD RAID AND THEN COLONIZE LANDS
m.
VERY TOOLS OF VIKING EXPANSION
REPERCUSSIONS OF VIKING ATTACKS ON NUNNERIES
1.
GREATEST EXTERNAL THREAT TO MONASTIC SECURITY &
LONGEVITY DURING 8TH THROUGH 11TH C.
2.
CAME FROM INVASIONS OF VIKINGS, SARACENS & HUNGARIANS
3.
CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS MAY HAVE EXAGGERATED DAMAGES
4.
IN REALITY GREAT NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES FELL
VICTIM TO INVADERS
5.
IN ENGLAND ALONE AT LEAST 41 HOUSES FOR WOMEN DESTROYED
BY DANES
6.
VERY FEW OF ENGLISH WOMEN'S COMMUNITIES SURVIVED
REPEATED ONSLAUGHT BY VIKINGS
7.
BARKING ABBEY DESTROYED BY DANES IN 870
a.
ALL NUNS OF COMMUNITY BURNED ALIVE INSIDE
MONASTERY
8.
SAY YEAR MONASTERY OF ELY & HIS NUNS KILLED BY DANES
9.
NUNS OF WHITBY FLED BUT AT LAST PLACE OF REFUGE ALL
6
MASSACRED
YOUR TEXT TALKS ABOUT NUNS AT COLDINHAM WHO ATTEMPTED
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES BY MUTILATING THEMSELVES
a.
CUTTING OFF THEIR NOSES & LIPS
b.
TO DISCOURAGE RAPE
c.
BUT BURNED ALIVE ANYWAY
11.
AS SO MANY ESTABLISHMENTS NEAR SEA
a.
RAPE & MURDER TOOK THEIR TOLL
12.
BY TIME OF NORMAN CONQUEST ONLY 9 HOUSES OUT OF 76 HOUSES
REMAINED
WOMEN SLAVES IN VIKING SOCIETY
1.
CERTAIN CRIMES PUNISHABLE BY SLAVERY
2.
PURPOSE OF MANY VIKING EXPEDITIONS TO CAPTURE SLAVES
a.
WOMAN LARGE NUMBER OF THESE CAPTIVES THAT BECAME
SLAVES
b.
WARRIORS MIGHT KEEP THEM
c.
SELL THEM
d.
OR EXCHANGE THEM FOR RANSOM FROM CHRISTIAN CHURCH
OR RICH RELATIVES
e.
RANSOMING OF CHRISTIAN CAPTIVES ACT OF PIETY
FREQUENTLY MENTIONED IN ACCOUNTS OF CONVERSION OF
SCANDINAVIA
f.
VIKINGS' SUPERB SHIPS MADE IT EASY TO ADDUCT SLAVES
FROM FOREIGN LANDS
g.
MONASTERY ON RHINE 837 REPORTS
(1)
IMMENSE WHIRLWINDS FREQUENTLY ERUPTED AND
COMET HAS BEEN SEEN...PAGANS LAID WASTE...AND
ABDUCTED MANY CAPTIVE WOMEN
3.
PEOPLE PROBABLY 1 OF VIKINGS' MOST NB TRADING COMMODITIES
4.
SOMETIMES SLAVE ACCOMPANIED THEIR MASTER IN DEATH
5.
SEVERAL DOUBLE BURIALS KNOWN
a.
GRAVE CONTAINS FURNISHINGS FOR 1 PERSON
b.
OTHER PERSON HAS SUFFERED VIOLENT DEATH
6.
WOMAN COULD BE BURIED WITH MALE SLAVE
7.
MAN WITH FEMALE SLAVE
8.
ORIBN FADHLAN DESCRIBED SUCH BURIALS ON VOLGA
VIKING WOMEN ABROAD
1.
IN 9TH & 10TH CENTURIES LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN INVOLVED
IN VIKING SETTLEMENTS
a.
OF UNINHABITED OR RELATIVELY SPARSELY INHABITED
AREAS
(1)
SCOTLAND
(2)
ICELAND
(3)
GREENLAND
2.
WOMEN ALSO INVOLVED IN VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION TO NORTH
AMERICA
a.
ERIC THE RED
b.
SO ERICA THE PINK
3.
ALTHOUGH MOST WOMEN TRAVELLED AS MEMBERS OF
HOUSEHOLD
10.
H.
I.
7
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
SOME EVIDENCE WOMEN PLAYED PIONEER ROLE
a.
BY ORGANIZING TRANSPORT OF FAMILY & FOLLOWERS
b.
DECISION MAKING ONCE ARRIVED
WOMEN ALSO ACCOMPANIED MEN ON TRADING & RAIDING
VOYAGES TO MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS OF EUROPE
DISAGREEMENT WHETHER WOMEN ACTED AS TRADERS OR NOT
BUT THEY PROBABLY DID
FOR VIKING AGE COINCIDED WITH DEVELOPMENT & EXPANSION OF
MARKETS & TOWNS THROUGHOUT EUROPE
CLEAREST PICTURE WE HAVE OF VIKINGS IS IN ENGLAND
WHERE VIKINGS HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON ANGLO-SAXON
ENGLAND
CONTEMPORARY SOURCES TELL US THAT WOMEN BELONGED TO
GREAT ARMY THAT INVADED ENGLAND AROUND 890 INCLUDED
WIVES
BUT THEY ATTEMPTED TO PLACED THEM IN A SAFE POSITION
BEFORE BATTLE
& ALSO HAVING RAPED & PILLAGED FOR YEARS,
PROBABLY MORE OF A SETTLEMENT ADVENTURE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE
IN ENGLAND VIKING TOWNS SUCH AS YORK OR YORVIK & LINCOLN
a.
BOTH YORK & LINCOLN HAD URBAN ROOTS GOING BACK TO
ROMAN PERIOD
b.
BUT REVITALIZED AT TIME OF SCANDINAVIAN SETTLEMENT
OF ENGLAND
VIKING WOMEN NB TO SETTLEMENT IN IRELAND & NORMANDY
a.
DUBLIN, NEW TOWN OF VIKING ORIGINS
& WOMEN ACCOMPANIED RUS TRADERS GOING DOWN THROUGH
RUSSIA INTO CONSTANTINOPLE