Vikings: Myth, Legend, and Reality!

#53 Week 11

Author

Sigrun Sørumgård
March 14, 2025

Test your Viking knowledge, from kings and battles to myths and symbols.

  1. Which famous Viking raid in 793 is often considered the beginning of the Viking Age?

  2. What did Vikings call the land they discovered in North America?

  3. What was the name of the Viking marketplace and trading center in Sweden?

  4. Which Viking king ruled over England, Denmark, and Norway in the early 11th century?

  5. Which city in Ireland was originally founded as a Viking settlement?

  6. Which Viking leader is said to have killed a dragon in Norse mythology?

  7. What was the name of the Viking slaves?

  8. How many signs/symbols are there in The older runic alphabet?

  9. Which major battle in 1066 marked the end of the Viking Age?

  10. Who was the last great Viking king, defeated at this battle in 1066?

The Wonder Wall

  • Viking girls got hitched as young as 12 and had to mind the household while their husbands sailed off on adventures. Still, they had more freedom than other women of their era. As long as they weren’t thralls, Viking women could inherit property, request a divorce and reclaim their dowries if their marriages ended.

  • The vast majority of Vikings peacefully sowed barley, rye and oats—at least for part of the year. They also raised cattle, goats, pigs and sheep on their small farms, which typically yielded just enough food to support a family.

  • Vikings didn’t recognize fellow Vikings. In fact, they probably didn’t even call themselves Vikings: The term simply referred to all Scandinavians who took part in overseas expeditions. During the Viking Age, the land that now makes up Denmark, Norway and Sweden was a patchwork of chieftain-led tribes that often fought against each other.

Yesterday´s Questions & Answers

  1. Which flower is known for its ability to track the movement of the sun across the sky?

    Sunflowers famously turn their faces to follow the sun as it crosses the sky.

  2. The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance for soldiers in which war?

    World War I

  3. Which flower’s name means “lion’s tooth” in French ("dent de lion")?

    Dandelion

  4. What is the national flower of India, often associated with purity and spirituality?

    The lotus is the national flower of India, symbolizing purity, beauty, and spiritual growth.

  5. Which rare flower, found in the Alps, symbolizes courage and devotion?

    The edelweiss has long been associated with spiritual purity, courage, and devotion. Its rare and fragile nature made it a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity, often worn as a talisman of protection and good fortune.

  6. What flower is used to produce saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world?

    Saffron is derived from Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus.”

  7. Which flower is often used in perfumes and has a strong, sweet fragrance?

    Jasmine, with its sultry sweetness, is particularly prized in many classic perfumes.

  8. Which flower is traditionally used to make leis in Hawaii?

    Plumeria, also known as frangipani, is a flowering plant that is native to Central America and the Caribbean, but has become almost synonymous with the Hawaiian lei tradition.

  9. Which flower’s name comes from the Greek word for “golden flower”?

    The name "chrysanthemum" is derived from the Ancient Greek: χρυσός chrysos (gold) and ἄνθεμον anthemon (flower).

  10. What is the world’s largest flower, known for its giant size and strong odor?

    Often called the corpse flower, Rafflesia arnoldi blooms into the single largest individual flower in the world.