An archaeologist assesses the historical accuracy of Vikings And Vikings: ValhallaExplain why the points get wrong. Airing on the History Channel for six seasons from 2013 to 2020, Vikings Follows Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his companions in the 8th century as they explore and fight. The world of the show would then return as a Netflix original with Vikings: ValhallaWhich takes place 100 years later and records the adventures of Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), Freidis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and other historical figures, and the difficulties they endure.
In a recent video for wiredArchaeologist Cat Jarman responds to a question on social media about the historical accuracy of Vikings And Vikings: Valhalla. Jarman reveals that the two shows are “Not very accurate“ Although many of the characters and events are inspired by those in real history. She singles out the show’s shield of Lagertha’s (Katheryn Winnick) all-female army as one element not supported by archaeological evidenceAlthough she does explain that female warriors existed at the time. Check out Jarman’s comments below:
“They are not very accurate, but they are inspired by a lot of real events. Many of them are inspired by the sagas. So, for example, in the last ones, where you have King Canute and Emma, ​​there are a Many of the facts surrounding these people are actually quite close to what we know happened from historical records.
But there are other things that are not quite right or that go a little too far. One of these is the image of women and female warriors. Now this is something that has caused quite a lot of debate because certainly in the Vikings show we have many female warriors. In fact, entire armies are made up only of women. We have records of what we call shield maidens. So they are the kind of fighting women. But they are usually thought to be mythical.
We have female goddesses, like Freya, for example, the goddess of war. You have the Valkyries up in Valhalla, for example, who swoop down onto the battlefield and take the fallen warriors up to Odin’s Hall. But do they really fight?
This is a so-called Birka warrior woman, better known as Bj 581. This is a grave that was discovered quite a long time ago that we marked as a warrior grave. It was… full of every type of weapon imaginable. Ancient DNA from this shows that this individual is actually genetically female.
I think the likelihood is that it was possible for women to also take part in battle, but we really don’t have that many of them. Because we would have had more evidence, we would have had more female graves with weapons and with weapon wounds.
In her direct response to the social media user, Jarman offers more clarity on her own feelings about the Vikings Franchise playing fast and loose with real history, writing that The shows are “Not meant to be exact.” Read her comment below:
“They are fictional and not meant to be accurate, although inspired by real events. Female warriors like in Vikings probably existed, but as far as we can tell, large armies of women are fictional.
What the shows’ lack of historical accuracy means for the Vikings universe
No show needed historical accuracy to find success
Both Vikings And Vikings: Valhalla Reviews were positive from critics. The Mothership show, for example, has a strong 93% on Rotten tomatoes from critics, and the spinoff did even better, sporting a 96%. Each show has clearly delivered quality storytelling, strong performances and an interesting exploration of real figures with each new season. considered Vikings Ran for six seasons and the spinoff ran for three, viewers is also evidently very strong.
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The fact that no Vikings Or Vikings: Valhalla They are mainly faithful to real history, therefore, does not seem to have hindered any show. While the two series may be stretching historical truth with their depictions of how prevalent female warriors were at the time, the creative freedom worked on a narrative level. what’s more, Neither show pretends to be a historically accurate retelling of eventsGiving showrunners like Michael Hirst and Jeb Stewart the freedom to approach the time as they saw fit.
Our take on the historical inaccuracies of the Vikings franchise
The Vikings shows are not works of non-fiction
With any show or movie that adapts real historical events or people, Telling a strong, entertaining story is generally more important than staying true to every historical detail. A show like VikingsIt is not a documentary after all, and is a fiction, as Zarman says.
As long as the points in the Vikings Universes stay true to their own internal rules and the world the showrunners created, they can create a sense of verisimilitude for audiences. Even though an army of female warriors may not be true to actual Viking history, such an army may feel true and real in the worlds of Vikings And Vikings: ValhallaAnd that is ultimately what matters most.
Source: wired