The colors of their eyes are typically light and are normally gray, brown or a mixture of both. The average height of both males and females is high in Scandinavian countries when you look on a global scale, with the Nordic countries all ranking among the tallest 20 countries, and all with a male average height over 180 cm (5 ft 10 in). This is assuming Viking Age Scandinavians had a similar genetical makeup for certain markers related to beard growth, which the same study supports, mentioning that Vikings largely had similar genetic markers as modern-day Scandis when it comes to hair growth. If a light-haired and light-eyed Swede had a child with a dark-haired and dark-eyed person, the child is less likely to have light hair and eyes because the darker colors will be more dominant. Im diving deeper into what we know of Viking hair and hairstyles in a separate article, so if youd like to find out more and see some examples of fairly historically accurate modern Viking hairstyles go check that out. However, their high cheekbones are not due to genetics. Where do Finns Come From?. Virtual Finland. Vikings were proud of their beards, and facial hair in archeological findings see a sudden increase during the Viking age (compared to the bronze age), suggesting there was a strong cultural preference for beards. Blonde hair is highly prized in many parts of the world, but it is merely an everyday thing in Sweden. This procreation keeps these genetics alive. Point of View. The Mankind Quarterly 63:2 (2002): 122-148. Read Article Now. Take your pick and continue learning about the Vikings and Norse history! In 2005 a reported coined the term the Seattle Freeze and added the large amount of Nordic immigration in the early 19th century as one of the key components of this unwelcoming vibe that Seattle evidently gives off. (Niskanen 125), [11] Do Scandinavians have natural white or platinum blonde hair? Chernoff faces. [7] Required fields are marked *. WebFor example, dimensions can be mapped to the following facial characteristics: eye size, eye spacing, nose length, nose width, mouth curvature, mouth width, mouth openness, pupil size, eyebrow slant, eye eccentricity, and head eccentricity. Is there a link between Scandinavians, Vikings, and the Germanic people who migrated across Europe during the fall of the Roman Empire? The average height of a female Swede is 165.6 cm (5 feet 5.23 inches), while the average height of a male Swede is 179.73 cm (5 feet 10.76 inches) [8]. (Julku 191), [13] Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. Well the most obvious relationship between the Smi and the Finns is the bond of a language family. When you couple this with the opportunity to spend time on athletic endeavors and have access to a protein-rich and generally plentiful diet it is easier to see why some Nordic people tend to generally do well in muscle competitions. Genetic testing has shown that the Finns and the Smi are phenotypically and genetically typical Europeans. This also suggests that the Scandinavians diet is more nutrient-rich than that of their Nordic neighbors. http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html (accessed February 26, 2005). Studies show that most Scandinavian men are generally able to grow a full beard if they choose to do so, which of course not everyone does. The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800s. Editor's Choice The Scandinavian facial features are unique in terms of appearance. These features make them stand out among their Nordic neighbours. How Did Vikings Actually Look? She goes on passing the basin round from one to another until she has taken it to all the men in the house in turn. Scandinavian countries have historically been no nonsense type countries throughout history. Archeological evidence on display on the Viking Museum of Oslo shows some very large Norsemen that are believed to have weighed around 130-140 kilograms, which amounts to 287-309 pounds. In this article, Ill use the terms interchangeably, because although the term Viking stems from the Old Norse word for pirate, it gradually came to encompass all Norse people who embarked upon elaborate naval expeditions from Scandinavia during the Viking Age. However, the lack of sunlight shouldnt be a big issue in most cases because Swedes with pale skin can absorb vitamin D faster than those with darker skin. Whether the Scandinavian beauty myth is real or not is hard to say, but Nordic magazine The Local listed Beautiful Women and Handsome Men among the top 10 things US expats notice after theyve lived in Sweden for a while. ): How Did Vikings Actually Look? Winter, Hang some Old Norse mythology on your walls. Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards, with adult Norse males in Sweden, Norway, and England found to average around 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) in height, compared to 175.3 cm (5 ft 8 in) in modern-day USA and England. So with a large amount of growing evidence, it seems that the Smi came from somewhere much closer to their current home. Karl, Clothes The high cheekbones are not unique to the Scandinavian culture. DNA analysis from specimens from this period has shown people with dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and most likely blue eyeswhich sounds like a lot of modern-day Scandinavians I know. It may be a result of northern Sweden and Norway being the domain of Finno-Ugric Smi reindeer herders, a group that was out of the cultural grasp of the Indo-Europeans that seem to have succeeded in imposing their language only on areas with some level of agriculture. [1] Stereotypical Scandinavian traits and facial features have since the early 20th century included straight, blonde hair; blue eyes; tall figure; a straight nose; thin lips; and non-prominent cheekbones, according to Werner & Bjrks 2014 book Blond and Blue-eyed. To sum it up, the average Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are all very tall compared to the rest of the world. height of adult males during the Viking Age (in cm). Circum Polar Perspective. 1. The ability to have an internal loci of control and to act on it makes the Scandinavian Personality Trait a key trait for personal success. The study of Y chromosomal polymorphisms also seems to support the theory of the Smis long isolation; however, it seems that they were not always living completely alone. (Sajantila), [10] The new Battle Axe culture that slowly spread and took over the Scandinavian region is thought to have been a bit more individualistic and was known for how their men were buried with their big battle axes. Data The taller Vikings reached around 190 cm and the shorter around 170 cm. [5]. Are Epicanthic folds common in Scandinavia? Graphs In very recent studies, some overwhelming new evidence has challenged the myth of the Finns and the Smi as having a strictly Asian origin. Iceland A young serving girl comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water. Genome Research. They are not afraid to be late. Sweden is a beautiful country that attracts many tourists and ex-pats each year. https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/the-people/appearance/, Heres a quote from their text: These ambiguous facial features mean that it is difficult to decide upon a Viking skeletons sex based on the skull alone. White Caucasian features, either fair or darkhaired with fair skin.Whithin Sweden there are some different complexion types, not everybody has blue In the rest of the Nordics (namely Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands) the people tend to look very similar to the Scandinavians, with especially Finland having a very large majority of their population being light-haired (blonde, light-brown, red) and light-eyed (blue, green, grey) according to Peter Frost. In fact, there isnt really a word for tattoo in Norse, which makes it even less likely to have been a common occurrence. This is also illustrated in reality when we look at the eye color of Swedish governors after the 2022 election, with 18 out of 21 (~86%) having brightly colored eyes; 16 pairs of blue eyes (~76% of total), and 2 pairs of green (~10% of total). This was used in their beards as well, and had the benefit of killing hair lice (a very common problem at the time). For another deep-dive into Scandinavian looks, Ive plowed through massive amounts of archaeological objects and DNA analysis to find out how Vikings actually looked (how big they were, how they wore their hair, where they came from, their hair and eye color, etc. (http://members.tripod.com/SAMI_SIIDA/genetic.html). [15], Sajantilas ten-year old theory, though empowering to the Smi, has been suggested to be somewhat false in many of its aspects, as recently as 2002. Lets take a more detailed look at how the Nordic peopleboth male and femalestack up against each other and the world when it comes to height: The Danish are the tallest people in the Nordics, with the average male Dane reaching 182 cm / 512, followed by the Icelandic men at 181 cm, and finally the Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns at 180 cm. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. With the help of modern DNA analysis of ancient Viking remains, we can also establish factors such as what hair color was most common among the Norse people, if they had a lot of body hair, and how likely it was that they had a beard (or at least could grow one). Those with these facial features have high cheekbones, but they are not considered attractive. While the Finns speak Finnish and the Smi speak many different languages among themselves, all of these variants of human speech belong to the Finno-Ugric or Uralic language group. Shopping Additionally, there is also a lack of melanin in the skin, causing it to turn pale. It merely appears this way due to the many generations that the Europeans have been farming, an activity that has caused physical features, such as high cheekbones that allow for bigger masseter muscles to chew tougher food, to reduce in size. WebThe Nordic head is often strikingly narrow about the temples, as though it were pressed in here from both sides. Graphs In Norse mythology, the valkyries were responsible for bringing half the warriors who have fallen in battle to Valhalla, while the other half go to another famous Viking female figure; Freya, the goddess of fertility, love, beauty, and war. The European Origin of the Finns and their Relation to the Indo-. Gods & Goddesses During the Viking Age, DNA analysis of skeletal remains suggests that the majority of Danish Vikings had red hair, so it seems to have been a prevalent trait in the region for a long time. Top Articles Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. Combining all of these sources (archaeological evidence, DNA findings, and written texts) gives us a fuller picture of how Viking Age hairstyles mightve looked, does show some interesting findings. So what did the Vikings actually look like? Lets dig a little deeper and look at what we know about the first Scandinavians: The first inhabitants of the Scandinavian peninsula came from the south with darker skin and blue eyes (known as Western Hunter-Gatherers), later joined by migrants from the east (known as Eastern Hunter-Gatherers) who had lighter skin but darker eyes.During the following centuries, these two hunter-gatherer groups intermingled and produced one of the most diverse populations of the stone age, with a population at the time of about 10 000 to 20 000 in all of Scandinavia. WebMajority are brunettes, the rest are fake blondes. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. As such, there was a larger proportion of dark-haired Vikings found in the study than there are dark-haired Scandinavians today, affirming that while they are largely associated with coming from the Scandinavian region, there was plenty of diversity from all over the known world within the people identifying as Viking. For many years, there was a common belief that the Smi may have migrated from the east and have an Asian genetic background rather than a European one. Science Pale pink skin often with moles, blue eyes, thin to rounded lips, high not that sculptured cheekbones, a bit fat on cheeks(not visable chin/cheek m [10] The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. [2] Another common facial (and body) feature of Swedes is their pale skin. The surgeons in Scandinavia can correct the issue and give you a more attractive and balanced face. The greater width and length of the mean Dutch female face are highlighted, respectively, in the lateral (Figure 1b: opposing redblue at the left and right exocanthi at 0.7 SD) and vertical heat maps (Figure 1c: yellow on chin at 0.7 SD). When it all comes down to it the classic Nordic/Scandinavian stereotype seems to hold true still. The Scandinavians are a distinct group. Your email address will not be published. Though they speak a Finno-Ugric language, they are genetically distinct from other Finno-Ugric and Indo-European people. This means Scandinavian hair mostly fall into these categories: So Scandinavian hair color is mostly light in character, but what types of characteristics does Scandi hair have? The new theory, using mitochondrial DNA testing, states that the Finns did not arrive in Smiland only a short 3,000 years ago but rather came out of the Smi themselves. Sign in to download full-size image Figure 2.17. Old Norse mythology is filled with fascinating symbolism, and the runic alphabets of Germanic Europe have told numerous tales of heroic deeds and tragic deaths over the years. The prevalence of this gene on the Norwegian west coast is thought to be linked to slaves from Ireland and Scotland being brought to Scandinavia. 6 Key Differences You Didnt Know Between Kratom Liquid And Capsules, Can Safety Bollards Protect Your Assets From Accident, Understanding Auto Transport Regulations and Laws, 4 Reasons Why People Are Shifting To Renewable Energy Sources. How Nordics and Scandinavians see each other, an article where I go into detail about Viking traits and looks, which languages each Nordic nationality actually uses when communicating with fellow Nordics, how Vikings actually looked (how big they were, how they wore their hair, where they came from, their hair and eye color, etc. The Scandinavian facial features are unique in terms of appearance. The DNA study of 442 Viking skeletons (published in Nature) reveals that while Viking bands were mostly sourced from Scandinavia, they could also be comprised of Picts and Britons, as well as people with Southern European and even Asian ancestry (sometimes mixed with Scandinavian). The theory is that this has had a long-term effect on the genetical makeup that determines skin color and tanning ability in the Scandinavian region. The study of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi, but the Finns as well. Finland Yet, there exists no actual evidence that we know of that any Norse person ever wore their hair like that, but with names like Sveynn Forkbeard (a beard parted in two) and Harald Fairhair (especially remarkable hair), its fair to assume that Vikings valued and cared for both their hair and their appearance in general. For several hundred years, there was a belief that the Smi and the Finns had a Mongoloid origin. In summary, it seems Scandinavians from before the Viking age looked a bit different from todays Scandis, with multiple migration waves that settled in the region up until the iron age being quite diverse in looks and origins. Over 70% of male Scandinavians have some form of body hair (androgenic hair), which is among the highest rates in the world (along with Mediterranean men). Filed Under: Psychological Articles and Infographics, 2023 HealthResearchFunding.org - Privacy Policy, 14 Hysterectomy for Fibroids Pros and Cons, 12 Pros and Cons of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, 14 Pros and Cons of the Cataract Surgery Multifocal Lens, 11 Pros and Cons of Monovision Cataract Surgery. A Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other parent has dark hair. This data may not be representative of the Nordic region as a whole, but at least it gives you an insight into what actual Scandinavian people look like in 2023. Gods Nordic and Scandinavian Physical Traits Today. Nordic WebLatvian face features are light hair and gray, bluish, or greenish eyes, some of them are of darker complexion, generally with brownish hair and eyes. WebThey have a pronounced nose, high cheekbones, and slim lips. In general, Vikings were genetically disposed to be tall on average and started training to become capable warriors from a very young age. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Hello, I am interested in this claim here: It is believed that Vikings had more gender-neutral facial features than Scandinavians today, meaning males and females had more similar characteristics. A study by the National Library of Medicine concluded that its more challenging for skin with more pigmentation (i.e., darker skin) to absorb vitamin D [4]. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. And, despite their sex and gender, the Scandinavians have the highest cheekbones in the world. The significance of this rests with the fact that this mutation has only been found in six other samples. This result is consistent across the Nordic region. Fashion WebSwedish ( ethnic ones not Saamis), mostly belong to what is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe. Essentially, this means you will likely not meet as many curly-haired Scandinavians as you would southern Europeans or Americans for example. History Darkening the areas around the eyes would also help against sunlight reflections at sea and on snow, so there are likely practical as well as cosmetic elements behind this custom. Read More About Modern-Day Nordic Traits. what we know of Viking hair and hairstyles, Read more about how The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and Game of Thrones compare, modern-day Scandinavia have a specific gene-makeup that is linked to more facial hair growth, the origin of Vikings before they came to Scandinavia, Viking Age Hairstyles & Beards: Historical & Modern Takes, How Tall & Strong Were Vikings? soc.culture.nordic. http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/geeneng.html (accessed February 26, 2005). Fashion The Nordic countries share a history that goes back hundreds of years. Chinese people have rounder eyes, while Japanese people usually have almond-shaped eyes. So lets see what we know about what the Vikings actually looked like, based on what weve established through DNA studies, archeological findings, and documented history. Its no so hard to understand Ibn Fadlans disgust, when you factor in that according to muslim faith one has to wash in running water or water poured from a bowl (and not reused). The Scandinavians have high cheekbones, which makes them more likely to be a desirable type of person. They have been affiliated with being people of great courage and also with being countries that invaded other countries. Your email address will not be published. Shopping General Smi Website. Two eyes, one nose, a mouth. Probably a chin and ears. I think. Sweden The cheeks tend to be rounder, and there is generally less definition around the face. Top Articles Another wave of migrants came into Scandinavia around 4800 years ago from the Russian steppes, originating from the northern shores of the Black sea and commonly called the Western Steppe Herders. Food Curious about where the Vikings came from and how they ended up in Scandinavia? However, its not uncommon for Swedish people to have dark brown (or sometimes even black) hair. Furthermore, recent DNA studies show that people from modern-day Scandinavia have a specific gene-makeup that is linked to more facial hair growth than average, as well as a facial hair growth pattern that is concentrated around the upper lip, cheek, neck, and chin (meaning full beards are common among Scandinavians). Scandinavian, Viking & Germanic Links Explained (With Maps). WebSome of the familiar Scandinavian personality traits include: reticence, a highly skeptical personality, general mistrust of strangers, cautious behavior, somewhat reserved [10] Design And then again, Vikings loved to express their creative sides in artful and ornamental ways, and were known to have filed down their own teeth in likely attempts to look scarier (and cooler), as seen in archeological findings. Although light features are standard, some swedes have darker hair and eyes. When it comes to how the Norse wore and styled their hair, we do have some artwork findings that show us a few examples of how Viking hairstyles could look, such as the Valkyrie knot for Norse females and the Norman cut for Norse males. So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This is according to genetic research by Medland et al. So, if a person ever decides to visit Sweden, they should be prepared to see lots of blue eyes! While there are some that feature darker Mongoloid-like characteristics, there are others who display very light colored pigments in their skin and hair. It should be noted that human length, in general, is determined by a mixture of nature (genes) and nurture (diet), and there are also regions of the world that are believed to have a taller or shorter average height due to primarily genetic reasonssuch as the short Pygmee people of central Africa, and the tall Dinka people of South Sudan. He wears his hair balded neck and blinded eyes, which suggests the so-called Norman Cut with long hair in the front and shaved in the back. Even the Vikings were known for bleaching their hair, although the main reason to do so may have been primarily to kill hair lice. http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/where_do.html, http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000245.html, http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/geeneng.html, http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html. Hi Love, you can see it to some extent in the various facial reconstructions done by different institutions around the world (based on analysis of DNA and skeletal remains): https://nordicperspective.com/history/vikings/how-vikings-actually-looked-complete-guide#index2, It is also mentioned by the National Museum of Denmark right here: He also noted that they use a kind of indelible cosmetic to enhance the beauty of their eyes (believed to be Black Henbane). There are a few theories on why people from Scandinavia, and the Nordics in general, can be light-skinned under low UV conditions (i.e. Vikings vs. Last Kingdom vs. Game of Thrones, Curious how The Last Kingdom compares to Vikings, and how they both compare to Game of Thrones? He left Sweden at 19 to explore the world, and stayed abroad for almost 8 yearsduring which he backpacked, worked every job there was, earned a degree from UC Berkeley, and met the future mother of his children. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Ragnar & Uthred), it is of course possible that some Vikings styled their hair like that. Since sunlight exposure is one of the best ways to absorb vitamin D, its normal to wonder if Swedes are often deficient in this vitamin. Culture Of course, there are Swedes with darker hair (like dark brown and black), but its not as common as in other nations. Fika The first farmersoriginating from Anatolia and Syria and commonly called Early European Farmersstart arriving to Europe and Scandinavia around 4 000 BCE with powerful new knowledge and tools, competing and wiltimately fusing with the original inhabitants. He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. I plowed through numerous books and historical texts to map out exactly how the Germanic people are connected to the Norse people and modern-day Scandinavians. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. If you feel youre suffering from this type of facial feature, you can seek a cosmetic surgeon in Scandinavia. The sagas often tell tales of exceptional strength, which is supported by several forms of archaeological evidence. swedish people facial characteristics. You can also add to the list being introverted, confident and very focused. (Examples), https://nordicperspective.com/history/vikings/how-vikings-actually-looked-complete-guide#index2, Northern Europeans Average (R Steckel 2004), Anglo-Saxons, England (G Galofr-Vil 2017), Global Average (based on archeological findings), Romans 500 BCE500CE, Italy (G Kron 2005). Symbolism Read more about how The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and Game of Thrones compare. This is a result of a founding effect or a bottleneck effect. In fact, Vikings were likely more dark-haired than Scandinavians are today. Did Vikings Wear Eyeliner and Other Makeup? Norse Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5192d68ae09dbbbee634a67fbff4656" );document.getElementById("j39e62affa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Can You Get By With English Only In the Nordic Countries? Introversion also associated with Scandinavian Personality Traits can also mean introspection which is always a good trait. http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/where_do.html (accessed February 26, 2005). ), How the Dutch & Scandinavians Are Connected (Complete Guide), Norse vs. Norwegian vs. Nordic: Differences Explained, Average Height in the Nordics (Data & Graphs), https://kaw.wallenberg.org/forskning/atlas-med-forhistoriskt-dna-ger-ny-bild-av-manniskans-ursprung. Culture Ive written an article for those who are thinking of watching the show but havent made up their minds yet, where I also compare the shows IMDb ratings in detail toGame of ThronesandThe Last Kingdom. Yli-Kuha, Kari. WebSwedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. 2. Next, take a look at the persons facial features. There have been multiple publications that have looked at how the Scandinavian Personality Traits are prevalent as much as the light hair and light eyes are prevalent in people with heritage in this region of Europe. Quiz It should be added that those athletes are extreme outliers, and not at all representative of the general Nordic population. They also tend to have medium-sized skulls and are very punctual. Nordic Coffee Culture Explained: From Fika to Kask. Although it isnt exactly common with Epicanthic folds among the Swedish population, Swedes with Sami heritage (famous examples include Jens Byggmark, Anja Prson and Ingemar Stenmark), and from the northern parts in general, have higher rates of Epicanthic eye folds. They built powerful cultures and countries. I would say 5050, there has always been mosty people with brown hair in Sweden, the vikings did dye their hair blonde. But most have blue eyes, no Notable Nordic winners of the strongman competition include Icelands Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson (of Game of Thrones fame as Ser Gregor Clegane/The Mountain) and Swedens Magnus Samuelsson (who features in the series The Last Kingdom as the Viking band member Clapa). A genetic distinctness even exists within the heterogeneous Smi, which leads some to believe that perhaps being classified as a Smi should be a grouping based on living a certain way of life rather than having a certain genetic component. Soft features mean the face is less angular and has fewer harsh lines (like sharp jaw bones and chin definition). Streaming Tips Thor in Norse Mythology: The Strong God of Thunder & Farmers, Believe it or not, the Thor from Norse mythology is not quite the handsome, chiseled, blond, and time-traveling hunk youve seen in the MCU movies. When did they come into being? Finland Oslo I wrote an article describinghow Nordic people actually look, with all the data you need to get a good picture of exactly how blond, blue-eyed, tall and strong Scandinavians are on average today. Popular Post The Finns had always been thought of as the more dominant group but now new theories claiming that it was the Finns who got their language from the Smi have started to arise. Vikings were described wearing artificial eye make-up that made their beauty never disappear, with their beauty enhanced in both men and women by Al-Tartushi around 950 CE. Read Article Now. However, more recent work in genetics shows there is a relation among the Smi that comes from more than just sharing a lifestyle.