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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Today's vikingism: 'Viking Day', a 2020 Peppa Pig episode, featuring horned helmets, dragon heads, boat hijackings, viking shanties, and a raided food stall ⚔️🥪 Full(ish) episode here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dFF...

Peppa, Granny and others in 'viking' garb on their stolen vessel, presumably on their way to loot and plundering.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Some more candid thoughts from the Great Viking Survey:

A response from the Great Viking Survey (2025), in which the surveyee answers whether or not they admire vikings: 'It's just a job from a different culture. It would be like admiring an ancient Egyptian accountant'.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Some more wisdom from the Great Viking Survey dataset:

An anonymous response from the Great Viking Survey (conducted in 2025), reading: 'Look [like] a viking, smell like a viking and walk like a viking. Then I am probably a viking.'

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Many congratulations to our friends at the Museum of Danish America for a successful first month of Vikingmania! We were very happy to contribute survey data and videos to the exhibition. In Elk Horn, IA until Apr 2027; on tour afterwards! www.danishmuseum.org/exhibition/v... 📸 Adam Bierstedt/MoDA

A group of visitors being shown around the Vikingmania! exhibition by curator Adam Bierstedt. A large red sign with the exhibition title is on the left side of the photograph.

A display at the Vikingmania! exhibition, containing information and objects related to the Kensington Runestone.

Displays at the Vikingmania! exhibition, containing information and objects related to vikings as entertainment.

A display at the Vikingmania! exhibition, with two visitors viewing a recorded video of Dr Christian Cooijmans talking about viking identity in the United States.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Today's vikingism: this composite photograph of Norway's national football team dressed as pop-culture vikings ⚽ 📸 David Yarrow

A photograph of the Norwegian national football team dressed up as pop-culture vikings on a beach, with the Nærøyfjord composited in as background, and the same viking ship pasted in three times at different angles and distances.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Today's vikingism: this 9m tall mural in Lindsborg, Kansas. Realised by Cal and Allena McNichols, it is one of several viking-themed murals in the town, whose nickname is 'Little Sweden' due to its Nordic heritage.

A large, colourful and stylised mural of a viking with horned helmet on the side of a rectangular building with a grassy patch and road in front.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Mystery solved? The decoration is exceedingly similar to the animal head terminals on the horse harness bows from Møllemosegård and Søllested, with some apparent creative liberties taken by the artist. Many thanks to @trixranderson.bsky.social!

A drawing of a 10th century animal head terminal from the Møllemosegård harnass mount. From 'Two 10th-century animal head terminals - a lost harness bow?' by Anne Pedersen, in Studien zur Archáologie des Ostseeraumes von der Eisenzeit zum Mittelalter. Festschrift Michael Müller-Wille (ed. A. Wesse), pp. 538.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Thanks! And yes, seems very likely! The Møllemosegård one is even more similar in terms of dental work:

Møllemosegård Horse Harness Bow – Jonas Lau Markussen – Nationalmuseet – CC BY-SA 05

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Today's vikingism: this image of a 'Norse Decoration' by William Gibb († 1929), listed as the prow ornament of a viking ship. Unclear which (mock-)historical figurehead, if any, this is based on. Any guesses? (National Galleries of Scotland, D 4068)

An image of an alleged viking ship prow ornament, featuring a wooden creature's head with mouth open, painted in red and gold with decorative banding. The writing around the image reads 'Norse Decoration', and 'Drawn by W[illia]m Gibb'

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Thrilled to have made it out to sunny Cardiff for 'Viking and Wales: Past and Present' at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre. The exhibition, on until 17 May, incorporates some of the early UK results from our Great Viking Survey!

The facade of the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, with Cardiff Bay in the background, including the Senedd and Pierhead Building, as well as the Giant Wheel.

Numerous visitors and reenactors at a viking encampment outside the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff during a sunny day.

A wall panel with information about the Great Viking Survey and its UK results.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Today's vikingism: the replica of the 12th-century Gol Stave Church, built at the Norwegian pavilion of Epcot Center in Walt Disney World, Florida.

A replica stave church with a viking statue in front

Viking statue in front of replica stave church (photo by Michael Gray)

Interior gallery space in the stave church at Epcot

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Today's vikingism: the Up Helly Aa galley sheds of Shetland. Found in communities across the islands, they act as centres of operations for 'squads' as they prepare for local celebrations of the fire festival, including the construction of a galley that is set aflame as part of the festivities.

A sign for the galley shed of Uyeasound (est. 1911), featuring a stylised rendering of a viking ship (based on Gotlandic picture stone examples).

A sign for the galley shed in Scalloway, featuring a viking ship with red and white sails.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Today's vikingism: a pen drawing of a scene from Snorri's Saga of St. Olaf, depicting the titular figure's first voyage with his foster-father Hrani. Halfdan Egedius (1899). Oslo, Nasjonalmuseet, NG.K&H.B.06256.

A detailed pen drawing of a scene from a saga, featuring two men looking out from a viking ship in rough seas, with other ships in the distance.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Some Friday wisdom from our Great Viking Survey dataset:

A short white text formatted like an inspirational quote against a black background. The text reads 'A Viking is an occupation like being a zookeeper but obviously totally different in every way'. It is attributed as 'anonymous, from the Great Viking Survey (2025)'.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

A model of the iconic Viking Cinema will be built on 9-10 Feb at the Big Largs LEGO Build, in Largs Library. Learn about the architecture and construction of this Art Deco building, with plans, drawings, and images Free but booking required: ow.ly/Tb6s50Y64Bo

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Today's vikingism: the former Viking Cinema in Largs, Scotland, which first opened in 1939. Awash in art-deco viking decor, complete with viking ship out front, it could host up to 1,300 viewers. The cinema closed in 1973, with the building demolished a decade later.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Today's vikingism: the 2024 seinen manga 弱虫ロロ (Yowamushi Rollo aka 'Weakling Rollo'), reimaging the foundational Scandinavian ruler of the Duchy of Normandy as a soft-natured, cowardly figure.

The Japanese cover for an issue of Yowamushi Rollo, featuring the title character hugging a sheep aboard a viking ship.

Pages from Yowamushi Rollo #1, featuring Paris under attack by vikings in 885. The defenders are anxiously swapping rumours of a viking named Rollo, known for his exceptional brutality.

Pages from Yowamushi Rollo #1, featuring the titular character telling fellow vikings to be careful and act with moderation.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Today's vikingism: the various team badges for NASA's 1976 Viking Mars lander missions. 🚀🌕

Various badges for the teams (e.g. surface sampler, imaging, biology, meteorology) of NASA's 1975 Viking Mars mission, featuring a wide range of cartoon vikings with horned helmets.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Today's vikingism: illustrations from Edmond Neukomm's 'Les dompteurs de la mer' (1897, published in English as 'Tamers of the Sea'), offering an archaic and heavily romanticised imagining of the viking presence in North America.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Today's vikingism: this colourful sculpture of an especially jolly cartoon viking, outside a bar in Santiago's Bellavista neighbourhood, Chile.

A (presumably) fiberglass sculpture of a stereotypical viking - including bushy red beard and horned helmer - holding a mug of beer next to his face.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

This Thor's day, as we're working our way through the vast ocean of data produced by the Great Viking Survey, we can already share that the number of variant spellings so far encountered for the word 'Mjölnir' is 58.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Today's vikingism: the statue Landnemar ('Settlers'), overlooking the city of Akureyri, Iceland. Sculpted by Jónas Jakobsson (1956), it represents Thorunn hyrna and her husband Helgi magri, who, according to Landnámabók, were the first to settle the area during the late ninth century.

A bronze statue of two figures, a woman and a man, on a concrete plinth in a snow-covered field overlooking a cityscape (with a distant mountain in the background). An abstract bronze representation of a viking ship is seen at the base of the plinth.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Today's vikingism: the replica of the Jelling runestone of Harald Bluetooth that was gifted to Utrecht University (Netherlands) in honour of its 300-year anniversary in 1936.

A low angle of a runestone in front of a medieval church building, with the church spire rising from behind a tree in the background.

A large decorated runestone replica in front of a brick wall

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

The Great Viking Survey is at the Wilde Furda festival in Belgium today, catching some final summer sunshine. ☀️ Don't be a stranger!

The festival ground of Wilde Furda, Elewijt , Belgium, featuring a range of tents, crafts, and reenactors on a green, sunny field

A white dog outside a tent at a viking reenactment festival

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

The Great Viking Survey strikes again! This time at the sunny Ishøy Viking Market near Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Come have a chat about vikings if you're around today!

Tents and reenactment at the Ishøy Viking Market

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Today's vikingism: the life-sized, voice-controlled Isle of Lewis chess game that served as the set piece for a confrontation between Richard Johnson and Nigel Green in the Bond-inspired UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

A close up of some of the pieces of the life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game featuring in spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967).

A life-sized Isle of Lewis chess game rising from the floor, being a large set piece for UK spy thriller 'Deadlier than the Male' (1967). Actor Milton Reid is visible in the background.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

This week, our project member Chris Cooijmans will be revealing some initial results from the Great Viking Survey as part of the Midgard Talks series in Borre. Do come along if you find yourself in the area, especially if you're already at Midgardsblot next door! vestfoldmuseene.no/midgard-viki...

Poster for a talk at 'Midgard Talks 2025' on Thursday 14 August:

Text: Christian Cooijmans - Postdoc, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. 'The Endless Viking Age: Global Perspectives on a Premodern Past'

Abstract: The Viking Age fascinates globally, often romanticised or
politicised. Yet few studies explore its worldwide perception. Drawing on the Great Viking Survey with over 10,000 responses, this talk reveals new insights into how Vikings are viewed and reimagined today, showing their enduring cultural impact across diverse modern audiences.

For more information and ticket prices visit our website:
Midgardvikingsenter.no'

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Today's vikingism: the township of Viking, in Marshall County, Minnesota. Home to around 100 people, it was founded in 1884 and named by a Norwegian Lutheran pastor.

A green roadside sign for the township of Viking, Minnesota.

Black lettering on the side of a white building for the 'Viking Covenant Church'

Red-roofed building with the lettering 'Viking Diner & Antiques'

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Another week, another festival - in the Netherlands this time no less! Come find us at VikingFest in Eindhoven today!

A recreated late-medieval market square with visitors

Recreated medieval buildings and tents in a green outdoor environment

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

The Great Viking Survey is at the Birka Historical Tattoo Festival today! Don't be a stranger!

A viking style boat at a jetty in Birka, Sweden

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

The Great Viking Survey closed with over 10,000 responses on the meter! Thank you to the countless communities, clubs, colleagues, and other contacts around the world for taking part and sharing this study. Keep an eye out for updates as we process, analyse, and eventually publish the results!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Last call for the Great Viking Survey! 🛡️ Today is your final chance to take part, so find us at vikingsurvey.org if you haven't yet!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

We're at the brilliant Boyne Valley Viking Experience today (in Slane, Ireland)! Do come and talk to us about vikings if you're around!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

We asked, and you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 answered! Many thanks to the 10,000 people who've shared their thoughts on vikings with us so far. It's not too late to take part: you can find us at vikingsurvey.org for a few more days!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Only a few days left to take the Great Viking Survey! Find it at vikingsurvey.org ⛵️

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

This week will be your final chance to take part in the Great Viking Survey! 🪓⛵️ You can still find us at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Don't miss the boat! Take part in the Great Viking Survey before it closes on 19 May. Quick to complete and wholly anonymous, find it at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Today's vikingism: found across the UK, various types of 'DANELAW'-marked manhole covers remain a common (if mostly overlooked) part of the streetscape.

Danelaw-marked utility cover in Edinburgh, Scotland

Danelaw-marked manhole cover in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Only two weeks and change to go until the Great Viking Survey officially closes on 19 May. ⏱️ Don't forget to take part while you still can! Let us hear your thoughts on the vikings at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Our Great Viking Survey is about to enter its final month! 📣 Spread the word so we can hear from as many people as possible before it closes! Don't miss the boat on this one, and show us the Viking Age through your eyes at vikingsurvey.org! 🕰️

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Today's vikingism: this silvered 10 franc coin, issued by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010 as part of a wider 'Warriors of the World' series, featuring a viking with axe, shield, and helmet 💰

Silvered coin containing the image of a viking warrior, with the text 'warriors of the world' and 'viking' surrounding it.

10 franc coin from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Obverse (right) has a coat of arms - leopard’s face in a shield with motto 'justice, paix, travail' - surrounded by the country name, value, and minting date (2010). Reverse (left) contains the image of a viking warrior, with the text 'warriors of the world' and 'viking' surrounding it.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

We've had many thoughtful and unexpected responses so far! Clearly the viking world means many different things to many different people. But we'd still like to hear 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 take! Add your voice to the Great Viking Survey at vikingsurvey.org Anonymous, fully secure, and open to all (18+)

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Today's vikingism: Jacobus van Dijck's C19 painting of the murder of viking leader Godfrid. The work depicts a contested episode in 885 that saw its subject - who had recently been granted a landed benefice in Frisia - killed in a conspiracy by regional elites. @amsterdammuseum.bsky.social, SA 4877

An oil painting of a blond viking at the moment of his death - indoors, surrounded by armed, armoured, and caped men, with silver and gold treasure on the floor.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

What do vikings mean to you? Let us know before the survey sails off in a few weeks' time! Find it at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

The Great Viking Survey marches on - share your views of the viking world with us at vikingsurvey.org! 🔥

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

The Great Viking Survey is the most extensive study ever conducted on global perceptions of the vikings and their world. Your voice matters: no matter who or where you are, every response counts! Take the survey, spread the word, and be part of this groundbreaking project at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

The Great Viking Survey is still open for responses, and thousands across the globe have already shared their thoughts with us! Have you? 🌍 Let us know how you feel about vikings at vikingsurvey.org!

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

The Great Viking Survey is at the Jorvik Viking Festival in York this weekend. Do come and say hi if you're in town!

Lanyards and microphone on a wooden table

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Today's vikingism: a bright pink viking ship parade float, taking part in Reykjavík Pride in 2015. Styled as 'the settlement-queens' (landnámsdrottningarnar), the float performance was conceived by Icelandic singer Páll Óskar.

A pink viking ship parade float taking part in Reykjavík Pride, 2015

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

The Great Viking Survey is a global endeavour, and we're very grateful to the many museums, universities, embassies, heritage organisations, and historical societies who have helped us spread the word thus far! You can still find us at vikingsurvey.org!

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