Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. Quiz When he has finished, the servant carries the bowl to the man next to him. These average heights can be compared to the current average male height of 175.3 cm (5 ft 8 in) in both the US and England, which means most Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards. A Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other parent has dark hair. 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. A study comparing the facial profile of young adult Swedes and Danes found that the Scandinavians have slightly higher cheekbones than the Danish population. 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. Scandinavians have been generally more blond and blue-eyed than the rest of the world for a long time; from the Vikingswho were blond in their majority according to researchers at the University of Copenhagento present-day Scandinavians who mostly have light hair and eyes (Lock-Andersen 1999). Yli-Kuha, Kari. Korean people often have wide, open eyes. Mythology Their eyes are blue and their hair is blond, which is the most common color in Scandinavia. Streaming Tips 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. Data We can see this more clearly in modern facial reconstructions produced by academics around the world based on skeletal and DNA analysis. Western Norway has almost as many redheads as the British isles (who win the red hair race by a mile), whereas southern and northern Sweden barely has any. Peter Frost also supports this in his study titled European hair and eye color; finding that at least 60% of Scandinavian people have a light head of hair, and at least 50% have light eyes. ): How Did Vikings Actually Look? 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. Blonde hair. 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. Furthermore, according to a 2016 study published in Wiley, people of European origin generally have a facial hair growth pattern concentrated around the upper lip, cheek, neck, and chin, so it can be assumed that most Scandinavians also are able to generally grow whats considered a full and thick beard. A high and narrow face with marked features, mildly Names So it does appear that the Smi experienced a period of isolation and at some point in time the Finns seem to be included in this isolation. 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. [10] The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. This wave of primarily herders eventually fused with the current habitants (I see a pattern here) to produce the so-called Battle Axe culture group in Scandinavia, establishing themselves and flourishing in modern-day Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Are Epicanthic folds common in Scandinavia? 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. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. (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). According to Swedish scientific magazine Illustrerad Vetenskap, this type of microevolution developed as a response to the cold and snowy climate in the Arctic region, as the fatty fold isolates against freezing temperatures and shields the bright reflection of the snow somewhat. Swedish people are known to tower over others due to their long legs, so its no surprise theyre considered a tall nation. Swedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. According to a Popular Science Monthly study, most Scandinavians have wavy hair, with some parts of northern Scandinavia having more coarse/straight hair. Beards and mustaches were very common in Vikings according to archeological findings and written records. [11], It has been established that the Smi were isolated for many years and come from European roots; however, at some point the Finns appeared. The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800s. WebThe Nordic head is often strikingly narrow about the temples, as though it were pressed in here from both sides. Language Denmark The Viking beard was also a source of pride, and if someone insulted another mans beard that was grounds for killing the other man according to the sagas. They built powerful cultures and countries. 1999. Its worth keeping in mind that being a Viking was more of a profession than ethnicity, and seeing as that profession included raiding, pillaging and striking fear into the minds of their enemies, it makes sense that these folks were a bit larger and stronger on average. 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: Denmark Finnish Genes. Virtual Finland. Popular Post Whether these traits stem from a diverse pre-bronze age population, geographical conditions, or the modern diet of the region as a whole is hard to say, but they all likely played some part at least. It seems the research project is well-funded too (https://kaw.wallenberg.org/forskning/atlas-med-forhistoriskt-dna-ger-ny-bild-av-manniskans-ursprung), so they seem to have the best tools available to analyze this type of scientific data. Ovmar has even been accused of having undergone plastic surgery due to her high cheekbones, a claim she rebuffs by simply pointing to her Sami background (which seems plausible judging by the picture below to the left). This can be compared to the Mediterranean region, where its concentrated on the chest and back instead. According to a 2020 study published in The Lancet, Danes are the 4th tallest people in the world, followed by the Icelandic in 6th, the Swedes in 12th, Norwegians in 13th, and finally the Finns as 17th tallest people in the world. Curious how modern-day Scandinavians look compared to their Viking ancestors? The consensus among historians and nerds alike is that tattoos were likely not common at all in the Norse world, since the sagas are fairly descriptive about the heroes and characters as a whole, and not one of them mentions tattoos on anyone. 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. This result is consistent across the Nordic region. Oslo Fika The study of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi, but the Finns as well. This also suggests that the Scandinavians diet is more nutrient-rich than that of their Nordic neighbors. 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. The cheekbones are a distinctive feature of Swedish men, with several examples of prominent people in the entertainment industry. It would really help me in my studies, thank you for reading! Q: What are the most common Swedish facial features? Hmm Thats a hard one, but Id have to go with Cheeks. Or maybe chins. People can lose an Viking, Norse, or Scandinavians from the Viking Agewhats the correct term? 1. [cited February 26 2005]. Ive noticed that surgeons in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all offer surgery to counteract this condition in case it disrupts your eyesight, or as an elective procedure for cosmetic reasons, and this procedure isnt as commonly seen in other areas of the world. [8] A survey by Hotels.com and Match.com asked 5000 Nordic singles in 2014 which Nordic country has the most attractive people, and here are the results: Singles in Norway, Denmark, and Finland all voted for Swedes as the most attractive (you could not vote for your own country), while the Swedes overwhelmingly seem to prefer Norwegian women and men. height of adult males during the Viking Age (in cm). Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. (Complete Guide to Viking Traits), Recent advancements in DNA analysis tech have led to extraordinary insight into how Vikings looked, from hair and eye color to size and ancestry. Julku, Kysti. As a result, much of the Swedish population has similar light features. 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. Nordic Traits (Complete Guide), The Scandinavian physical stereotypes are as cliche as they are well-known the stereotypical Scandis are expected to be a bunch of tall, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed Vikings in most peoples minds but can those stereotypes actually be true in modern-day Scandinavia? A few notable exceptions have been found on the Oseberg cart from around 800 CE, where shorter haircuts with shaved sides and backs are clearly engraved multiple times, though there are plenty of long-haired specimens as well. One was Finnish and the remaining five were Karelian. A small percentage of Swedish adults may be below the national average. If youd like to try your hand at making your own valkyrie knot, heres a detailed video with instructions: Vikings were known to at least partially shave their heads in order to achieve specific hairstyles, such as the Norman cut with shaved back and long hair in the front, and a similar but differently angled high bowl cut found in the Oseberg cart. Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. Though they speak a Finno-Ugric language, they are genetically distinct from other Finno-Ugric and Indo-European people. [3] Still this does not answer the underlying question of where the Smi originally came from. The colors of their eyes are typically light and are normally gray, brown or a mixture of both. 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 However, a survey done by the Swedish Institute in November 2020 do point towards the Swedish image being affected negatively during the 2020-2021 pandemic. Names People with Scandinavian Personality Traits also make great leaders for difficult tasks where decision making is not popular. 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. So the theory is that on top of any Vitamin D youd get from the sun, Scandinavians have also stocked up on it via their fish intake. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Some regions have more than 10% redheads, while others only have around 1-3%. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Chinese people have rounder eyes, while Japanese people usually have almond-shaped eyes. The following are the most common Swedish features. Yes the origins and visual characteristics of the first Scandinavians were discussed in the SVT article (https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/de-var-de-forsta-svenskarna), but more specifically this theory comes from research by Mattias Johansson, professor of genetics at Uppsala University. The Scandinavians are known for their high cheekbones. Ive writtenan article where I go into detail about Viking traits and looks, so if you want to find out more about Vikings looks go take a look. Tattoo is the first movie in the Millenium trilogy, arguably the best example of modern Nordic Noir in movie form. Read Article Now. WebGenetic studies on Sami is the genetic research that have been carried out on the Sami people.The Sami languages belong to the Uralic languages family of Eurasia.. Siberian origins are still visible in the Smi, Finns and other populations of the Finno-Ugric language family.. An abundance of genes has journeyed all the way from Siberia to Finland, a These features make them stand out among their Nordic neighbours. 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. This procreation keeps these genetics alive. I do believe that there is a typically Swedish face type you rarely see elsewhere. The main feature are large blue eyes that are unusually close to Well the most obvious relationship between the Smi and the Finns is the bond of a language family. 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. Since up to 78% of the Swedish population has blue eyes, its easy to see that blue is the dominant color, even if it is technically a recessive gene! 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. 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 However, their high cheekbones are not due to genetics. When did they come into being? Essentially, this means you will likely not meet as many curly-haired Scandinavians as you would southern Europeans or Americans for example. How do the modern-day Scandinavians compare to their ancestors? However, if the most recent data is true, the two groups seem to be genetically and linguistically distinct enough to allow them to finally be studied as separate groups, so there is an illogical sense to the Smi and Finns link as well. We often get an image of grizzled warriors when we see Vikings on TV, but analysis of skeletal remains shows that the Norse had more gender-neutral facial features than Scandinavians today, meaning males and females had more similar characteristics (Danish National Museum). The highest cheekbones and blue eyes are the most desirable traits of Scandinavians. Scientifically speaking, there are a couple of factors that could play in the Scandinavians favor as far as sexual selection and attractiveness go: I want to point out that beauty is entirely objective, and what is considered attractive for some may not be for others. Also, many Swedes have light hair, but its not always Norway 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? 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. Get some Scandi spirit in your home with our premium museum-quality prints sent right to your doorstep with free shipping worldwide. Point of View. The Mankind Quarterly 63:2 (2002): 122-148. If you feel youre suffering from this type of facial feature, you can seek a cosmetic surgeon in Scandinavia. Read Article Now. Gods & Goddesses an average adjusted for the population of each country within the region), we can see that the Nordic and Baltic men are the tallest in the world, but as the Baltic ladies are slightly taller (0.5 cm / 0.2 in) than their Nordic sisters, the Baltics narrowly takes the prize as the tallest region in the World in front of the Nordics. The genetic origin of the Smi people is complex and difficult to trace. What Hair Colors Did Vikings Mostly Have? Recent genetic and linguistic research in the area has created new theories and has also put to death many old and biased theories of the past. They also tend to have medium-sized skulls and are very punctual. Take your pick and continue learning about the Vikings and Norse history! WebAs such, in Western Norway, there is a higher percentage of people who have British and Irish ancestry, leading to traits such as darker hair. Data We can see this more clearly in modern facial reconstructions produced by academics around the world based on and. Parts of northern Scandinavia having more coarse/straight hair mustaches were very common in Vikings according to Popular... The Smi originally came from the most desirable Traits of Scandinavians Noir in movie form have been under investigation the! 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