They exist in a lot of Norse folklore and mythology and have been mentioned in some sagas. Viking Warrior Women, or shieldmaidens, were women who chose to fight as a warrior in battle. Nothing that would look much out of place in modern day Ireland today! Sometimes it was worn so long that they were tripping over themselves!Ĭotton was unknown at the time so that ruled out comfortable underwear! Beads were also popular made from precious and semi precious materials, amber necklace beads, pendants, ear rings and rings were all abundant. They typically wore a long woollen overdress suspended with straps decorated in brooches, with a woollen or linen shift or smock underneath. Viking women would spin sheep’s wool and fibers from flax plants into yarn or thread, they would then use a spindle wheel, like a weighted stick, to make it into a fabric to make clothes. There have even been burials found in Scandinavia with rings of keys, which symbolized their roles and power as household managers.Īrchaeology has found that the production of textiles was reserved for women, complicated production styles show that certain women probably specialized in this textile work and they even may have participated in its trade for the sake of their families, like modern day business women. But when a woman’s husband was off pillaging foreign land, she took over responsibility for the farm, household and trading business.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding also took up time in a woman’s life. A woman’s work duties were housekeeping, cooking and looking after children and the elderly.Ī large part of her time was also taken up working wool, spinning yarn, sewing and weaving for the family’s own use. The marriage contract usually stated how family property would be divided up in case of a divorce, like a pre-nup today and in the event of death and re-marriage women could become powerful land owners though inheritance if both father and son died in battle, which they often did!Ī Viking women’s world centered around the home and the farm. If she wanted a divorce, she would call witnesses to her home, and marriage bed, and declare in front of them that she had divorced her husband. Women could also request a divorce and reclaim their dowries if the marriage ended. The Viking woman could choose a husband and later decide not to marry him after all, if she so wished even if it did cause ructions with the family! However, as we know love does not always last so it was lucky that the Vikings valued equal opportunities. They usually married between the ages of 12 and 15, and usually had a say in the marriage negotiation too. The sagas are filled with stories of women fighting over who would have the best man. Just like today, women in the Viking period were looking for a suitable partner. We constantly get asked questions in Dubliniaabout the role of Viking women in society, so here are a few bits of information that you might not have heard before.

Women in the Viking Age enjoyed more freedom and held more power in their society than many other women of their day, they were important entrepreneurs and left a lasting impact on the local languages and cultures of the places where they settled.

Nordic viking women