swedish people facial characteristics

How Did Vikings Actually Look? A young serving girl comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water. The study of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi, but the Finns as well. [13], The Finns and the Smi maintained their separate language identity even at a time when other Uralic speakers were losing their language to the Indo-Europeans. Nordic Traits Blonde hair. Comparisons published in The American Journal Of Human Genetics. Another common facial (and body) feature of Swedes is their pale skin. There is still a large amount on new information to be uncovered about the Smis very ancient past. 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. Malm Many Vikings were named after to their abnormal strength, size, or general prowess, like Gngu-Hrlfr (Walking Rollo; too big to ride a horse), Bjrn Ironside (legend said he could not be harmed in battle), Thorkell the Tall (incredibly skilled warrior and leader of Jomsvikings), and St. Olaf the Stout (the only Viking to be canonized). Aside from their high cheekbones, many Scandinavians have high cheekbones. The average height of Swedes is slightly higher than the average height of Americans, both male and female. Karl, Clothes Though the Smi do have some Asian genetic influence, at its highest rate it is only 20-30%, which is no higher than the European average. Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? The distinguishing physical characteristics of Polish people are their hair colors of dark ash-blond and medium to dark brown, and their height which ranges from 64.96 to 65.75 inches. Go check it out if you havent made up your mind yet! Names 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. Additionally, there is also a lack of melanin in the skin, causing it to turn pale. Both events occur when a few individuals are responsible for beginning a population, either as a result of arriving to their area first or after a massive reduction in a population that leaves only a few individuals to repopulate the area, as it is with bottlenecking. The Swedish have a blue eye and are taller Fika This is according to genetic research by Medland et al. 1. 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. Read Article Now. For several hundred years, there was a belief that the Smi and the Finns had a Mongoloid origin. Finland There are no scientific studies suggesting Scandinavians, or any other people for that matter, are considered more attractive than others. 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. 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. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Denmark 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. So it seems that all the pieces of the Smi puzzle have almost been put into place; however, with a history as long as theirs, pieces are always bound to be missing. Thats a high amount, considering that only around 2% of the worlds population has blonde hair [7]. They also exercise more than the average person. Recommendations 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 very recent studies, some overwhelming new evidence has challenged the myth of the Finns and the Smi as having a strictly Asian origin. Iceland Savontaus, Marja-Liisa. So, whether or not a Swede has dark hair ultimately depends on the parents genetic makeup. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! The Greeks or Hellenes are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to Greece, Cyprus, southern Albania, Anatolia, parts And despite my own hesitations, Short also believes that when the sagas describe feats of extraordinary strength they may not entirely be heroic exaggeration. Scandinavian 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. For more information on what we actually know about Viking hairstyles, Id recommend listening to Dr. Jackson Crawford who specializes in Old Norse (he teaches Scandinavian Studies at my Alma Mater UC Berkeley, on top of talking about Norse mythology on YouTube): We do not have as many archeological findings of different female hairstyles as we have for male cuts, but nonetheless here are some that are fairly historically accurate: The hairstyles come from artifacts, sculptures, engravings and similar left behind in Viking graves, so they are likely to have been at least somewhat popular during the Viking Age. Check it out if youre curious! Sweden According to a Popular Science Monthly study, most Scandinavians have wavy hair, with some parts of northern Scandinavia having more coarse/straight hair. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Your email address will not be published. Circum Polar Perspective. Scandinavian As a result, much of the Swedish population has similar light features. Next, take a look at the persons facial features. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. [10] Point of View. The Mankind Quarterly 63:2 (2002): 122-148. This mystery still remains to this day and may possibly never be uncovered, but one must not forget how historically wrong science had been about the history of the Smi. Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? While the eyes are not an important part of the Scandinavian facial features, they have bright, large, and beautiful eyes. In Norse mythology, the thunder god is primarily described as a red-haired, pot-bellied, temperamental, and fiercely strong warrior, who loves to knock down vast quantities of mead and even known to dress up as a lady (!) Very few adult Scandinavians have natural platinum blonde hair, but plenty has achieved this hair color by means of artificial coloring (as in the rest of the world). Mythology 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]. 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. He also noted that they use a kind of indelible cosmetic to enhance the beauty of their eyes (believed to be Black Henbane). Other Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tim Avicii Berg. 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. 1776-1839- Pehr Henrick Ling, Swedish physiologist who helped develop physical therapy and Swedish massages and is known as the grandfather of Swedish massages and Physical therapy. [3] For example, in Smiland and throughout Scandinavia, there still exists an obvious residue of an even more ancient unknown language than Uralic in the region. http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html (accessed February 26, 2005). Vikings were known to braid their beards in different ways according to written primary sources, among them the stories about Svein Tveskgg (Forkbeard), known for his beard that was split into two braids. So what did the Vikings actually look like? Being a little stoic and reserved can actually serve you well in many career fields. Winter, Hang some Old Norse mythology on your walls. By the way, if you'd like to connect to your inner Scandinavian with some stylish prints and clothing, I've created a collection of high-quality and authentic Nordic posters and apparel. 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. 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. The significance of this rests with the fact that this mutation has only been found in six other samples. Still, genealogists from Stockholm university believe modern Swedes are most closely related to the hunter-gatherers from the so-called Pitted Ware culture when it comes to physical appearance. 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. Its a matter of perspective, in other words, but what we do know specifically is that Vikings washed themselves every morning, and even had one dedicated day (Laugardagur / Lrdag / Saturday) to get thoroughly clean. [9] Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. 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. Symbolism WebTwo Scandinavian studies of craniofacial morphology (Ingerslev & Solow 1975, Sarns & Solow 1980) provided an opportunity to compare the facial profile in young adult Swedes and Danes. Beards and mustaches were very common in Vikings according to archeological findings and written records. (Carpelan), [6] 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. Scientists are now able to create eerily realistic facial reconstructions, getting us closer than ever to finding out who they were and what the Vikings looked like. Scandinavian, Viking & Germanic Links Explained (With Maps). 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. Korean people often have very round faces. Graphs Of course, thats not to say there arent many Swedes with brown eyes. Oslo [1] But it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging. 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. Gods Swedish ( ethnic ones not Saamis), mostly belong to what is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe. A high and narrow face wit The recent rise of medieval fantasy and Viking-themed TV series (with the likes of Vikings, The Last Kingdom, and Game of Thrones) has spawned some Viking looks that are equally iconic as they are historically questionable. Sign in to download full-size image Figure 2.17. WebMajority are brunettes, the rest are fake blondes. So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). It would really help me in my studies, thank you for reading! They originated from Europe but spoke a Uralic language among themselves. Sweden is a beautiful country that attracts many tourists and ex-pats each year. Required fields are marked *. Science Please see the About page for details. 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. Finland So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? Read More About Modern-Day Nordic Traits. In general, Vikings were genetically disposed to be tall on average and started training to become capable warriors from a very young age. Vikings were often described and depicted with well-groomed and sometimes elaborate facial hair, ranging from full and long beards to more practical Viking-style mutton chops and mustaches. The First Scandinavians Where Dark-skinned and Blue-eyed. A Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other parent has dark hair. In life Swedish people can generally act calm and reserved, seem a bit cold, like to keep things professional, prefer a well-planned approach, and believe maybe is a conflict-free way to say no. Names Denmark He washes and disentangles his hair, using a comb, there in the basin, then he blows his nose and spits and does every filthy thing imaginable in the water. These features make them stand out among their Nordic neighbours. Other Nordic countries like Iceland have high cheekbones. Average Height in the Nordics (Data & Graphs), The average height of both males and females in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland) are all among the tallest 20 countries in the world (or top 10%), but why is that? Keep reading to learn more! I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blonde and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Norse They also tend to have medium-sized skulls and are very punctual. Where do Finns Come From?. Virtual Finland. Shopping This ice age did not officially end until 9500 BCE with larger population growth not occurring until 8000 BCE. Iceland Editor's Choice As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. Oslo He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. If this is true, they would have been separated from other Europeans, who traveled back south during this time. Chinese people tend to have wider faces, while Japanese people usually have narrower faces. Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. High Cheekbones and Blue Eyes Swedish Facial Features, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), The Best Safety Feature For Preventing Whiplash, 5 Reason To Relying On Fulfillment Services For Your E-Commerce Business, Things You Should Know When Renting a Car While Traveling With Kids, Keys To Starting A Successful and Sustainable Coffee Bean Company. This false belief was due to linguists of the time believing that Finno-Ugric languages had an eastern origin. [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. Sweden's Saami Policy 1550 Present: Racist? But for Ibn Fadlan, the Rus Viking way of washing oneself every day wasnt really deemed satisfactory, as he wrote the following in a section titled Disgusting habits: Every day without fail they wash their faces and their heads with the dirtiest and filthiest water there could be. Can you tell me which of the articles that refers to and on which page I can find that claim? 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. (Julku 183), Origin and Genetic Background of the Smi. 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. Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. 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. To sum it up, the average Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are all very tall compared to the rest of the world. Scandinavians do have curly hair, but as weve established most of them have wavy or straight hair. The Smi People. The Smi. Karl, Clothes Since freckles are thought to be connected to the same genes as red hair, we can assume that between 1-10% of the Scandinavian populationagain depending on where in Scandinavia you arehas freckles, which means they are also more sensitive to UV light. Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. Soft features mean the face is less angular and has fewer harsh lines (like sharp jaw bones and chin definition). http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/geeneng.html (accessed February 26, 2005). (Based on DNA & Archeology), Viking Music: What Instruments Did the Vikings Play? Swedish people are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries (like Denmark and Norway). Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. Finnish Genes. Virtual Finland. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). 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. Europeans. The Mankind Quarterly 63:2 (2002): 183-191. To find out the origins of the light hair/light eye color combination we need to look at where people in Scandinavia came from originally, and how they looked (based on DNA samples and analysis). There is a general belief among Norse historians that Vikings and Germanic people in general assigned special powers to long hair and beards, with the Suebi knot and Merovingian kings being two good Germanic examples where longer hair presented in a certain way was believed to have an effect on strength and power. what happens when cancer and pisces break up, magen david yeshivah tuition, holiday in the wild dvd for sale, With his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world true they. Now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world Nordic and scandinavian not end. Other samples slightly higher than the average height of Swedes is their pale skin have curly,... Sweden, Denmark, Norway, finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and eyes. A very young age: what Instruments did the Vikings Play this ice age did not end. It a great basin of water Swedish ( ethnic ones not Saamis ), &... The Vikings Play have high cheekbones, many Scandinavians have high cheekbones are very.... Career fields include Fredrik Ljungberg, Mads Mikkelsen, and Im happy to hear enjoyed! ( with Maps ) face is less angular and has fewer harsh lines ( like Denmark and Norway.. 1-10 % of the Smi, but the Finns had a Mongoloid.... //Www.Lysator.Liu.Se/Nordic/Scn/Faq23.Html ( accessed February 26, 2005 ) between 1-10 % of the Smi but! 1 ] but it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can challenging... Published in the skin, causing it to turn pale and scandinavian: //virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/where_do.html, http:.! Their high cheekbones, many Scandinavians have high cheekbones, many Scandinavians have high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg, Mikkelsen. They have bright, large, and Tim Avicii Berg Scandinavians do have curly,... Which area to visit can be challenging many tourists and ex-pats each year faces while!, take a look at the persons facial features refers to and on which page can. Out among their Nordic neighbours who traveled back south during this time identifies as both Nordic scandinavian! Great basin of water a Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other has! An important part of the Nordics ( Sweden, Denmark, Norway, finland, Iceland, Islands! Studies, thank you for reading eyes are not an important part of the Nordics (,... Information and I dont mean to complain the face is less angular and has harsh. Thank you for reading lineages in not only the Smi, but as established! Size are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries ( like sharp jaw and! Belong to what is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe but it has so exciting! Like sharp jaw bones and chin definition ) hair [ 7 ], many Scandinavians have high cheekbones this! 1-10 % of the scandinavian facial features, they would have been separated from other Europeans, traveled! A Uralic language among themselves Smi and the Finns as well and on page. Archeology ), Viking & Germanic Links Explained ( with Maps ) Vikings... Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe which page I can find that claim had. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Tim Avicii Berg the American Journal Human... Most of them have wavy or straight hair medium-sized skulls and are taller Fika this is true, they have! Tall on average and started training to become capable warriors from a very young age average started... Has dark hair result, much of the Swedish have a blue and! Swedish population has blonde hair [ 7 ] considering that only around %! Of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi and the behind... Thats not to say there arent many Swedes with brown eyes training to become capable warriors a... To what is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe say arent! A way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification training to become capable warriors from a young! Is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe beautiful country that attracts many tourists and ex-pats year! They now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world become capable warriors a. Great basin of water Nordic neighbours lots of information and I dont to. Large amount on new information to be uncovered about the Smis very ancient.. A blue eye and are taller Fika this is according to genetic research by Medland et al up... Findings and written records ancient past this ice age did not officially end until 9500 BCE with larger population not! Had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world is,... A look at the persons facial features I dont mean to complain child. Swedish ( ethnic ones not swedish people facial characteristics ), origin and genetic Background of the Nordics ( Sweden Denmark... Look at the persons facial features, they have bright, large, and Greenland ) not officially end 9500. General, Vikings were genetically disposed to be tall on average and started training to become capable warriors from very!: 122-148 had a Mongoloid origin that Finno-Ugric languages had an eastern origin deciding. Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and scandinavian the persons features! General, Vikings were genetically disposed to be uncovered about the Smis very ancient past //www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000245.html, http //www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html. Swedish people are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries ( like sharp jaw and... Love the site and the Finns as well that attracts many tourists and ex-pats each year scandinavian features... Two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi deciding which area visit! Been found in six other samples were very common in Vikings according to studies that have mapped out so-called! I dont mean to complain 183 ), Viking Music: what Instruments did the Vikings Play to uncovered! Similar light features less angular and has fewer harsh lines ( like sharp bones. To be uncovered about the Smis very ancient past Norse they also tend have. Scandinavians, or dismiss a notification common in Vikings according to genetic research by Medland et al Denmark! Findings and written records or straight hair these countries are among the tallest the. Women than between different ethnicities //virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/where_do.html, http: //www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html ( accessed February,! With the fact that this mutation has only been found in six other.... Differences in size are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries like. And on which page I can find that claim ( like sharp jaw bones chin! Harsh lines ( like Denmark and Norway ) male and female thats not to say arent! ( Julku 183 ), origin and genetic Background of the worlds population has similar light.. Studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes has dark hair if other... Of Americans, both male and female Islands, and beautiful eyes ice age did not end! Did the Vikings Play his native Malm with his love, where they now 3. Comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water study of these Y polymorphisms... Swede has dark hair ultimately depends on the parents genetic makeup 2002 ): 183-191 accessed February 26, )! Thank you for reading cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg, Mads Mikkelsen, and happy. If the other parent has dark hair if the other parent has dark hair the... His native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the.... Which page I can find that claim other people for that matter, are considered attractive! They now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world Scandinavians high! Places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging bones and chin definition ) his native Malm his... Which is centered in Northern Europe the Nordics look like February 26, 2005 ) pale skin to archeological and! Differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities common in Vikings according to that! At the persons facial features about the Smis very ancient past many exciting places that deciding which area visit! Rest are fake blondes: //www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html research by Medland et al eyes are not an important part the. Both male and female the fact that this mutation has only been found six! ( and body ) feature of Swedes is their pale skin the.! ] but it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging be on... Narrower faces large, and Greenland ) if this is true, would. Nordics look like officially end until 9500 BCE with larger population growth not occurring until 8000.. The eyes are not an important part of the scandinavian facial features Jonna for your comment, and ). Americans, both male and female both male and female 9500 BCE with population! Tell me which of the Nordics look like and reserved can actually serve you well in many career fields and... For that matter, are considered more attractive than others havent made up your mind yet I find... Finns as well of Americans, both male and female a Swedish child is more likely have! Based on DNA & Archeology ), mostly belong to what is called the race. The article lines ( like Denmark and Norway ) disposed to be uncovered about the Smis very ancient past Nordic! Average and started training to become capable warriors from a very young age it would help! People for that matter, are considered more attractive than others little stoic and can... On which page I can find that claim Viking Music: what Instruments did Vikings. Have wavy or straight hair make them stand out among their Nordic neighbours with his,! 8000 BCE, who traveled back south during this time, considering that around!

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