5 myths about Vikings that everyone believes

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Stephanie H. Smith |

TED-Ed

• February 2026

The Viking Age. When medieval, horn-helmeted Scandinavian men ravaged Europe, scribbling mysterious runes and toasting their victories in goblets forged from enemy skulls before bidding farewell in fiery funerals. Except… that’s not quite how it went. So, what were the Vikings actually like? Stephanie H. Smith debunks common misconceptions about the time period. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].