10 Popular History Myths (You Probably Believe)

Speaking of Vikings, what's the first image that comes to mind when you hear that word?

Do you think axes and shields? Do you think longships with carved dragons at the masthead? Perhaps you picture chaotic raids and villages burning down. Maybe, just maybe, you picture the crystalline blue eyes of Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok. Chances are, though, your first thought is of a hulking beast of a man, blade in hand, the bloodlust in his eyes barely visible beneath his helmet, complete with two massive horns. That's it, isn't it? That's the iconic Viking.

The problem is, "iconic" doesn't mean "accurate," and this most certainly isn't accurate. In fact, it's complete nonsense.

But where does this nonsense come from? They were first depicted as wearing horned helmets by Swedish painter, August Malmström. After that, the image was popularized by German composer (and muse of Adolf Hitler), Richard Wagner. His 1870s drama cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen, depicted Vikings as wearing horned helmets. There's no historical evidence of Vikings wearing them, and why would they? That'd be horribly cumbersome, wouldn't it?

Only one helmet has ever been found that can definitively be traced to the Vikings, and, well, the reality is much less intimidating; they wore plain metal helmets, sans horns. Bummer.