What Was The Sickness In Vikings?

The Vikings, those seafaring Norse warriors of the 8th to the 11th centuries, lived in a world starkly different from our own. Their daily lives were harsh and unforgiving, with survival often hanging in the balance. Among the many trials they faced, illness played a significant role in shaping the Viking society. In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll dive into the ailments that affected the Viking population, underscoring the unique Viking illnesses that impacted their communities.

Viking Health: A Picture of the Past

Before we dive into the specifics of Viking illness, it is vital to paint an overall picture of Viking health. Given the limited medical knowledge of the time and harsh living conditions, life was often brutal and short. As hardy seafarers, traders, and warriors, Vikings were physically active, their diet was varied, and they were likely more resilient than we might assume.

Vikings Illness: An Overview

Despite their overall robust health, Vikings were not exempt from disease. We can identify several major illnesses that likely affected Viking communities using archeological evidence, historical records, and genetic analyses. These included infections, nutritional deficiencies, injuries, chronic conditions, and endemic diseases.

Infections and Infestations

In the Viking Age, many common ailments stemmed from bacterial and viral infections, much like today. Pneumonia, tuberculosis, dysentery, and leprosy were known to have existed at the time, and evidence of these diseases has been found in Viking-age skeletal remains.

One of the most infamous infections associated with the Vikings is the Yersinia pestis bacteria, the causative agent of the bubonic plague, or the ‘Black Death.’ While the plague ravaged Europe several centuries later, DNA evidence from Viking-era burial sites suggests that an early strain of this deadly disease may have been present in the Viking population.

Similarly, Viking communities were susceptible to infestations of parasites. Lice, fleas, and intestinal worms were common due to the lack of hygiene standards and close living conditions.

Nutritional Deficiencies

While Vikings had access to a diverse range of foodstuffs, poor seasons, long winters, and a lack of understanding about nutrition could lead to deficiencies. The most common was likely scurvy, caused by a vitamin C deficiency, especially during the long winter when fresh fruit and vegetables were scarce. Rickets, caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium, would also have been prevalent, particularly among children.

Injuries and Chronic Conditions

In a warrior society, injuries were a common part of Viking life. Battle wounds, fractures, and head traumas have all been identified in skeletal remains. Arthritis, particularly of the spine and major joints, was expected due to the physical demands of their lifestyle.

Endemic Diseases

Viking-era Scandinavia would also have had its share of endemic diseases. Malaria, while not the strain we are familiar with today, existed in a less virulent form in certain parts of Viking territory. Evidence also points towards the presence of echinococcosis, a disease caused by ingesting the eggs of the Echinococcus tapeworm, likely contracted from their dogs.

Vikings and Smallpox: Evidence

The Vikings lived in an era where many deadly diseases were rampant, and smallpox was one of them. This highly infectious disease, caused by the variola virus, has been a major scourge throughout human history until its eradication in the late 20th century. Yet, definitive evidence linking smallpox to the Vikings has only emerged recently.

Smallpox leaves a distinctive mark not only on the infected individual’s body but also on their DNA. This led scientists to search for signs of the disease in ancient genomes. In a groundbreaking study published in 2020, scientists discovered fragments of the variola virus in the teeth of Viking-age individuals from various sites across Northern Europe.

The DNA sequences they found are around 1,000 years old and represent the oldest confirmed cases of smallpox to date. The results suggest that the Vikings were carriers of an ancient strain of the variola virus, which differed significantly from the strains responsible for the smallpox epidemics in the 20th century. The findings imply that the virus evolved, with various strains circulating among human populations throughout history.

In addition to genetic evidence, skeletal evidence hints at the presence of smallpox among the Vikings. Certain signs in skeletal remains, such as pitting on the skull’s inner surface (cribra orbitalia), suggest a severe systemic disease like smallpox.

These recent discoveries have rewritten the history of smallpox, pushing back its timeline and showing the pivotal role of Viking-age populations in its spread. They suggest that the Vikings may have been vectors for this deadly disease through their extensive exploration and trade routes, transmitting it across Europe and perhaps beyond.

However, although these findings are compelling, further research is needed to fully understand the impact of smallpox on Viking society and how it might have influenced their history and expansion.

The Plague: A Viking Illness with Long-lasting Impacts

Perhaps the most consequential illness associated with the Vikings was the plague. Recent research has revealed that an early form of Yersinia pestis may have spread the disease with the Vikings across Europe. While this strain of plague was likely less virulent than the one responsible for the later Black Death, it may have had significant impacts on Viking communities and the places they traveled to.

Understanding Viking Mental Health: Depression and PTSD

Understanding the mental health of a population that existed over a thousand years ago is challenging, given the lack of written records and diagnostic criteria. Yet, by carefully examining available historical sources and understanding the stresses the Vikings would have faced, we can make educated conjectures on the types of mental health conditions they may have experienced, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Firstly, it’s important to note that the Vikings lived in a harsh and volatile environment. They faced constant threats from warfare, diseases, severe weather, and food scarcity. Such consistent, high-stress levels would have likely affected their mental health, possibly leading to conditions like depression.

Evidence for depression in Viking society is mostly anecdotal and comes from sagas and mythological stories. The Norse gods themselves were not immune to melancholy. For instance, the god Odin was often portrayed as a solitary figure prone to periods of deep sadness and reflection. While we must be cautious about directly comparing mythology and real life, these stories suggest an understanding of and familiarity with depressive states.

Similarly, given the Vikings’ reputation as warriors, it seems plausible that some would have experienced symptoms consistent with what we now recognize as PTSD. The trauma of witnessing or participating in violent conflicts, combined with the physical toll of injuries and the uncertainty of seafaring, could certainly trigger such a condition. Sagas occasionally describe warriors who were ‘not themselves’ after battles or were plagued by recurring nightmares suggestive of PTSD.

Even though mental health as we understand it today didn’t exist as a concept in the Viking age, the stresses and hardships of their lives likely led to various mental health issues. Understanding this aspect of Viking life can offer a more nuanced view of their society and contributes to the broader understanding of mental health throughout history.

Viking Medicine and Healthcare

Despite the prevalence of disease, the Vikings were not without their forms of treatment. Their understanding of medicine was rooted in practical knowledge, folklore, and spiritual beliefs. Herbal remedies were common, and while their effectiveness varied, some, like willow bark for pain (which contains salicylic acid, a component of modern aspirin), were likely genuinely useful.

Surgeries were rudimentary, but some evidence points to successful trepanation (drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure). Amputations and setting of broken bones were also within their medical knowledge.

What Was the Main Cause of Death for Vikings?

The primary cause of death for Vikings often depended on the individual’s status, occupation, and gender. Nevertheless, historical records, archaeological findings, and recent scientific research provide insight into what most likely claimed Viking lives.

One of the significant causes of death for Vikings was warfare. Vikings were renowned warriors and seafarers, and their expansion across Europe, Asia, and North America often involved violent confrontations. Battles not only resulted in immediate casualties but also lingering deaths from infection and complications of untreated injuries. Trauma-related injuries, such as fractures and head wounds, are common findings in Viking skeletal remains.

Apart from violence, Vikings, like any other population of the period, were susceptible to a variety of diseases. Infectious diseases like pneumonia, dysentery, and tuberculosis were prevalent and often fatal. Evidence of such diseases has been found in many Viking burial sites. A recent study has also suggested that an early form of bubonic plague caused by Yersinia pestis might have been present among the Vikings and caused significant mortality.

In Viking society, women faced the danger of dying in childbirth. Without the benefit of modern medical knowledge and sanitation, childbirth was a risky endeavor, and both infant and maternal mortality rates were likely high.

Nutritional deficiencies and poor diet were other potential causes of death. The harsh Nordic climate meant that certain times of the year were challenging in terms of food availability. Deficiencies could lead to diseases such as scurvy and rickets, weakening the immune system and making individuals more susceptible to other illnesses.

Lastly, harsh living conditions and challenging environments also played a role. Hypothermia, accidents at sea or during hunts, and animal attacks could all have contributed to the death toll.

In the end, there wasn’t a single main cause of death for Vikings. Instead, a combination of warfare, disease, childbirth, nutritional deficiencies, and harsh living conditions were likely the leading causes of mortality among the Vikings.

Disease and Death: The Influence of Illness on Viking Mythology and Religion

Like many other ancient cultures, the Vikings personified the forces they observed in the world, including the phenomenon of disease. Illness and death played a significant role in shaping Norse mythology and religious practices, revealing how the Vikings made sense of the harsh realities of their world.

In the Viking pantheon, Hel, the goddess of the underworld, is a notable figure associated with the disease. Daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, Hel ruled over the realm where those who did not die in battle were sent. This included those claimed by illness or old age. Descriptions of Hel often reflect the brutal nature of the disease – she was described as half alive and half dead, a symbolic embodiment of the suffering and inevitable demise brought about by illness.

Viking mythology also held a place for elves and dwarves, supernatural beings believed to have the ability to cause or cure diseases. Illnesses, particularly those without apparent causes, were often attributed to these beings’ influence. It was believed that an elf shot invisible arrows causing sudden, inexplicable pains – an interpretation of conditions we might today recognize as arthritis, stroke, or heart attack.

The disease also influenced Viking religious practices. Amulets have been found in archaeological sites thought to be used as protection against specific diseases. Sacrifices, rituals, and prayers were employed to appease the gods and supernatural beings, seeking their favor for recovery from illness.

Moreover, the rampant diseases and high mortality rate led to a deep-seated belief in fate, known as ‘wyrd.’ Many Vikings believed that the time and manner of their death, whether in battle or on a sickbed, were predestined, leading to a unique cultural acceptance and fatalistic view of death and disease.

Ultimately, the struggle with illness significantly influenced Viking mythology and religion. It shaped their understanding of the world, their place, and how they sought to control or make peace with the forces beyond their comprehension.

Conclusions: Life and Sickness in the Viking Age

While the Vikings were hearty seafarers and warriors, they were not immune to the diseases of their time. They faced a variety of health challenges, from infections and nutritional deficiencies to injuries and chronic illnesses. Despite these hurdles, they built a civilization remembered for its exploration, warfare, and influence on the cultures they contacted.

The study of Viking illness helps us understand not only the hardships of life in the Viking Age but also the resilience and adaptability of the human species. It serves as a stark reminder of the universality of human health and disease, transcending time and cultures.