Vikings not as gory as believed

A new archaeological research has revealed that the Vikings were very advanced, when it came to respecting women's rights, in the ninth century.

The research revealed that the Vikings' wives held an important role in society, went on some of the looting excursions, and were entitled to get a divorce, at that time.

Maria Jansen, director-general of the Swedish Historical Museums in Stockholm, wrote in the guide to the new exhibition from Scandinavia, 'Vikings - Beyond the Legend', at the Australian National Maritime Museum, that the Vikings had become "international celebrities", the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The new take on the Vikings offered fresh insights into the Vikings' lifestyle to correct the common misconception that their Age started and ended in violence.

Jansen added that "apart from perhaps Abba, Ikea and Minecraft, they might even be considered one of our most well-known trademarks".

According to popular perception, the Vikings are believed to be seafaring North Germanic people, who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries, and wore horned helmets.