More about Viking heritage in England
This
drawing of the letter "d" looks like a Viking might have drawn
it, doesn't it? (Look at the "d" in the word "London"
on the homepage of this site.)
It was drawn to look like a snake, in the Ringerike
style. This style of art was popular with Vikings in Scandinavia when Cnut
was king of Denmark.
But, in fact, it was not drawn by a Viking at all! This letter was found in
an 11th-century English manuscript and was probably drawn by an English monk.
Artwork wasn't the only thing that the English borrowed from the Vikings.
They also borrowed words. Many Viking words have survived hundreds of years and
are still used in England and other places around the world.
The Vikings make a lasting impression in parts of London. A placename with a
Viking word in it was a place where Vikings lived or worked. Just look at a map
of London or England today and you will find many Viking words in the placenames.
Here are some Viking words and what they meant when Vikings were saying them.
