The wicked tongues of the Middle Ages called them "the butchers of mankind"; and the unknown epics hailed them as heroes. They are the mysterious Viking people.

An elaborate systematic investigation, spanning more than a century, has been going on since 1897, when archaeologists discovered the plains adjacent to the Schleswig landmark in northern Germany: the city Legendary Haithabu - once considered "suddenly missing". Since then, thanks to continuous discoveries and excavations, it has partly revealed to mankind something about an ancient civilization that was very prosperous.

For Professor Kurt Sissel, the current Director of the Schleswig Archaeological Museum, "Haithabu was the Viking capital about 10 centuries ago, with a population of more than 1,000 people through difficult excavations. such as pottery, wool, bronze, as well as many other metal tools…”.

An end to the rumors

Hundreds of years after Haithabu was discovered, European scientists through 3-4 generations of successive studies have revealed a lot about the ancient Viking people.

Was it thanks to the dragon boats with red and white sails, that the Vikings managed to tame the ferocious Baltic waves; parallel with the image of burgundy beards, drinking honey wine "like water" - stored in the enemy's head, with a horned war hat always proud on his head!

"A lot of lies - Professor K. Sissel strongly denied - Actually, up to 95% of the people of ancient Scandinavia were not skilled pirates, but specialized in farming and fishing. part of living in danger from famine, disease as well as natural disasters are always lurking.With 14 babies, only 4 live to the age of 10 years old; and to adulthood with the highest average life expectancy is 10 years old. maybe 20-30 years. One more important thing to note is that no ancient Viking ever wore a horn on his hat!".

But even to this day, there are conflicting notions surrounding the myth of the brave and cruel Vikings, brave and generous in their career of conquering the seas. Under the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler once honored Haithabu as "a clear embodiment of the village population of the ancient German nation"; and Professor K. Sissel viewed the city as a whole as a "pioneer - forerunner" in the period of early medieval urban formation.

"Haithabu is a very large city adjacent to the World Ocean," wrote the veteran Arab historian and businessman At-Turtushi in 965. At that time, Haithabu had more than 150 years of existence, a place of heavy weight. The "Viking mark" attracts long-distance traders, especially in the slave trade.

The barter of abductees was very popular in the markets of Haithabu. Often the victims are Christians, caught by people of the same faith and sold... Of course, this "fat business" is absolutely forbidden by the church, so the Vikings worshiped the Idol God. (polytheistic), acted as an intermediary to transfer slaves to the Arabs in order to earn more "strong cash".

For example, 4 female slaves cost a total of 820g of silver, equivalent to the price of an iron mesh armor - the most expensive self-defense artifact at that time.

"The inhabitants of the city mostly believe in Idols - historian At-Turtushi continued - Only a few are Catholics. Their main food is seafood, especially sea fish, because they are present. everywhere in the markets… I have never heard a more savage voice than that of the Haithabu, very scary…”.

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Talented architects of urbanization and urban lifestyle

Mr. At-Turtushi was even more awestruck by the Vikings' construction and was amazed by their pre-urban agglomeration. In parallel, radical laws were implemented, and the road system was square and sharp, and even difficult areas had convenient traffic routes. People bustling about, legs wrapped in traditional goatskin…

Then the afternoon blue smoke spread across the plains. The sound of people clearing their throats and coughs, the sound of children studying, the sound of a blacksmith's hammer, the sound of knives sharpening, the sound of stone chisels, the sound of pigs crowing, the crowing of a rooster, etc. are typical sounds for a peaceful and prosperous life. Wealthy families often live in houses about 6m wide and about 15m long. The common laborers are grass-roofed houses, with walls made of woven bamboo and plastered with mud.

Most of the houses have no windows, consisting only of "small holes" for outside viewing. Haithabu is made up of many ethnic groups from four countries: Scandinavians, Eastern European Slavs living together with groups of people who migrated from the North.

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They stayed here mainly for the purpose of trading, expanding trade with the seafarers. Everyone believes and adheres to the unwritten law that reigns in the ocean industry: not to succumb to any enslavement plots from outside forces.

Domestically, the maintenance of social order in Haithabu is enforced according to the model of "iron discipline". Any citizen who committed theft or murder would be stoned to death, or drowned in a swamp until he died. The same goes for rape, especially in cases with women of Viking origin. There is no prison system.

There is only one "Thing", the type of Council of Representatives that openly adjudicates matters related to depraved people. Usually after each "Thing" takes place, the criminals will be sent into the deep forest full of evil beasts and no one in the community will pay attention to them anymore.

This model urban lifestyle reigned in Haithabu about 24 hectares wide and was strictly enforced for 250 years, until the Vikings suddenly disappeared from the list of peoples on the planet. mid eleventh century.