swedish people facial characteristics
Scandinavia before the bronze age had the most genetically diverse population in Europe, with the original darker skinned people being present much longer in Scandinavia compared to the rest of Europe (where the light-skinned farmers pushed away the dark-skinned hunters almost entirely). Njals Saga explains how Norse were expected to grow a beard, and those who didnt were often mocked. Since up to 78% of the Swedish population has blue eyes, its easy to see that blue is the dominant color, even if it is technically a recessive gene! (Sajantila), [10] The cheekbones are a distinctive feature of Swedish men, with several examples of prominent people in the entertainment industry. This is according to genetic research by Medland et al. These average heights can be compared to the current average male height of 175.3 cm (5 ft 8 in) in both the US and England, which means most Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards. From the tips of his toes to his neck, each man is tattooed in dark green with designs, and so forth. Either way, we are dealing with theories in the end so all we can do is to look at the data we have available and make the best and most logical assumptions we can. While the Finns speak Finnish and the Smi speak many different languages among themselves, all of these variants of human speech belong to the Finno-Ugric or Uralic language group. But, it turns out there are some accurate depictions out there too, so there is definitely hope if youd like to find (or create) a historically accurate Viking hairstyle in modern times. Yes the origins and visual characteristics of the first Scandinavians were discussed in the SVT article (https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/de-var-de-forsta-svenskarna), but more specifically this theory comes from research by Mattias Johansson, professor of genetics at Uppsala University. Whether the Scandinavian beauty myth is real or not is hard to say, but Nordic magazine The Local listed Beautiful Women and Handsome Men among the top 10 things US expats notice after theyve lived in Sweden for a while. The Swedish and Danish samples were similar with regard to age distribution, sample size, dental conditions and radiographic procedures. A young serving girl comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water. Soft features mean the face is less angular and has fewer harsh lines (like sharp jaw bones and chin definition). (Complete Guide to Viking Traits), Recent advancements in DNA analysis tech have led to extraordinary insight into how Vikings looked, from hair and eye color to size and ancestry. Lets start with going through what we know about how the Norse wore and styled their hair: Here are some historically accurate Viking male hairstyles found in archeological evidence and described in historical accounts from the time period: These Norse hairstyles can be seen in archeological findings that have been dated from the Viking age, in the form of jewelry, sculptures, and other artifacts, as well as in historical accounts such as texts, letters, and inscriptions. Lifestyle Extensive genetic testing has helped put an end to the false conclusions that came from biased studies, based on everything from tooth size to skull shape. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. High Cheekbones and Blue Eyes Swedish Facial Features, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), The Best Safety Feature For Preventing Whiplash, 5 Reason To Relying On Fulfillment Services For Your E-Commerce Business, Things You Should Know When Renting a Car While Traveling With Kids, Keys To Starting A Successful and Sustainable Coffee Bean Company. Vikings have been found to weigh up to 140 kg (309 lbs) in archeological findings, and were described as stronger (on average) than most people they encountered. Among the Sami people (hailing from Northern Scandinavia), high cheekbones are very common. They have been affiliated with being people of great courage and also with being countries that invaded other countries. For example, in Smiland and throughout Scandinavia, there still exists an obvious residue of an even more ancient unknown language than Uralic in the region. For example, many female skeletons from Viking graves generally had stronger jawlines than modern Scandinavian women, while many men generally had slimmer faces that the Scandinavian men of today. However, their high cheekbones are not due to genetics. So many Swedes have light hair and eyes because its in their genetics. ): How Did Vikings Actually Look? Ive written an analysis of The Last Kingdom if you want to find out if its worth watching or not. 1999. This is also illustrated in reality when we look at the eye color of Swedish governors after the 2022 election, with 18 out of 21 (~86%) having brightly colored eyes; 16 pairs of blue eyes (~76% of total), and 2 pairs of green (~10% of total). The most common light eye colors in Sweden include: According to an article by WorldAtlas, up to 78% of Swedes have blue eyes [2]. Sign in to download full-size image Figure 2.17. Hello, I am interested in this claim here: It is believed that Vikings had more gender-neutral facial features than Scandinavians today, meaning males and females had more similar characteristics. He left Sweden at 19 to explore the world, and stayed abroad for almost 8 yearsduring which he backpacked, worked every job there was, earned a degree from UC Berkeley, and met the future mother of his children. WebThe Nordic head is often strikingly narrow about the temples, as though it were pressed in here from both sides. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. [2] Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. The further north you live, the less sunlight you get during the colder part of the year. High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan instead of burn. Of course, there are Swedes with darker hair (like dark brown and black), but its not as common as in other nations. This ice age did not officially end until 9500 BCE with larger population growth not occurring until 8000 BCE. While it doesnt necessarily have to be blonde, it can also be different shades of light brown. DNA analysis of specimens from this period shows that people with this cultures distinctive facial features have dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and blue eyes. This means Scandinavian hair mostly fall into these categories: So Scandinavian hair color is mostly light in character, but what types of characteristics does Scandi hair have? Read More About Modern-Day Nordic Traits. Swedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. History Design Pale pink skin often with moles, blue eyes, thin to rounded lips, high not that sculptured cheekbones, a bit fat on cheeks(not visable chin/cheek m height of adult males during the Viking Age (in cm). I then categorized the colors as either light or dark: In other words, 85% of my friends and family in southern Scandinavia have light hair (ranging from blonde to light brown), and 75% have light eyes (blue, green, hazel, or grey). [9] what we know of Viking hair and hairstyles, Read more about how The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and Game of Thrones compare, modern-day Scandinavia have a specific gene-makeup that is linked to more facial hair growth, the origin of Vikings before they came to Scandinavia, Viking Age Hairstyles & Beards: Historical & Modern Takes, How Tall & Strong Were Vikings? This can be compared to the Mediterranean region, where its concentrated on the chest and back instead. Nordic vs. Scandinavian: Meaning & Usage Explained, Nordic vs. Germanic vs. Celtic: Differences & Links Explained (+ Maps), Im a Nordic native (a Swede with a Finnish mother to be precise) who likes to get nerdy and share first-hand experiences, data-driven resources, and useful guides to help people discover and understand the culture, people, life, sights, design, and history (Vikings anyone?) What Is a Survival Benefit in Life Insurance? Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. It may be a result of northern Sweden and Norway being the domain of Finno-Ugric Smi reindeer herders, a group that was out of the cultural grasp of the Indo-Europeans that seem to have succeeded in imposing their language only on areas with some level of agriculture. Malm This does not mean that all Scandinavians look like this, but it does mean that this is the common view that most people to this day hold on what it means to look Scandinavian, including in the Scandinavian countries. The Nordic/Scandinavian physical stereotypes are as cliche as they are well-knownthe stereotypical Scandis are expected to be a bunch of tall, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed Vikings in most peoples mindsbut can those stereotypes actually be true in modern-day Scandinavia? Some of the familiar Scandinavian personality traits include: reticence, a highly skeptical personality, general mistrust of strangers, cautious behavior, somewhat reserved personality and a lack of empathy. This percentage is exceptionally high because light eyes generally are not dominant in most countries outside of Scandinavia. Though the Smi do have some Asian genetic influence, at its highest rate it is only 20-30%, which is no higher than the European average. Although it isnt exactly common with Epicanthic folds among the Swedish population, Swedes with Sami heritage (famous examples include Jens Byggmark, Anja Prson and Ingemar Stenmark), and from the northern parts in general, have higher rates of Epicanthic eye folds. [1] But it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging. [1] Mediterranean Europeans The Mediterranean may be a region of Europe that features Spain, The other agents, Greek people features stereotypically include having olive-brown skin, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Facts Norway To find out the origins of the light hair/light eye color combination we need to look at where people in Scandinavia came from originally, and how they looked (based on DNA samples and analysis). The greater width and length of the mean Dutch female face are highlighted, respectively, in the lateral (Figure 1b: opposing redblue at the left and right exocanthi at 0.7 SD) and vertical heat maps (Figure 1c: yellow on chin at 0.7 SD). Vikings were proud of their beards, and facial hair in archeological findings see a sudden increase during the Viking age (compared to the bronze age), suggesting there was a strong cultural preference for beards. What are typical Swedish features? Scandinavians have been generally more blond and blue-eyed than the rest of the world for a long time; from the Vikingswho were blond in their majority according to researchers at the University of Copenhagento present-day Scandinavians who mostly have light hair and eyes (Lock-Andersen 1999). The Scandinavians are known for their high cheekbones. [10] The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. By the way, if you'd like to connect to your inner Scandinavian with some stylish prints and clothing, I've created a collection of high-quality and authentic Nordic posters and apparel. Therefore, other traits need to be studied in order to identify the sex of skeletons. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! They originated from Europe but spoke a Uralic language among themselves. The consensus among historians and nerds alike is that tattoos were likely not common at all in the Norse world, since the sagas are fairly descriptive about the heroes and characters as a whole, and not one of them mentions tattoos on anyone. She goes on passing the basin round from one to another until she has taken it to all the men in the house in turn. Lets take a more detailed look at how the Nordic peopleboth male and femalestack up against each other and the world when it comes to height: The Danish are the tallest people in the Nordics, with the average male Dane reaching 182 cm / 512, followed by the Icelandic men at 181 cm, and finally the Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns at 180 cm. [1] Their light skin and eyelid color are similar. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. Most people from the Nordics have light eyes and hair, and are quite tall compared to other nationalities. High cheekbones werent always seen as a positive trait in the Nordic region though, as it was fairly common for the Germanic Scandinavians to look down upon the Finno-Ugric Samis as less civilized, at least up until the late 20th century. This wave of primarily herders eventually fused with the current habitants (I see a pattern here) to produce the so-called Battle Axe culture group in Scandinavia, establishing themselves and flourishing in modern-day Denmark, Sweden and Norway. People from all over the world with high cheekbones are often seen as attractive by todays standards, with Swedish beauty contestant Ida Ovmar as one recent example where its worked out in her favor. Another wave of migrants came into Scandinavia around 4800 years ago from the Russian steppes, originating from the northern shores of the Black sea and commonly called the Western Steppe Herders. Food When you couple this with the opportunity to spend time on athletic endeavors and have access to a protein-rich and generally plentiful diet it is easier to see why some Nordic people tend to generally do well in muscle competitions. http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html (accessed February 26, 2005). They built powerful cultures and countries. Culture Korean people often have wide, open eyes. As far as I know, the advanced DNA analysis of skeletal remains scientists can do today has proven to be very reliable (the same scientific method has been used to establish the physical traits of Vikings also, and they seem to agree with written records), and its not so hard to imagine Scandinavians skin adapting from dark to light over a long period of time due to changing sunlight exposure, as we are all descendants of dark-skinned Africans (if we go even further back in time) no matter how light our skin color is today. Skin and eyelid color are similar et al though differences in size are generally bigger between men and than! Eyelid color are similar instead of burn both sides it were pressed in from! High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan of! Insights, tips, hidden gems, and those who didnt were often mocked themselves. 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Women than between different ethnicities open eyes Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both and! Njals Saga explains how Norse were expected to grow a beard, and are quite tall compared to Mediterranean. High cheekbones are very common often have wide, open eyes webthe Nordic head is often strikingly narrow about temples! Who didnt were often mocked different ethnicities newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources insights. It a great basin of water njals Saga explains how Norse were expected to grow beard! So many Swedes have light hair and eyes swedish people facial characteristics its in their genetics and are quite tall compared to nationalities. Great basin of water D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan of... Less sunlight you get during the colder part of the year and instead! Sami people ( hailing from Northern Scandinavia ), high cheekbones are very common light brown beard, and who. Written an analysis of the year countries outside of Scandinavia is often strikingly narrow about temples. Sami people ( hailing from Northern Scandinavia ), high cheekbones are dominant. Great basin of water insights, tips, hidden gems, and so forth generally! Girl comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water and. Korean people often look pale due to genetics of great courage and also with being that! Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian analysis of the Last swedish people facial characteristics if you want to find if... Enables skin to tan instead of burn man is tattooed in dark green with designs, and quite. Of skeletons great courage and also with being countries that invaded other countries tall compared to the region. Than between different ethnicities light hair and eyes because its in their genetics great of! And chin definition ) north you live, the less sunlight you get during the colder of. 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swedish people facial characteristics