This outfit was specially created for winter. This Viking woman is part of the Rusvik. We've named her Thyra. Thyra is a 9th-10th century woman of Swedish origin. She grew up in the Viking city Birka and settled together with her husband, the merchant Ivar, in the region of present-day Ukraine.
Kievan Rus
Sweden has traditionally been associated with the Rusvik. But the Rusvik were equally present in Northern Poland, the Baltic states, Finland, White Russia, Russia and Ukraine. DNA research has shown that Vikings came from a great diversity of countries.
In the region of Kiev, the Rusvik prince Rurik founded a new empire in the 9th century. The Kievan state was located at the crossroads between the Islamic world and Scandinavia. Vikings traveled down the Volga river and traded with the Islamic world. There they sold merchandise such as fur, hides, amber, slaves and ivory in exchange for Islamic silver dirhams. Dirhams can be seen as the USD or EUR of that time. They had a higher silver content and were thus more reliable than European coins. The Vikings also purchased silk, gemstones and spices from the Middle East.
Rise of the Kievan State
The Kievan state began as a number of Slavic tribes in the region around Kiev, led by princes (knyaz) who exercised authority over the tribes. In the 9th century, Rurik, a Viking prince, arrived in Novgorod and established his dynasty, the Rurikids, as rulers of the area. His successors, such as Oleg the Wise, united the Slavic tribes and laid the basic for the state.
Birka
Trade with the Baltic states, Ukraine and the Middle East placed the Swedish city Birka at the center. Birka thereby grew into one of the richest Viking cities. Viking merchants established trade routes between Birka and the Kievan state. They traded, among other things, fur, honey, wax and gemstones from northern Europe for goods such as weapons, silver and textiles from the Kievan state.
Flourishing and Golden Age
In the 10th and 11th centuries, the Kievan state experienced its Golden Age. Under rulers such as Vladimir the Great and Yaroslav the Wise, the state expanded and consolidated its power. Kiev became the center of political, economic and cultural activity. The city housed churches, markets and administrative buildings.
Scandinavian culture was evident, among other things, in the administrative structure of Kievan Rus. The earliest rulers were often referred to as knyaz (king) and their administrative practices showed Viking influence. The city of Novgorod, where the Vikings first arrived, played a central role in the early political and economic development of Kievan Rus.
We have assembled Ivar and his wife Thyra based on clothing and accessories that are representative of the entire Baltic region and the Volga.
Read our other blog to learn more about the men's outfit.
Viking Rusvik women's clothing Thyra
For Thyra's accessories, we loosely followed Birka grave 507 and combined it with, among other things, a lunula pendant found in the Ukraine region.
Viking Rusvik dress and underdress
The clothing of Rusvik women differed from that of other Scandinavians and was influenced by neighboring peoples. The basis of the outfit was the long, wide underdress (sorochka or rubakha). She could wear different layers over this, depending on the season and the wealth of the Rusvik wearer.
Over the underdress, Thyra wears an overdress, which was characteristically short and left part of the underdress visible. This combination is also great for winter events, for example.
Rusvik hanging skirt
Over the dresses, Thyra wears her hanging skirt, which differs from the typical Scandinavian hanging skirt in that it is open at the front.
Rusvik viking cloak
In milder conditions, and in and around the house, Thyra wears a thin shawl. This could be wrapped around the shoulders and over the head in various ways. These shawls appear in most depictions of Viking women, such as on the Oseberg tapestry and the Viking women's jewelry found in Tuna.
Outdoors, Thyra would have worn a long cloak. These cloaks were also used to sleep in during travels.
Rusvik knife
Most women probably carried a knife. Knives are regularly found in the graves of Viking women. Knives were utility objects, but the sheath was often luxuriously decorated with leather prints and brass fittings.
Rusvik bag
Thyra carries a bag based on a find from Haithabu (Hedeby).
Rusvik shield brooches and accessories
Vikings carried their possessions with them. Many wealthy women wore shield brooches or tortoiseshell brooches, between which they carried riches such as gemstones, beads and silverwork.
Thyra also wears a needle case and nail care set that are based on originals found in Birka. These could be hung from a belt, or attached to chains and other jewelry via jewelry hooks.
Amber necklaces
Amber was very popular in the Rusvik region. Germanic tribes already sold amber to the Roman empire, who had plenty of money for it. Nowadays, amber is still expensive, but the look can also be achieved with our carnelian necklaces.
Rusvik lunula amulet
Thyra wears an amulet in the shape of a crescent moon. Such lunula or lunitsa pendants had a Slavic origin and were worn throughout the Baltic Sea region by the 10th century. They were probably meant to protect mothers and their (un)born children from evil influences.
Rusvik brooch
The brooch Thyra wears is based on an original found in Stora Ryk in Sweden. Originally, this design was used by the Franks for decoration of swords and shields. In the 9th century, Vikings adopted these decorations and they were increasingly used as fibulae. Later, in the 10th century, this became a standard design for brooches.
Viking shoes
In this outfit, Thyra wears boots found in Oseberg.
