The first printed edition of the 13th-century Gesta Danorum appeared in 1514. This text by Saxo Grammaticus arrived just as book printing became practical and trade began to spread quickly across Europe. Olaus Magnus followed with his Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, or History of the northern peoples, which was printed in 1555. The pace of publication increased significantly during the 17th century. Latin translations of the famous Edda emerged notably through Peder Resen's work titled Edda Islandorum in 1665. These books served as main sources for medieval skaldic tradition of poetry and storytelling in Iceland. They contained Norse mythology written down in the 13th century but derived from older oral sources. The Prose Edda and an older collection of poems known now as the Poetic Edda formed the core of these texts.
Romantic Heroic Overtones
Interest in Viking history reawakened in the late 18th and 19th centuries with added heroic overtones typical of that Romantic era. Etymologists frequently trace the word Viking to writers referring to those who set about to raid and pillage. The modern understanding of Viking history is shaped by views of people from the Romantic era. They studied and wrote about Vikings as seen from their own point of view. Viking exploits were aggregated and tended to be falsely subsumed under a single category. Subsequently these stories became romanticized as heroic adventure rather than historical fact. A modern understanding of Viking history remains heavily influenced by these Romantic interpretations. The word Viking was introduced into Modern English only during the 18th century. It derives from the Old Norse víkingr signifying a sea-rover or pirate.Norwegian Nationalism
The rediscovery of the Viking past began in Norway during the 19th century when nationalism rose sharply. Norwegians had been in a personal union with Denmark under the Danish king for 400 years. They subsequently entered a union between Sweden and Norway under the Swedish king. People started looking back to their Viking Age kings and sagas. In 1867, the first Viking ship to be unearthed appeared as the Tune ship excavated in Østfold. This discovery provided new knowledge about the Vikings and their culture. Excavation of other ships and artifacts led to higher consciousness about the Viking past in Norway. The only complete Viking helmet ever found is the Gjermundbu helmet excavated in Buskerud. Norway uncovered The Gokstad Ship in 1880 which represents Viking Age craftsmanship. Central to construction of the Gokstad ship is the clinker-built method. This technique stands as a hallmark of Scandinavian boat-building tradition.