Viking Vs Samurai?!?

If a Buddha statue can be found in a Swedish Vendel Era grave, the implications for even further East-West travel becomes an open question. Field archaeologist Cat Jarman explores this expansive thought in her recent book River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads (2021 CE, which is in our TBR pile). So if a Norse trader/raider went East on the Silk Road to Beijing & then further, or say a ronin/diplomat Samurai went West into China or further on those same roads, or maybe a Viking raiding ship made an arctic passage down to Japan, then just maybe this cross-cultural Viking vs. Samurai duel from Deadliest Warrior might've actually gone down:

Watch the duel here:

[Episode aired April 14th, 2009 CE]

I was impressed with the efficacy of chainmail versus the much-vaunted katana, compared to the Viking sword easily cutting through the 2" x 4". While the computer simulated best-of-1,000-battles came up with the dramatized result, I have to question the action/reaction order of events in the encounter, especially not using one's shield when being shot at by a bow (or even attempting to dodge!), plus the choice of a Dane axe omitting the additional use of a regular axe that might've been thrown before closing in. The lack of the Viking's leg protection's a real attested issue though. Just ask Onund Treefoot from Grettir's Saga:

[Despite his distinctive descriptive name, Onund was a bad arse!]

Give the episode a watch and comment what you thought below, NorsePlayers!

#    #    #

Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants at age seven. Since then he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the Map of Midgard project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. If you have employment/opportunities in investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer, do contact him.