Ep 308 - Historical Tattoos with Obban & Ruben Terlouw
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In this deep dive episode of the Nordic Mythology Podcast, host Daniel Farrand welcomes back archaeologist and photographer Ruben Terlouw and tattoo artist Oban for a rich conversation on historically accurate Viking-age tattoos. The discussion explores the meticulous process of recreating ancient Scandinavian art with strict adherence to stylistic rules, including knotwork patterns and period-specific motifs. The guests reveal how they collaborate—Oban as the tattoo artist and Ruben as the visual historian and social media strategist—blending academic rigor with modern digital presentation. They debate the role of AI in creative fields, the importance of color in historical art, and the evolving perception of the Viking Age in popular culture. A highlight is their exploration of the controversial Ibn Fadlan account on Viking tattoos, questioning whether the description refers to Scandinavians or Slavic peoples. The episode closes with a reflective exchange on personal curiosity, with Ruben expressing fascination with the origins of Beowulf and Oban longing to witness the Oseberg burial ceremony firsthand.
Historically accurate Viking tattoos follow strict stylistic rules, including specific knotwork patterns and animal motifs tied to particular periods.
Collaboration between a tattoo artist and a historian/archaeologist creates a powerful fusion of authenticity and visual storytelling.
Social media algorithms can be manipulated by curating content and engagement to foster inspiration rather than despair.
AI is not inherently good or bad—it’s a tool that can enhance archaeological research while challenging creators in the digital space.
The Viking Age was likely more colorful than traditionally depicted, with evidence suggesting pigments were used on artifacts and possibly tattoos.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Patreon Plug
Daniel Farrand opens the episode with a reminder to support the podcast via Patreon, highlighting exclusive content, Q&A episodes, Discord access, and community engagement.
Introducing the Guests: Ruben & Oban
Daniel introduces Ruben Terlouw, a Dutch archaeologist and photographer, and Oban, a Swedish tattoo artist specializing in historically accurate Viking art. They discuss their shared past in the band Highland and how their collaboration began.
The Art of Historical Tattooing
“I don't want to mess up the rules, so I don't want to go too far out from what I'm supposed to. I want to stick to the tradition which is important, I think.”
Style Categories & Creative Boundaries
“If I pick a style, that means also it could be also different styles within one style. So then I prefer to stick to one thing and to make the whole piece look like one unity.”
Color, Light & Materiality in Viking Art
“It's not really color but it's I think we should look at the color um in two ways because first of all we have everybody has this notion that all the petroglyphs were painted red or white...”
“It's rather like how can we use AI to benefit rather than to steal? It's like saying gravity is bad. Yeah, if you're an airplane, gravity is pretty bad. But when you are on Earth, it's pretty good.”
“Art doesn't depict language. Art is a language.”
“I would probably choose this one. Right just go together yeah let's do it and see the the time when these women were buried in the mound and just see this uh big ceremonial ritual you know and experience that...”
Host
Guests
Ruben Terlouw
person
Oban
person
other
Daniel Farrand
person
YouTube
other
Oseberg Ship
other
Luciano
person
Ibn Fadlan
person
Heilung
organization
Patreon
other
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