Vikings after they named Iceland and Greenland
The image depicts a man dressed in what appears to be 19th-century upper-class attire, raising a glass of wine as if toasting. His expression is one of self-satisfaction, almost smugness, as he sports a knowing smirk. The scene seems to have a luxurious and historical setting, likely from a film or television period drama.
Superimposed at the top of the image is text that reads, "Vikings after they named Iceland and Greenland." The humor in this meme derives from the commonly mentioned historical anecdote that the Vikings named Iceland and Greenland with names that seem contrary to the characteristics of the lands (Iceland being greener than Greenland, and Greenland being icier than Iceland). It's an ironic twist intended to highlight the contrast between the names and the actual nature of these places.
The man's toasting pose and self-satisfied look play into the humor by personifying the Vikings as if they had pulled off a clever trick or were intentionally deceptive with their naming. It almost suggests a celebratory moment among the Vikings after supposedly outwitting future visitors or settlers with these seemingly mismatched names.
To many people, the juxtaposition of historical fact with the suggestive contemporary meme format, along with the facial expression that conveys pride or a sense of accomplishment, might be outright hilarious. The meme implies a sort of clever satisfaction that one might associate with being witty or successfully misleading.
The individual in the meme may resemble a celebrity or character from a movie or television show The text in the image reads: "Vikings after they named Iceland and Greenland:"
