Aros was the Viking settlement and trading center founded near modern Aarhus in Denmark.
The name Aros means “river mouth,” referring to the settlement’s position beside the mouth of the Aarhus River. The site developed as a fortified town and harbor during the Viking Age, benefiting from access to the Kattegat and from connections with inland routes.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered traces of defenses, streets, houses, workshops, and imported goods. These remains show that Aros was more than a temporary camp: it was a settled urban community involved in craft production, trade, and regional administration.
Aros is sometimes confused with Hedeby or Ribe, two other major Viking Age trading places in Denmark. Hedeby stood near the base of the Jutland peninsula, while Ribe lay on the west coast. Aros grew into the modern city of Aarhus, whose name preserves the old settlement’s linguistic heritage.