The clinker-built Gokstad ship dating back to the year 890 AD is currently on display at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. (Photo: Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, 1938) Ever since the publication of a scientific article in 1883,… Read More ›
Culture
Do the Normans Really Have Viking Ancestors?
The Viking Rollo (c. 846 – c. 930 AD), the first Duke of Normandy, was according to the sagas so big that no horse could carry him, hence the nickname “Gange Rolv”, meaning Walking Rolv / Rollo. (Illustration: © Stian… Read More ›
The Confusing Horned Helmets Depicted in the Oseberg Viking Age Tapestries
Section of tapestry discovered in the Oseberg ship burial mound showing a figure wearing a horned helmet. (Watercolor reconstruction: Mary Storm, 1940 / Photo: Museum of Cultural History, Oslo) If you claim that Vikings did not use horned helmets, you… Read More ›
The Story of the Viking Horse Freyfaxi, a Killed Shepherd and a Kept Promise
A herd of Icelandic horses, probably very similar to the original Viking horses brought from Western Norway around the year 900 AD. (Photo: Knut Houge / hest.no) In one of the Icelanders’ sagas, Hrafnkel’s saga Freysgoða, we learn how important… Read More ›
Several Erotic Medieval Runic Inscriptions Found in Bergen
This runic inscription from Bergen is quite long and the author must have had a lot of “erotic energy” when he carved these runes into the 33 centimeter-long wooden stick: “I love that man’s wife so high that fire feels… Read More ›
Submission No Alternative: Viking King Herlaug and His Men Choose to be Buried Alive
The burial mound on the Leka island containing King Herlaug and eleven of his men originally was about 12.5 meters (41 ft) high with a diameter of more than 70 meters (230 ft). It is one of the largest Viking… Read More ›
The Olafsen Family’s Christmas Eve – A Traditional Norwegian 24 December
Like many other Norwegian families, the Olafsen family decorates the house for Christmas on “Little Christmas Eve”, 23 December. (Photo illustration: ThorNews). Christmas Eve is one of the highlights of the year, especially for the youngest members of the family…. Read More ›
Get Into the Spirit of Christmas with Old Norwegian Christmas Cards
“God Norsk Jul! – “Happy Norwegian Christmas!” (Artist: Frank Wathne, produced 1946) In the good old days, a respected Norwegian occupation was to be a Christmas card artist. Absolutely everyone who could write sent a nice card to family… Read More ›
How Was a Viking Chieftain Armed? The Gjermundbu Discovery Reveals the Answer
Based on the findings in the Gjermundbu I grave dating back to the years 950 – 970 AD, this is how a Viking chieftain was armed. (Illustration from the book “Vikings at War”, 2011) In March 1943, a unique finding… Read More ›
Vikings Filled Their Pillows and Duvets with Eagle-Owls’ Feathers
Reconstruction of the Myklebust Viking ship burial chamber c. year 870 AD, Norway, probably containing King Audbjorn of the Fjords. The king’s head is resting on pillows filled with bird feathers. (Illustration: Arkikon.no) In the largest and richest equipped Viking… Read More ›
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