:: 11TH c. VIKING SWORD ::
Viking swords, like the Vikings themselves, have reputations for being
brutal and utilitarian devices, simplistic hacking weapons with little in
the way of grace or beauty. This view has been perpetuated by movies, comic
books and other pop culture references. For those who study viking history
and culture, though, they know that is simply not the case. Many viking
weapons that have remained for us to examine were not only functional but
beautifully decorated. One such example is this sword, based on a find in
Finland that dates back to the 11th Century.
Photographs of the original
(click on image to enlarge)
This 11TH c. Viking
sword has a type AE pommel and guard according to Petersen's viking sword
typology. This very unique style is accented by the knotwork commonly seen
in Viking art from the same period. Visible in the scrolling design on the
hilt are two dragons, which resemble the dragon-prowed ships the vikings
would sail off on raids. The pommel also shows the image of the dragon in
the intertwining loops.The long blade has a deep, wide fuller common among
swords of this type, and which is an attractive offset to the intricate hilt
design.
Click on images below to Enlarge
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