DOCSLIB.ORG

Drink Like a Viking

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Drink Like a Viking Vol. 36, No. 1 Spring 2017 Drink Like a Viking The new Skål! Scandinavian Spirits Drinking horns were most commonly those exhibition at the American Swedish of oxen, cattle, or goats, though some have Historical Museum inspires a look back been found of ivory and could be decorated at drinking traditions across Scandinavian with precious metal or stones. Evidence cultures over time. Some have theorized of drinking containers can be found in the that the term skål can be traced back famous Bayeux Tapestry, or embroidery, to the Vikings, one of the earliest which depicts the story of William of Scandinavian cultures. This theory Normandy (a direct descendant of Viking comes from a supposed Viking tradition migration) conquering England in 1066. in which warriors would drink from the Revelers in this artwork are imbibing from skulls of vanquished enemies. Though a both horns and communal bowls. Though fantastically gory theory, most agree that few fully intact horns have been found on the term actually originates from the word archeological digs, numerous metal horn “skål”, meaning bowl, which was a common stands have been uncovered suggesting vessel people would drink and share from the wide-spread use of these vessels. Picture stone from Tjängvide in the at community gatherings. parish of Alskog, Gotland, Sweden. Photo: Ola Myrin, The Swedish What was in the horn? Favored drinks of History Museum. Even if the word skål doesn’t involve Vikings included mead, wine, and beer. imbibing alcohol from human skulls, the Mead is an alcoholic drink made of Vikings still did their fair share of drinking. fermented honey and can be mixed with Cups came in the form of ceremonial spices. Mead is often referred to as the drinking horns and communal bowls. continued on page 2 Connecting Cultures and Community Drink Like A Viking continued from front cover drink of the gods and can be found Note from throughout Norse, Roman, and Greek the Director culture. Heiðrún, a famous goat in Norse mythology, is said to consume leaves from I am hearing more and more buzz Læraðr, a tree in Valhalla, and fills a giant lately about DNA testing to learn about caldron with mead from her udders for fallen your ethnic background. If you are warriors who died valiantly in battle. The considering it yourself, prepare to be preferred drink of Odin, king of the Norse surprised. For many people, they find gods, however, is wine. He is said to have out that they had always thought they loved it so much that he would forego food were Italian, but are really Polish, or they and only consume the fermented juice of thought they were Scottish, but found grapes. Since wine was not produced in out they were Irish. DNA testing has Scandinavia, it was a much desired highlighted a trend whereby immigrants commodity and was acquired through raids to the US went on record as being from or trades throughout eastern and western a country that they actually weren’t. This Europe. Because wine was so hard to leads generations of families to identify procure it became a drink of the wealthy. Woman holding a drinking vessel. Silver. Öland, with a group to which genetically they Sweden. Photo: Gabriel Hildebrand, The Swedish History Museum. don’t belong. Beer was also central in Norse drinking culture. Knowledge of brewing was said to One professor at West Chester have been a gift from Odin to mankind. Much like today, drinking in Norse society University is using DNA tests of her Beer played a major role in Viking was a way to strengthen social relationships. students to encourage honest and open celebrations, festivals, and holidays. Toasts were made in celebration, conversations about race that start from It was considered a family duty to brew remembrance, to mark the partnerships a positive place. When students find out a strong beer for important events such of clans, to honor the deities, and at the that they have ancestry from the Middle as weddings, funerals, and religious completion of a successful voyage or battle. East or Africa that they never realized ceremonies. Beer consumption was a Passing and drinking from a shared horn or they had, this challenges their sense of way to mark the harvest, as well as the bowl fostered comradery and trust. These who is like them and who is “the other”. summer and winter solstices. If the harvest themes playout through the centuries and was small, however, beer production was raising a glass to toast or skål in celebration New information from DNA tests often limited to is just as important to modern people as it sets people on a path of self-discovery, special was to Vikings nearly a thousand years ago. wanting to find out who their ancestors occasions really are. They trove through on-line in order to To learn more about cultural drinking services that help them find preserve traditions be sure to visit the exhibit Skål! documentary evidence about previous grain for Scandinavian Spirits, on view through generations. They visit ancestral food. September. If you would like to explore homelands, giving new meaning to the Viking culture, come to Viking Day at the term heritage tourism! They even seek American Swedish Historical Museum on out places like ASHM to learn about what Saturday April 29th. Viking Day will feature it means to be Swedish when they find a 40ft reproduction of the Gokstad Viking out one of their grandparents emigrated ship, Viking weapon demonstrations, from Sweden. lectures from Viking scholars, runic crafts, and traditional game competitions of I, too, was recently suprised by a DNA test. Previously, on St. Patrick’s Day, my Hnefalafl and Kubb. Visit the website husband and children would celebrate www.americanswedish.org their Irish heritage, and I always felt a for more details. little left out. But this year, it’s my turn Drinking horn with to explore my inner Irish woman, since mouth mounting in silver. my sister’s DNA test turned up Irish Grave find, Björkö, Adelsö, Uppland, Sweden. background we never knew about! Photo: Christer Åhlin, The Swedish History Museum. Tracey Beck 2 WinterSpring 2012-13 2017 || Vol.Vol. 30,36, No.No. 41 the community SCA was created to serve. A Desire to Connect SCA has emerged as the community foundation for Swedish North America. Did you know that the ASHM was one of With over $1,000,000 of assets in its three Swedish-American organizations endowment, and a nearly 40 year history that founded a national organization called of supporting organizations and youth with Swedish Council of America (SCA) in grants and scholarships; of connecting 1972? In fact, the first Chairman of the affiliates and individuals with magazines, organization was Dr. Nils Y. Wessell, who books, newsletters and conferences; and was also the President of the ASHM Board of awarding leaders within the Swedish of Governors. The original purpose of the American community with the recognition SCA was to bring into a cooperative Swedish Council Executive Director Gregg White they deserve, we have adopted a new relationship all groups and individuals visits Sjölunden— at Concordia Language Villages tagline that we think embodies what whose purpose is to promote knowledge precisely what we do: and understanding of the Swedish heritage in American life and to strengthen became more important. The SCA began SCA: Supporting, Connecting, Awarding the cultural ties between America and an endowment fund and grant program in Sweden. Representatives of three visionary the 1990s and continues to provide grants Want to learn more about SCA? Connect founding organizations--the ASHM, to Swedish organizations for their own on social media, subscribe to the Quarterly American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis programs and projects. As of 2017, SCA will magazine Sweden & America (only $12 for and the Pioneer Historical Society in have given grants of over 1 million dollars to ASHM members), or join them at one of Chicago—met as the SCA executive a wide range of organizations and projects. their Fall or Spring meetings held at committee in the International Terminal at The founding of two significant scholarships locations across the U.S., Canada, and O’Hare Airport. The organization grew over – also in the 1990s – one bringing Swedish sometimes Sweden! The SCA board is the years and at its peak in the 1980s, the students to America and another sending meeting in Philadelphia May 4-7. Many of council had about 300 Affiliate member American students from Swedish heritage the events for the board are open to the groups in the USA, Canada and Sweden. colleges to Sweden. Throughout its history, community. Check out the full schedule at SCA has facilitated relationships among swedishcouncil.org/meetings. The role of the organization has shifted all of the organizations in Swedish America, over the years. Early on, the emphasis was creating a collaborative working on publications (such as The Swedish environment. Heritage in America, by Allan Kastrup published in 1975) and a quarterly After assessing the needs of constituent magazine, Sweden & America. Later, organizations and listening to the goals of facilitating communications between supporters, SCA has taken on a new role, groups and supporting programming one where there is clearly a void in Meet Our New Swedish Intern: Emma Rönn of January, and I am very happy to say that and eventually the same fascination would the city is already starting to feel like home lead me to studies in Art History at away from home! Stockholm University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criticism, Communication and I grew up on a peninsula on Lake Mälaren Curation: Arts and Design from Central called Skokloster, a small district on the Saint Martins in London.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Norwegian a Dragon Visits the Great Lakes—But Meets Trouble American Story on Page 13 Volume 127, #23 • July 29, 2016 Est
    the Inside this issue: NORWEGIAN A dragon visits the Great Lakes—but meets trouble american story on page 13 Volume 127, #23 • July 29, 2016 Est. May 17, 1889 • Formerly Norwegian American Weekly, Western Viking & Nordisk Tidende $3 USD Summer means blue sky & books We can’t promise it won’t rain on your vacation, but we’ve got your books under control... Or flying free! WHAT’S INSIDE? Nyheter / News 2-3 Opinion 4-5 « Jeg vet bare om ett tidsfordriv Business 6 som aldri synes å trette, Research & Science 7 og det er lesning. » Norwegian Heritage 8-9 – Roald Amundsen Sports 10-11 Norway near you 12-13 Arts & Entertainment 14 Travel 15 Taste of Norway 16-17 Summer Reading 18-25 Nonfiction 26 Fiction 27-28 Puzzles 29 Norsk Språk 30-31 Bulletin Board 32 $1 = NOK 8.584 updated 07/25/2016 In comparison 06/25/2016 8.4111 01/25/2016 8.7519 Photos: (top) courtesy of the Draken Expedition, (background) torbakhopper / Flickr Top: The Draken Harald Hårfagre sailing on the Huron. 07/25/2015 8.2061 Background: Books light the way in North Beach, San Francisco. 2 • July 29, 2016 Nyheter fra Norge theNORWEGIANamerican Nyheter Hegnhuset symboliserer de drepte Flere sommerdager i Karasjok enn i Det nye «Hegnhuset» Bergen Før 17. juni hadde Bergen flere sommer­ omslutter kafébygget dager enn både Paris, Oslo og Roma. Men hvor 13 ungdommer ble så tok lykken slutt. 20. juli var sommeren på snarvisitt—midt på dagen kunne ber­ drept for fem år siden genserne glede seg over 22 grader og sol, ifølge yr.no.
    [Show full text]
  • Of the Viking Age the Ornate Burials of Two Women Within the Oseberg Ship Reveals the Prominent Status That Women Could Achieve in the Viking Age
    T The Oseberg ship on display in The Viking Ship Museum. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo Queen(s) of the Viking Age The ornate burials of two women within the Oseberg ship reveals the prominent status that women could achieve in the Viking Age. Katrina Burge University of Melbourne Imagine a Viking ship burial and you probably think homesteads and burials that tell the stories of the real of a fearsome warrior killed in battle and sent on his women of the Viking Age. The Oseberg burial, which journey to Valhöll. However, the grandest ship burial richly documents the lives of two unnamed but storied ever discovered—the Oseberg burial near Oslo—is not a women, lets us glimpse the real world of these women, monument to a man but rather to two women who were not the imaginings of medieval chroniclers or modern buried with more wealth and honour than any known film-makers. warrior burial. Since the burial was uncovered more than a century ago, historians and archaeologists have The Ship Burial tried to answer key questions: who were these women, Dotted around Scandinavia are hundreds of earth mounds, how did they achieve such prominence, and what do they mostly unexcavated and mainly presumed to be burials. tell us about women’s lives in this time? This article will The Oseberg mound was excavated in 1904, revealing that explore current understandings of the lives and deaths the site’s unusual blue clay had perfectly preserved wood, of the Oseberg women, and the privileged position they textiles, metal and bone.
    [Show full text]
  • Fuglesang Til Trykk.Indd
    Ornament and Order Essays on Viking and Northern Medieval Art for Signe Horn Fuglesang Edited by Margrethe C. Stang and Kristin B. Aavitsland © Tapir Academic Press, Trondheim 2008 ISBN 978-82-519-2320-0 This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without permission. Layout: Tapir Academic Press Font: 10,5 pkt Adobe Garamond Pro Paper: 115 g Multiart Silk Printed and binded by 07-gruppen as This book has been published with founding from: Professor Lorentz Dietrichson og hustrus legat til fremme av kunsthistorisk forskning Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo Fritt Ord – The Freedom of Expression Foundation, Oslo Tapir Academic Press NO–7005 TRONDHEIM Tel.: + 47 73 59 32 10 Fax: + 47 73 59 84 94 E-mail: [email protected] www.tapir.no Table of Contents Preface . 7 Tabula Gratulatoria . 9 Erla Bergendahl Hohler Signe Horn Fuglesang – an Intellectual Portrait . 13 Eloquent Objects from the Early Middle Ages David M. Wilson Jellinge-style Sculpture in Northern England . 21 Anne Pedersen and Else Roesdahl A Ringerike-style Animal’s Head from Aggersborg, Denmark . 31 James Graham-Campbell An Eleventh-century Irish Drinking-horn Terminal . 39 Ornament and Interpretation Ulla Haastrup The Introduction of the Meander Ornament in Eleventh-century Danish Wall Paintings. Thoughts on the Symbolic Meaning of the Ornament and its Role in Promoting the Roman Church . 55 Kristin B. Aavitsland Ornament and Iconography. Visual Orders in the Golden Altar from Lisbjerg, Denmark .
    [Show full text]
  • Barbaric Splendour: the Use of Image Before and After Rome Comprises a Collection of Essays Comparing Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Art
    Martin with Morrison (eds) Martin with Morrison Barbaric Splendour: the use of image before and after Rome comprises a collection of essays comparing late Iron Age and Early Medieval art. Though this is an unconventional approach, Barbaric Splendour there are obvious grounds for comparison. Images from both periods revel in complex compositions in which it is hard to distinguish figural elements from geometric patterns. Moreover, in both periods, images rarely stood alone and for their own sake. Instead, they decorated other forms of material culture, particularly items of personal adornment and The use of image weaponry. The key comparison, however, is the relationship of these images to those of Rome. Fundamentally, the book asks what making images meant on the fringe of an expanding or contracting empire, particularly as the art from both periods drew heavily before and after Rome from – but radically transformed – imperial imagery. Edited by Toby Martin currently works as a lecturer at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education, where he specialises in adult and online education. His research concentrates on theoretical and interpretative aspects of material culture in Early Medieval Europe. Toby Toby F. Martin with Wendy Morrison has also worked as a field archaeologist and project officer in the commercial archaeological sector and continues to work as a small finds specialist. Wendy Morrison currently works for the Chilterns Conservation Board managing the NLHF funded Beacons of the Past Hillforts project, the UK’s largest high-res archaeological LiDAR survey. She also is Senior Associate Tutor for Archaeology at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.
    [Show full text]
  • Rituals for the Northern Tradition
    Horn and Banner Horn and Banner Rituals for the Northern Tradition Compiled by Raven Kaldera Hubbardston, Massachusetts Asphodel Press 12 Simond Hill Road Hubbardston, MA 01452 Horn and Banner: Rituals for the Northern Tradition © 2012 Raven Kaldera ISBN: 978-0-9825798-9-3 Cover Photo © 2011 Thorskegga Thorn All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the author. Printed in cooperation with Lulu Enterprises, Inc. 860 Aviation Parkway, Suite 300 Morrisville, NC 27560 To all the good folk of Iron Wood Kindred, past and present, and especially for Jon Norman whose innocence and enthusiasm we will miss forever. Rest in Hela’s arms, Jon, And may you find peace. Contents Beginnings Creating Sacred Space: Opening Rites ................................... 1 World Creation Opening ....................................................... 3 Jormundgand Opening Ritual ................................................ 4 Four Directions and Nine Worlds: ........................................ 5 Cosmological Opening Rite .................................................... 5 Warding Rite of the Four Directions ..................................... 7 Divide And Conquer: Advanced Group Liturgical Design. 11 Rites of Passage Ritual to Bless a Newborn .................................................... 25 Seven-Year Rite ..................................................................... 28 A Note On Coming-Of-Age Rites .......................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Rök Runestone and the End of the World. Futhark 9–10
    The Rök Runestone and the End of the World Per Holmberg (University of Gothenburg), Bo Gräslund (Uppsala University), Olof Sundqvist (Stockholm University), and Henrik Williams (Uppsala University) Abstract The Rök runestone from central middle Sweden, dated to around 800 CE, is famous, among other things, for a supposed reference to the emperor Theodo­ ric the Great. This study proposes instead that the inscription deals with an anxiety triggered by a son’s death and the fear of a new climate crisis similar to the catastrophic one after 536 CE. Combining perspectives and findings from semiotics, philology, archaeology, and history of religion, the study presents a completely new interpretation which follows a unified theme, showing how the monument can be understood in the socio­cultural and religious context of early Viking Age Scandinavia. The inscription consists, according to the pro­ posed interpretation, of nine enigmatic questions. Five of the questions con­ cern the sun, and four of them, it is argued, ask about issues related to the god Odin. A central finding is that there are relevant parallels to the inscription in early Scandinavian poetry, especially in the Eddic poem Vafþrúðnismál. Keywords: Rök, runestones, Viking Age, riddles, Eddic poetry, skaldic poetry, climate crisis he Rök runestone (Ög 136) is the most famous runic monument of Tthe Viking Age. It was erected c. 800 CE in a prosperous agricultural district in today’s central middle Sweden by Varinn as a memorial to his son Vāmōðʀ. Except for one damaged line, its more than 700 runes and other characters are still clearly legible, and cover all five visible sides of a five­ton granite slab, over two and a half meters high above the ground.
    [Show full text]
  • The Picture Stones of Gotland: Type C and D Stones As Death Memorials
    THE PICTURE STONES OF GOTLAND: TYPE C AND D STONES AS DEATH MEMORIALS _______________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies University of Houston _______________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts _______________ By Kelsie H. Spears May, 2016 THE PICTURE STONES OF GOTLAND: TYPE C AND D STONES AS DEATH MEMORIALS _______________ An Abstract of a Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies University of Houston _______________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts _______________ By Kelsie H. Spears May, 2016 ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on the picture stones of Gotland, Sweden dating to the Viking Age. The Viking Age picture stones are made up of two groups, C and D, as delineated by Sune Lindqvist, dating to 700-1000 AD. Utilizing a basic hypothesis by Björn Varenius, which was applied to Early Iron Age picture stones, a research plan was created and applied to the stones of the Viking Age. An iconographic analysis was performed on six well-known stones found in the Gotland Museum and Swedish National Antiquity Museum. This iconographic analysis used the frequency of individual images and a correlation of images appearing together to interpret the basic thematic meaning of the iconography. A landscape discussion and context analysis was done on three sites, Buttle Änge, Fröjel Stenstugu, and Visne ängar, which had in situ picture stones. The landscape discussion sought to find significant features which could be connected to the stones and interpreted.
    [Show full text]
  • Drinking Horns in Old Norse Culture: a Tradition Under Examination
    ANALECTA ARCHAEOLOGICA RESSOVIENSIA VOLUME 10 RZESZÓW 2015 Anne Hofmann* Drinking Horns in Old Norse Culture: A Tradition Under Examination ABSTRACT Hofmann A. 2015. Drinking Horns in Old Norse Culture: A Tradition Under Examination. Analecta Archaeologica Ressoviensia 10, 241–270 By comparing archaeological finds with literary evidence this article seeks to reconstruct the role of drinking horns during the Viking Age. After an overview of drinking horns as represented in archaeology, several literary texts, predominantly Medieval Icelandic sagas, will be studied to shed further light on how drinking horns were seen and used. Drinking horns were used as a literary motif in these texts, but it can be demonstrated that they can also be linked to the archaeological evidence from the Viking Age, thus improving our understanding of the archaeological record. Keywords: drinking horn, Old Norse, sagas, Viking Age, material culture Received: 20.07.2015. Revised: 10.02.2016. Accepted: 31.03.2016 Reenacting the Middle Ages is a popular pastime in our modern world. It is possible to find reenactment groups, markets, and craftsmen specialising in reproducing beautiful objects from the Middle Ages all over Europe and North America. The picture projected by these events and groups is, depending on their goal, sometimes accurate and sometimes a romantic image of how we see the Middle Ages through our modern eyes. A medieval market or renaissance faire has to fulfill certain criteria in order to be perceived as authentic by the visitors, ranging from food to certain objects one can obtain during a visit. One of the most common objects attributed to the Middle Ages, especially to the Scandinavian Viking Age, is the so-called drinking horn, which is commonly available for a relatively cheap price at events related to the Middle Ages.
    [Show full text]
  • Norway Joins Efforts Against Libya
    (Periodicals postage paid in Seattle, WA) TIME-DATED MATERIAL — DO NOT DELAY In Your Neighborhood Taste of Norway What’s for lunch Celebrate at the Våren er vakker for den International Scandinavian som lenge har hatt vinter. Waffle Day! Festival? Read more on page 13 – Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Read more on page 8 Norwegian American Weekly Vol. 122 No.12 March 25, 2011 Established May 17, 1889 • Formerly Western Viking and Nordisk Tidene $1.50 per copy Norway.com News Find more at Norway joins efforts against Libya www.norway.com Norway in the U.S. On March 21, six Their Majesties the King and Norwegian fighter Queen of Norway will pay an official visit to the U.S. from jets took off from Oct. 11 – 22, 2011. This visit their air bases in will take place in the Midwest and New York City. Bodø, headed for (blog.norway.com/category/ Libya norway-in-the-us) News STAFF COMPILATION The Norwegian Government Norwegian American Weekly has decided to request the WTO to establish a dispute “The Security Council has settlement panel in connection given the need to protect the civil- with the E.U. ban on trade in ian population as the ground for seal products. its decision. This is important seen (blog.norway.com/category/ from a Norwegian point of view. news) The international community now Culture stands more united than ever in its condemnation of Gaddafi. For Nor- The award-winning Ameri- way to support the use of force, it can-Norwegian documentary is essential that it has a firm base in “Play Again” was screened Photo: The Norwegian Embassy in Paris at the Environmental Film CONTINUES PAGE 6 Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg talks with members of the press before a meeting in Paris about Libya on March 19.
    [Show full text]
  • THE REUSE of ROMAN OBJECTS in EARLY ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY C. AD 400 C
    Durham E-Theses THE PAST IN THE PAST: THE REUSE OF ROMAN OBJECTS IN EARLY ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY c. AD 400 c. 700 WERTHMANN, INDRA,JULIA,EVELYN How to cite: WERTHMANN, INDRA,JULIA,EVELYN (2020) THE PAST IN THE PAST: THE REUSE OF ROMAN OBJECTS IN EARLY ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY c. AD 400 c. 700 , Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/13642/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 THE PAST IN THE PAST: THE REUSE OF ROMAN OBJECTS IN EARLY ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY c. AD 400 – c. 700 Indra Werthmann-Carroll Volume I Of two volumes Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD in Archaeology Durham University Department of Archaeology March 2019 1 Abstract This thesis examines and analyses the reuse of Roman portable material culture in pre-conversion Anglo-Saxon grave assemblages dating between AD 400 and 700.
    [Show full text]
  • The Viking Ship Museum the Viking Ship Museum Has the World’S Best‐Preserved Viking Ships
    Oslo: The Viking Ship Museum The Viking Ship Museum has the world’s best‐preserved Viking ships. The museum is managed by the University of Oslo. It also includes a Museum of Cultural History, which we were unable to visit. All the ships shown were once used as ocean‐going vessels. Later, they were brought on land and used as burial ships. The statues in front of the museum are of “two Norwegian researchers, Helge Ingstad and Anne Stine Ingstad, who discovered and excavated the Viking base camp at L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland In the 1960s —the first confirmed Viking outpost in the Americas. Dated to between 989 and 1020, the camp boasted three Viking halls, as well as an assortment of huts for weaving, ironworking, and ship repair.” (National Geographic) According to Patricia Sutherland, Canadian archeologist (National Geographic), “Viking seafarers travelled to the Canadian Arctic to search for valuable resources. In northern Europe at the time, medieval nobles prized walrus ivory, soft Arctic furs, and other northern luxuries—and Dorset hunters and trappers could readily stockpile such products. Helluland's waters teemed with walruses, and its coasts abounded in Arctic foxes and other small fur‐bearing animals. To barter for such goods, Viking traders likely offered bits of iron and pieces of wood that could be carved into figurines and other goods.” This photo program shares the sites and a video that shares the exploits of the Vikings from 750‐1060 AD. The Oseberg Ship was built around the year 820 and is richly decorated with detailed carvings.
    [Show full text]
  • Beer, Vomit, Blood, and Poetry Egils Saga, Chapters 44-45 Thomas D. Hill
    Beer, Vomit, Blood, and Poetry Egils saga, Chapters 44-45 Thomas D. Hill Co r n e ll u n iv e r s it y Chapters 44 and 45 of Egils saga1 concern the prequel of what SigurSur Nordal has described as one of the most understated love stories in the history of Western literature.2 Egil’s charismatic brother Thorolf has gone off to marry Asgerd, the young, beautiful, and intelligent girl who was fostered and raised in Egil’s and Thorolf’s home, but who was not related to them. The reader of the saga who is reading or listening to the saga for the first time can have no way of knowing what Egil feels for Asgerd. All the reader can know is that Egil became uncharacteristically sick just before his brother’s wedding, that later after Thorolf’s death in battle, Egil seeks Asgerd’s hand in marriage with great determination, and that Egil becomes pitiably depressed when it appears that Asgerd has refused his suit. The point of anticipating Egil’s later wooing of Asgerd, however, is that Egil’s swift recovery after his brother’s departure and his emotional volatility during the adventures that ensue are well moti­ vated, although only in retrospect. Egil is on the rebound, and as his friends might say, if saga men could use twenty-first-century idioms, he is in a funny mood. Thus when he encounters a bad and ultimately 1. All quotations from Egils saga are from the edition of Bjarni Einarsson (London: Viking Society for Northern Research, 2003) by page number.
    [Show full text]