Clothes brooch of bronze depicting Thor’s two goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr
It was found during the excavations of a magnate’s residence from the Late Iron Age and Viking period at Tissø, near Kalundborg.
Photo by The National Museum.of Denmark
Silver female figure, goddess Freyja This pendant was found amongst the archaeological finds from the magnate’s residence at Tissø. The piece depicts the goddess Freyja twisting her two plaits. Freyja is often identified with the Roman god Venus, who twists her hair after birth from the sea. Freyja’s father Njörd was the god of the sea. Photo by the National Museum Denmark
Hoard find from Vester Vedsted
The hoard from Vester Vedsted was found near Ribe and includes neck and arm rings, a brooch, pendants, a chain, bars, silver beads and silver fragments. The gold rings and silver bars have been weighed off so they correspond to units in ører, weighing respectively 8, 4.2 and 24.5 grammes. The find also includes Arab silver coins, the latest of which is from 913-42. The hoard was buried in the last half of the tenth century.
Silver’s route to Denmark – trading with the Arab coins
The Islamic Caliphate and Europe around 800. The sites where the Arab silver coins found in the Nordic countries were minted are indicated. Silver and other southeastern trading goods probably came to Scandinavia by two main routes: an eastern route along the Russian rivers, which was controlled by Swedish Vikings; and another route, probably across western Europe via the Frankish Kingdom, where a number of towns along the English Channel engaged in trade.
Belt buckles from the Viking period
The silver treasure from Duesminde, Lolland, Denmark
Reconstruction of the clothing found at Mammen. Placement of the embroidery is speculative
There are several distinct motifs found at Mammen. These include the following:
- Acanthus Vine
- Small Faces
- Leopard
- Large Faces and Hands
- Tree and Paired Beasts
- Birds
More detailed informations about the Embroidery from the Tenth Century Viking Grave at Mammen, Denmark you get here: http://www.heatherrosejones.com/mammen/index.html
The costume, mantle ribbon
With the excavation of the Mammen man’s grave in the burial mound Bjerringhøj in 1868 various remains of a splendid man’s costume were found. The clothes were badly damaged, but originally must have been a fantastic sight. They were made of exclusive materials. The excavation was not carried out to today’s standards and no record of the finds were made at the time. It is therefore difficult to establish the function of the textiles.
Viking axe from Mammen
The axe with a double meaning
On one side a tree motif can be seen. It may symbolise the Christian Tree of Life or the pagan tree Yggdrasil. On the other side is an animal figure – perhaps the rooster Gullinkambi (Old Norse “golden comb”) or the Phoenix. According to Norse mythology Gullinkambi sits on top of the tree Yggdrasil. Here it wakes the Viking warriors every morning and it will crow at the beginning of Ragnarok (the end of the world). The Phoenix is a Christian mythological animal and a symbol of re-birth.
National Museum of Denmark
Harness bow made of wood and gold. From the burial mound, Mammen parish
National Museum of Denmark
The grave from Mammen
In 1868 a farmer began to dig into the mound Bjerringhøj at Mammen near Viborg. During this work he chanced upon an unusually richly-furnished grave, which has become known as the grave from Mammen. A magnate was buried in the grave during the winter of 970-71 AD. He was given an expensive costume, a ceremonial axe with inlaid silver decoration and a large wax candle.
Gaming Piece of Amber, perhaps the God Freyr found in Hå old cemetery in Rogaland County, Norway National Museum Denmark
Dice from the Viking Period National Museum of Denmark
Female names from the Viking Age
Astrid: beautiful, loved Bodil: penance and fight Frida: peace Gertrud: spear Gro: to grow Estrid: god and beautiful Hilda: the fighter Gudrun: god and rune Gunhild: fight Helga: sacred Inga: of the god Inge Liv: of life Randi: shield or shrine Signe: the one who is victorious Sigrid: victorious horsewoman Revna: raven Sif: wife and bride Tora: of the god Thor Tove: dove Thyra: helpful Thurid: Thor and beautiful Yrsa: wild or she bear Ulfhild: wolf or battle Åse: goddess
Male names from the Viking Age
Arne: eagle Birger: keeper Bjørn: bear Bo: the resident Erik: absolute ruler Frode: wise and clever Gorm: he who worships god Halfdan: the half Danish Harald: lord and ruler Knud: knot Kåre: with curly hair Leif: descendant Njal: giant Roar: fame and spear Rune: secret Sten: stone Skarde: with cleft chin Sune: son Svend: freeman who is in the service of another Troels: Thor’s arrow Toke: Thor and helmet Torsten: Thor and stone Trygve: trustworthy Ulf: wolf Ødger: wealth and spear Åge: man that ploughs; ancestor
Viking gold jewellery from Hiddensee
Hiddensee treasure
The National Museum of Denmark