10th-Century Scandinavian Statuette Unveiled in Denmark Offers Rare Insight into Authentic Appearance of Viking Individuals
Viking Portrait Sheds Light on Elegant Viking Style
A recently unveiled game piece at the National Museum of Denmark has challenged common assumptions about how Vikings looked. The small figurine, made from walrus ivory and believed to be a piece for the game Hnefatafl, is thought to be one of the most accurate depictions of a Viking ever found.
Discovered in 1796 at an equestrian burial mound on Oslofjord in Norway, the 10th-century figurine is about three centimeters tall and shows a man with a level of stylishness and grooming that upends previous beliefs about Viking appearance.
The man depicted on the piece dates back to the 10th century, during the rule of Harald Bluetooth, and his hairstyle, with a curl or tuft of hair running over the ears, suggests he is a high-ranking individual, possibly even King Harald Bluetooth himself. His hair is parted at the middle, with longer hair towards the front that becomes wavy just above the ear, along with shorter hair on the back of his head.
The man is not wearing one of the iconic Viking helmets that are so common in modern depictions, but instead, he is wearing an imperial mustache, a braided beard, and sideburns. This detail is striking compared to other depictions of humans from the Viking era, which are typically simpler.
The game piece's expression is unusual for Viking renderings of human figures, which are usually quite simple and not very human-like. However, the man depicted on the piece has a more human-like expression, with a slight smile and a gaze that seems to convey a sense of calm and dignity.
Peter Pentz, a curator at the National Museum of Denmark, stated that the figure is proving the opposite of the idea that Vikings were savage or wild. "This figurine provides a rare look at Viking hairstyles and fashion, and it shows that Vikings were not just brutal warriors but also had a sense of style and elegance," he said.
The game piece, now on display at the National Museum of Denmark, was one of the earliest additions to the museum's collection, receiving the number 589 out of almost 2 million artifacts. It languished in storage for decades before being rediscovered by Peter Pentz in preparation for a new exhibit.
The man depicted on the piece may have been an elite, as his hairstyle symbolized status and power in the Viking era. The figurine, considered one of the best representations of a Viking, provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these ancient people and the culture they lived in.
