Viking drinking horns
Viking drinking horn is just what it sounds like: bovid antlers that are used as a container for liquids. Horns have been known since classical antiquity, especially in the Balkans, and have remained in use for ceremonial purposes during the Middle Ages and early modernity in Germanic Europe. Horns are now used to toast on special occasions in countries such as Georgia.
Some notable examples of the horns of Europe of the Middle Ages were made with the horns of bison or the European aurochs (species of bull extinct in the seventeenth century). Most of the horns of the Viking Age were domestic, smaller cattle. The exception to the rule is the large aurochs horns found in the tomb of Sutton Hoo (Suffolk, east coast of England).
Viking horn for traditional drinking
Numerous elaborate drinking horns have been found in graves of Germanic pagan tribes. The finds span a millennium, from the Germanic Iron Age, to the Viking Age.
Horns of the Viking Age have barely come down to us. Both cattle and goats were everyday objects prone to deterioration. The decorative metal pieces and frames for horns recovered in the deposits, testify that their use was widespread, despite the fact that the preserved natural horns are scarce.
Most of the surviving Norwegian horns, dated to the Middle Ages, have ornate metal frames, although the horns are smooth and unadorned. There are also some horns inlaid in the horns themselves, although from a later period; Its simplicity testifies to the fact that it is folk craftsmanship.
Viking horns in art
The Bayeux tapestry (c. 1070) shows the scene of a banquet before Harold Godwinson embarks for Normandy. Several figures are given a tribute with horns to drink in a building.
Viking and medieval horns in art
- In the Edda, Thor drank from a horn that unknowingly contained all the seas. By drinking much of the contents of the sea, Thor frightened Utgard-Loki (king of the giants: not to be confused with the god Loki) and his relatives.
- The hero Beowulf drank mead on carved horns, and they are also used for drinking in the 10-00epic poem Gudrunarkvida II.
Who were the Vikings
The Vikings were a group of Norse originating from the coastal regions of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, who between the 8th and 11th centuries engaged in exploration, trade, and plunder in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Viking culture was greatly influenced by the Germanic pagan religion , and the Vikings held great importance in Norse mythologies. The Vikings were also known for their skill in sailing and shipbuilding, which allowed them to travel throughout the known world at the time.
As for Viking drinking horns, it is an object that has traditionally been associated with this culture, although historical evidence suggests that they were not as common as believed. Viking drinking horns were actually animal horns, such as ox or stag horns, used as vessels for drinking beer or milk. They were often decorated with intricate motifs, such as runes or animal figures, and were considered items of great value.
However, there is not much concrete evidence that the Vikings used drinking horns on a regular basis, and it is believed that their use was more common among the elites and in special ceremonies. Furthermore, most of the Viking drinking horns found are from animals that did not live in Viking regions, suggesting that they were imported.
In conclusion, the Vikings were a group of Norsemen who led important historical events between the 8th and 11th centuries, known for their skill in navigation and shipbuilding. Viking drinking horns are an object associated with this culture, but it is not known with certainty if they were as common as believed, and their use was believed to be more common among elites and in special ceremonies.
