Vikings and Celtic shields

You have all the Viking and Celtic shields right here, you can buy a shield as a decoration or a functional one ready for battle if you are a recreationist. There are also Viking shields for LARP.

VIKING SHIELD

The shield was for the Vikings their main defensive weapon, which also allowed them to use the Viking sword and ax with the other hand. The wall of shields that these warriors made is also well known, and numerous shields hung on the railings can also be seen on Viking ships.

Mainly we can distinguish two types of Viking shields. The round Shield, which was the most common until the 10th century. It was very light and not very thick, allowing the shield wall to be made. The most widespread size fluctuated between 75 and 90 cm. An advance on the round shield was the comet shield. Its shape is an inverted teardrop. It was used between the 10th and 13th centuries. The comet shield replaced the round shield because it better protected the combatant, not only the torso but also the legs. In addition, it was much more resistant.

The round shield was formed by stripes of wood, mainly linden, placed horizontally, and a metallic ring around its entire contour. They were painted in bright colors and curiously had no arm support. The Viking kite shield differs from the round one due to its greater weight and the addition of a fastening system. At first they were convex until little by little they became flat models.

The shield wall so typical in the fights against the Vikings was to make a kind of wall. The first line stood shoulder to shoulder with the shields, while the spearmen were placed in the second row. When surrounded, this type of defensive formation could move by adopting a circular position.

CELTIC SHIELDS

Like most Central European peoples, the Celts have used shields. Most were round made of wicker or metal. Those of the Gauls and Irish were distinguished by being larger, elongated and oval -sometimes also rectangular-. Shields have been found in La Tène tombs with an umbo formed by an iron cylinder with two wings nailed to the shield blades.

Celtic shields used to carry emblems and were profusely decorated with elements of great value -above all, the British ones-

The Celts lived in places called castros. These were fortified and located on high ground. Celtic warriors looked menacing. They generally covered their bodies with skins from their herds. They used swords, spears, and slings. They were protected with shields, generally made of wood. When they went into battle they did so naked and painted blue, and to intimidate the enemy they shouted, beat their shields and blew their war trumpets.

Both Celtic swords and shields were small works of art. Each warrior made his own shield. No two offensive or defensive weapons have ever been the same. Similar yes, but not exactly the same.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VIKING SHIELDS

The Viking shield was the first defensive weapon of this Scandinavian people, since armor and helmets were very expensive, which most of the Viking population could not access. As benefits of this element of war, we can say that its use was very flexible, because, on the one hand, it could be combined with the Viking sword or axe, and secondly, it allowed the famous shield wall to be made. Curiously, the Viking ships had a special place to store the shields. They did it on the ship's railing, and this allowed the crew to protect themselves from the waves and the wind, and they also always had them at hand, expanding the space for the warriors to move inside the ship. Of the importance that the Viking gave to his shield, it is only necessary to say that they dedicated poems to them, including Ragnarsdrápa, from the 9th century AD. The greatest source of knowledge about these shields comes from what was found in the Gokstad funerary ship, which is buried in Noregua. Many things have been found in it, and among them, Viking shields.

It is widely believed that Viking shields were all round, but this claim is flatly false. Archaeologists and historical evidence prove the inequality between the different shields. In this way we can distinguish, in principle, two types of shields.

Round shield . The most used in the early years of the Viking age and up to the 10th century. It was light and thin, but enough to make a shield wall. The size of the shields ranged between 45 and 120 centimeters, although they normally measured between 75 and 90 centimeters in diameter. These measures were increasing over time.

Kite Shield . It had the appearance of an inverted teardrop, it was a circular shield breakthrough. It was used at the end of the Viking Age, between the 10th and 13th centuries of our era. In the Bayeuxl Tapestry we can appreciate this type of shield.

In addition to these shields there were others less used.

Oval shield : Analogous to the round, but with a more oval appearance. Its use was rare among Viking warriors, but there are traces that it was used in the Viking Age.

Kite shield – This type of shield was more angular and narrower in shape at the top and wider at the bottom. It is believed that it was used mainly by the Viking warriors in the region of England.

Square Shield : Very uncommon among Vikings. It is believed that these warriors took these shields during their dealings with the Roman Empire.

Leather shield : Also used in a testimonial way by the Vikings. They offered little protection, although the warrior was much more mobile in combat.

The circular shield only protected the upper part of the warrior, which is why it was replaced by the kite shield that also defended the legs. In addition, the comet one weighed more and was harder to resist blows. This type of shield had a set of elements that perfected its grip.

HOW THEY MADE THE VIKING SHIELDS

Let's talk now about the way of manufacturing the shields

1. -Round Viking shield . The structure of this shield is wooden slats placed horizontally. The wood used to be basswood, but it was not uncommon to find shields made of fir, alder, and poplar. The slats were thicker in the central part, about 1 centimeter.

These slats were thicker in the central area (1 cm) and thinner at the ends, as they barely measured 5 millimeters. The slats were glued to each other by the action of resins. Like many shields of the time, it was very common to reinforce them with a leather cover. The outlines of the shield were metallic. In addition to gluing them, and to favor the union between the slats, they placed a handle in the interior area, almost always accompanied by two plates. The material of these additions was iron or bronze. The function of the handle was to hold the shield with one hand. This hand took care of the blows of the opponent, by a metal umbo located on the outer face of the shield. It is a remarkable fact that the Vikings did not use any element to hold the shield to the arm, although later you can see a strap inside the shield. The umbo was made of iron metal, not very large as it was about 15 centimeters in diameter, and 3 to 5 millimeters thick. Iron rivets were normally used to attach the umbo to the shield. These shields were decorated with bright colors. The figures were quite simple, which did not prevent some from being more sophisticated, like mythological beings. There was also no shortage of gold and silver decorations.

2.- Viking kite shield

The main differences with the previous shield was its greater weight, which ranged between 6 and 7 kilograms. Another notable difference was the way the shield was attached, which replaced the handle. Like the round shield, its structure was formed by sheets of wood covered with leather, and they were also decorated. At first the kite type was convex and they had the umbo to protect the hand. But over the years these two peculiarities were disappearing, appearing then the flat shields.

shield wall or Skjaldborg, was widely used by the Vikings. They were arranged in two lines. In the first line the men stood side by side, forming a wall with their shields. The second line of warriors fought with their spears above the first. If they were surrounded they would position themselves in a circular fashion. The round shields, more than for the protection of the warrior, were projected to be used as a shield wall. Since the 10th century, with the appearance of new forms of combat, it forced the Vikings to use kite shields, which protected the warrior much more. Another form of fighting was svinfylking, in which the warriors formed a wedge in order to break the lines of the enemy.

Many researchers into the Vikings and their customs thought that the leather with which they covered their shields was done solely for the purpose of adorning them. The latest research demolishes this theory, since the leather increased the strength of the shield and better protected its structure , and this was due to the fact that leather hardens and shrinks over time. In addition to leather, cowhide or sheepskin could be used instead of leather, although studies are not conclusive about this practice.

Although it is normal for the wooden sheets of the shield to be placed horizontally, shields have been found in which these sheets were arranged in a circle . Wood covered with leather was the main element in Viking shields, more shields have been found, in a very small proportion, made of iron. Another peculiarity of the shield is that it was used as a representative unit of belonging to a clan.

WHAT DOES THE VIKING LOGO MEAN?

Three looped horns form the Viking Triskel. A sign that symbolized the God Odin, and also knowledge and poetic enlightenment. The three horns emulated the horns in which the blood of the god Kvasir was deposited, which was combined with honey to form the mead of the lyric.

WHO WAS THE GREATEST OF THE VIKINGS ?

The greatest Viking that ever lived was the legendary (there are some doubts about his existence) Ragnar Lothbrok . In the television series Vikings he is the main protagonist. There is no doubt about his person is that he is one of the undisputed protagonist characters of the Vikings series and one of the most identifying figures of Scandinavian cultures. Ragnar became one of the kings of Denmark and Sweden, suffering bloody civil wars during his tenure.

WHAT WOULD A REAL VIKING LOOK LIKE?

It is very common today to have the image of the Vikings as men, tall, strong with a lot of muscles, blond hair , blue eyes and very white skin, but this was not general, but the appearance, among the Scandinavians or Vikings, there was diversity, although much less than what we can see in our time.

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Wooden Round Shield With Steel Fittings

BT7151
€73.62 €81.80
Functional Viking shield made of wood with finishes and contour in steel. Diameter 56 cm. It comes prepared with a handle and arm support.
Functional Viking Shield by Windlass in our Medieval Zetan Store in the Functional shields category Functional Viking Shield by Windlass in our Medieval Zetan Store in the Functional shields category 2
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Functional Viking Shield

Windlass
MW2600
€139.09 €154.55
This Viking shield with a dark brown finish is decorated with steel pieces, the highlighted decoration in the centre as well as the decorative strips and the rim of the shield, all of them bolted. The back is covered with felt and has a holding strap. It has a weight of 5.9 kg and a measure of 74 cm. Material: wood and steel.
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Viking Shield Fenrir 61 Cm

BT7130
€57.26 €63.62
Viking round shield with Fenrir motif, hand painted, 61 cm Ø. The Viking shield that we offer here is made of approx. 13mm thick plywood, covered with linen and embellished with a stylized, hand-painted motif of the wolf Fenrir (also iFenrisi or iFenrisúlfri) and a sequence of Elder Futhark runes (oldest runic alphabet) spelling out his name. In Germanic...
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Viking Dragons Shield

BT7249
€130.88 €145.42
14mm thick wooden shield, decorated with four Norse dragons and brass decorations in the center. Behind it has a wooden handle for your grip. Leather-lined rim. Diameter 92cm and weight 6 kgs
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Round Wood Viking Shield

BT7266
€139.06 €154.51
Round wood Viking shield 13 mm. thick and painted with Nordic horses. There are four decorative elements made of brass in the center and there is a hook made of solid wood on the back. The edge is lined with leather
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Viking Shield Celtic Cross 61 Cm

BT7129
€57.26 €63.62
Round Viking shield with Celtic cross motif, hand painted, 61 cm Ø. The colorful and visually appealing Viking shield that we offer here is made of approx. 13mm thick plywood, covered with linen and elaborately embellished with a hand painted Celtic cross with knot designs. Material: plywood, solid wood handle, steel reinforcement. Painted with a Celtic...
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Round Shield With Steel Fittings

BT7302
€147.26 €163.62
Wooden round shield with steel boss and fittings, approx. 1.2 mm steel. The back side is covered in fabric. The fist grip ist made of steel, padded and wrapped in suede leather. Wooden round shield with steel boss and fittings, approx. 1.2 mm steel. The back side is covered in fabric. The fist grip ist made of steel, padded and wrapped in suede leather....
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Viking Shield Mánagarm And Sköll

BT7244
€114.53 €127.25
Round Viking shield painted with motifs from Nordic mythology. The wolves Mánagarm (literally translated: Moon Hound) and Sköll (Treachery) are the children of the monstrous wolf Fenrir. Mánagarm is the wolf that destroys the moon. He feeds on the flesh of the dead, and during Ragnarök, he and his brother Sköll stain the home of the gods with blood by...
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€130.89 €145.44
Unpainted Viking shield in white with canvas covering. The large viking shield we offer here is suitable for light combat reenactment, stage fighting or sparring. This battle-ready round shield is made of 3-ply MDF wood and is covered on the front with heavy-duty natural-colored canvas. The fabric is glued to the wood and left blank so you can customize...
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Viking Shield With Steel Fittings

BT7303
€147.26 €163.62
Wooden round shield with steel boss and fittings, ca. 1,2 mm steel.The back side is covered in fabric. The fist grip ist made of steel, padded and wrapped in suede leather. Wooden round shield with steel boss and fittings, ca. 1,2 mm steel.The back side is covered in fabric. The fist grip ist made of steel, padded and wrapped in suede leather. Wooden...
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Wood And Round Steel Shield

BT7304
€147.26 €163.62
Round wooden shield with 1.2 mm steel pieces. The grip of the cuff is made of steel, padded and lined in suede leather. Diameter: 55 cm.
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Functional Viking Round Shield

BT7346
€188.17 €209.07
Battle-ready round shield made of wood with strong steel fittings. A typical, very elaborate knot design has been engraved by complex handcraft into a steel plate in the middle. On the backside has riveted padding covered with soft leather. Two leather straps are riveted as well, of which one is long and adjustable for wearing at the arm or at the back.
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Viking Shield Raven And Triquetras 61 Cm

BT7127
€57.26 €63.62
Round Viking shield with raven motif and triquetras, 61 cm in diameter. The beautiful Viking shield that we offer here is made of 13 mm thick wood, covered with linen and elaborately adorned with so-called triquetras (clover or trinity knots) and ravens. The twin bird motif is a representation of Odin's faithful messengers Hugin e Munin (or Huginn e...
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Hand Painted Viking Shield 61 Cm

BT7128
€57.26 €63.62
Viking round shield with exciting beast motif, hand-painted, 61 cm Ø. The beautiful Viking shield we offer here is made of 13mm thick Plywood and embellished with a hand painted Norse dragon, a recurring motif in Viking art. It could also be a representation of the so-called Midgard Serpent. The edge of the shield is reinforced with metal, and the back...
Shield Celtic Red Cross by Marto in our Medieval Zetan Store in the Vikings and Celtic shields category
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Vikings and Celtic shields

Shield Celtic Red Cross

Marto
MW2064
€137.19
Medieval metal shield decorated with rivets around the border and a red Celtic cross in the centre, with a circle around its intersection.
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Viking Shield 'Huginn & Muninn' 80 Cm

BT7310
€139.07 €154.53
Huginn & Muninn round Viking shield with rawhide rim 80 cm Ø. The beautiful large Viking shield we offer here is made of 13mm thick plywood and elaborately embellished with two ravens.
Medieval Shield Celtic Cross by Marto in our Medieval Zetan Store in the Weapons and armours category
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Armours

Medieval Shield Celtic Cross

Marto
MW2074
€137.19
Medieval shield crafted in metal, decorated with golden rivets and a Celtic cross in the centre, with a circle around its intersection.
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Wooden Viking Shield With Steel Fittings

BT7139
€65.42 €72.69
Decorative round wooden shield with steel fittings. The back of the shield is covered with leather and fitted with two riveted leather straps. Details: Material: wood, steel and leather Diameter: approx. 61 cm Thickness: approx. 1.4 cm Weight: approx. 3.6kg
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Anglo-Saxon Shield Snake And Runes 61 Cm

BT7152
€65.44 €72.71
Anglo-Saxon round shield with snake and rune motif, 61 cm in diameter. The round shield that we offer here is made of approx. 13mm thick plywood and embellished with an elaborate snake motif and three runes from the Anglo-Saxon runic alphabet known as ifuthorci. Although the runes are of Anglo-Saxon origin, the serpent motif can be interpreted as a...
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Polypropylene Training Shield 48 Cm

BT7162
€71.98 €79.98
Soldier's targe, training shield made of polypropylene. Due to popular demand, this is the Cold Steel soldier targe. This round shield is roughly twice the size and just as strong and reliable. Suitable for training with all non-steel swords, it is sure to provide years of hard service. Material: polypropylene. Diameter: approx. 19in. Thickness: approx....
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Vikings and Celtic shields

Scottish Shield Mini Targe 28 Cm

BT7188
€81.80 €90.89
Mini Targe, small Scottish round shield with brass fittings. The Scottish Highlanders' aim was not only an effective protective device used to block enemy blows, but also a powerful blunt weapon. The hand target we offer here is a scaled down version of the famous Highland targets best known for their use by the Jacobites (the supporters of the exiled...
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Vikings and Celtic shields

Round Wooden Shield 77 Cm Functional

BT7269
€261.80 €290.89
Round wooden shield with steel hump and steel frame suitable for wrestling shows. While reconstructions are often small in size, this shield is finally sized to match the originals. A strong leather-wrapped wooden handle is riveted to the shield at the back. A very functional and authentic shield. Details: - Material: wood, steel, leather - Diameter:...
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Viking Shield 'Fenrir' 80 Cm

BT7309
€139.07 €154.53
Round Viking shield "Fenrir” with rawhide edge, 80 cm Ø. The large Viking shield we offer here is made of 13 mm thick plywood and decorated with a stylized motif of the wolf Fenrir (also Fenris or Fenrisúlfr ) and a sequence of runes from the Elder Futhark (oldest runic alphabet) spelling out his name. In Germanic mythology, Fenrir is one of the three...
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Functional shields

Medieval-Viking Round Shield

MW2609
€121.00
Functional medieval and Viking round shield, made of wood and steel with a diameter of 76 cm. It weighs 5.95 kg. Manufactured by Windlass Steelcrafts.
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