Viking Language Old Norse

30/09/2026

These two extraordinary Viking Age arm-rings (c. 10th–early 11th century) were crafted from twisted and intricately plaited gold rods, together weighing nearly 400 grams. Their elaborate construction and exceptional amount of precious metal reflect the skill of Scandinavian goldsmiths and suggest they were prestigious symbols of wealth and status. The rings were rediscovered in 1923, when 19-year-old farmhand Josef Jansson unearthed them while ploughing a field at Sillinge on Ljusterö, Sweden.

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28/09/2026

Did the Vikings really shoot fiery arrows at funeral boats?

The idea of Vikings using fire arrows to set funeral boats ablaze is seen frequently in popular culture....

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28/09/2026

This extraordinary silver Thor’s hammer pendant from Skåne, Sweden, is richly decorated with filigree, swirling ornament, and a distinctive bird-of-prey head. A small recess in the shaft suggests it once held an inlay of glass or another material. Known as the Skåne Hammer (800–1100 CE), it is one of the most elaborate surviving Mjölnir pendants from the Viking Age.

www.oldnorse.org
www.juleswilliampress.com

27/09/2026

Found in the Viking Age settlement of Sigtuna, this gold pendant is richly decorated with delicate filigree. Its three-sided lower section resembles the head of a bird of prey, with a powerful beak and round eyes.

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www.juleswilliampress.com

26/09/2026

Carved in the Scandinavian Ringerike style, this Viking Age gravestone was discovered near St Paul’s Cathedral in London in 1852. Its intricate design depicts a great beast entwined with a serpent, while an Old Norse runic inscription records: “Ginna and Toki had this stone laid.” Dating to the time of King C**t (11th century), it is a striking reminder of the Scandinavian presence in Viking Age London.

25/09/2026

Thor’s Hammer Pendant (Mjölnir), 9th–11th century CE

This small gold pendant takes the form of Mjölnir, the legendary hammer of Thor. Its hammerhead is decorated with nine stamped triangular motifs, each containing a circle.

www.oldnorse.org

24/09/2026

Archaeologists Found Two Pieces of Jewelry That Could Bring a Lost Woman Back to Life

Two oval brooches and preserved pieces of thread will undergo further study to give experts some insight into the Viking age....

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24/09/2026

Viking Gold Ring with Stamped Triangles, 9th–11th Century CE

This finely crafted Viking Age gold ring is decorated with rows of stamped triangular motifs arranged across its broad surface. Its precious material and intricate geometric ornament reflect the skilled metalworking traditions.

www.oldnorse.org

24/09/2026

Discovered by a hiker in southwestern Norway, this rare gold ornament once decorated the sword scabbard of an elite warrior or chieftain. Its worn surface and intricate serpentine decoration suggest a long period of use before it was deliberately deposited in a rock crevice, possibly as an offering to the gods during the turbulent 6th century. Fewer than two dozen comparable pieces are known from northern Europe.

www.oldnorse.org

22/09/2026

Gullgubber (Gold Foil Figure), c. 6th–9th century

This delicate gold-foil figure depicts two people facing one another, possibly embracing. Known as gullgubber, these tiny ornaments were found at important sites across Scandinavia and may have been used in rituals or ceremonies. Their imagery offers a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and social customs of early medieval Scandinavia.

www.oldnorse.org