The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announced today that it will be the final stop on the highly successful North American tour of Vikings: The Exhibition. Presented by investment dealer Raymond James Ltd., in partnership with the Swedish History Museum, the exhibition opens November 4, 2017 and runs to April 2, 2018. Drawing on current archaeological scholarship and research, Vikings offers a fresh perspective on the Viking age that challenges some of the commonly held myths and perceptions about the lives of the Norse people and this period of European history.
“The Vikings have had a profound impact on the modern imagination,” says Josh Basseches, Director & CEO of the ROM. “This exhibition presents a new and unexpected interpretation of the Vikings, as not only seafaring warriors, but a people who built a rich and varied culture. Our visitors will be surprised by what they see. The ROM showing is the first exhibition of Vikings we’ve ever staged, and we’re particularly delighted to include a Canadian perspective that contributes to our understanding of the Viking history in Canada.”
Transporting visitors to the Viking Age, between the 8th to the 11th centuries, Vikings explores the rich and often misunderstood history of Viking life and culture. Through modern archeological discoveries and research, visitors learn how this seafaring civilization was rooted in a complex society of warriors, farmers, explorers, artisans, craftsmen and merchants. Featuring interactive displays and nearly 500 original objects from the collections of the Swedish History Museum – many rarely seen outside of Scandinavia – the exhibition looks at the work, family life, religion, trade and social hierarchy underpinning Norse society. While Vikings were recognized as master ship-builders and sword and axe makers, the range of objects on display also highlights their extraordinary craftsmanship in ceramic ware, textile, iron, silver, bone and leather making used for their ceremonial pieces and everyday items.
“Vikings provides visitors with a holistic perspective on who the Norse were, how they changed through time and how they constantly pushed the boundaries of their world through innovation and exploration,” says Craig Cipolla, ROM Associate Curator of North American Archaeology. “The archaeological materials and interactive displays in the exhibition allow visitors to see and experience Viking culture and history from valuable new angles.”
The exhibition also features two reconstructed Viking ships – the 13 foot Arby, and the 32 foot Eik Sande. Both vessels have been meticulously re-created using Viking processes and materials of the time, providing visitors with unique insights into Norse boat-building techniques, and the symbolism and mythology of their ships.
To round out the exhibition, the ROM has included a North American component that explores the arrival and settlement of Norse people in Canada. Additional objects – including pieces from the Museum’s own ancient cultures collection, text records, site maps and satellite images shed light on the daily life, trade and interaction of these Norse settlers with Indigenous peoples.
“Raymond James is proud to once again partner with the ROM to present this unique Vikings experience in a one-of-a-kind exhibition,” says Paul Allison, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Raymond James Ltd. “The ROM continues to break new ground to enhance the cultural and educational experiences for its visitors. We are confident this exhibition will be another fascinating and fun-filled adventure for Viking explorers of all ages.”
Vikings: The Exhibition shows visitors why – after a thousand years – Viking culture continues to captivate our imagination.
The exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by The Swedish History Museum in Sweden and MuseumsPartner in Austria.
For more information visit: https://www.rom.on.ca/en/exhibitions galleries/exhibitions/vikings-the-exhibition
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Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural and natural world. The Renaissance ROM expansion project (2007) merged the iconic architectural heritage of the original building with the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. A distinctive new symbol of Toronto for the 21st century, the Crystal marked the beginning of a new era for the ROM as the country's premier cultural and social destination.