VIKINGS

The Exhibition

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Transcript

Descriptive Audio Tour
Vikings: The Exhibition presented by Raymond James Ltd.
November 4, 2017 to April 2, 2017
STOP 1. WELCOME
Welcome to the Royal Ontario Museum.
Vikings: The Exhibition presented by Raymond James Ltd. Is an interactive exhibition featuring a
selection of archaeological finds from the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
The exhibition is divided into nine themed sections. In this described audio guide you will find an
introduction to each one of these sections, commentaries about the most important objects and also
a few surprises.
Especially for this Toronto showing, the ROM has also added a section on “Vikings in Canada” –
an important facet of Viking history that we hope will truly resonate with our visitors.
For more than 300 years (approximately between the 8th and 11th centuries), seas and rivers were the
Vikings’ main allies. Setting sail from Scandinavia (now Sweden, Norway and Denmark), their ships
travelled across Europe from the cold Northern lands to the warm Mediterranean coasts, through the
great rivers far of the East and westward over the sea to the North American coast.
STOP 2. MEET THE VIKINGS
Who exactly were the Vikings? Were they actually called “Vikings”?
The first thing to know is that the Vikings were neither a people nor a nation. In reality, there were no
actual “Vikings”, but individuals from northern Europe (the Norse) who from time to time “went a‐
Viking”. “Going a‐Viking” meant setting sail and traveling far from home, sometimes to trade
peacefully, other times to rob and pillage and on other occasions to colonize territory. The aim of the
voyage was not always clear when they set sail.
If you wish to listen to a commentary on the objects displayed in this section, find number 2.1.
Otherwise you can continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 2.1. OBJECTS: THOR’S HAMMER, BROOCHES AND OBJECTS FROM AFAR
No one was born Viking nor went a‐Viking throughout their life. This explains how some of these men
and women from the north had time to make the jewellery in the display cases here.
In this first display case (“Mythical animals and birds of prey”) you will see a small silver pendant in
the shape of an inverted T. It represents the god Thor’s most famous weapon, the Mióllnir hammer.
According to Nordic mythology, the Mióllnir never missed its target. What’s more, the hammer
returned of its own accord into Thor’s hands. The shape of the Mióllnir hammer is as representative
of Norse culture as the silhouette of a Viking ship.
The pendant itself bares Thor’s angry visage. The head of the pendant is wide, representing his
strong forehead and fiercely‐set brow. It’s framed by swirls of hair etched around the perimeter. The
piece then narrows to frame Thor’s nose and lips ‐ which appear to be agape in a thunderous roar.
The bottom of the piece widens again into a hard, square jawline ‐ engraved with large swirls
representing the hair of a long, pointed beard.
In another case (“Costume brooches reveal the differences in fashion”) on the same table you will see
six brooches worn by women. These brooches are fashioned out of bronze, silver and gold. Some
women wore two brooches on their chest linked by coloured half necklaces. The one featured here is
a string of glass beads ‐ in shades of green, red and gold ‐ on a fine silver wire. These brooches came
in a variety of shapes, including animal heads.
In a third display case (“Cultural influences”) there are two cowrie shells. One is pearl in colour and
features a comb‐toothed edge and resembles a hair accessory. The other is more mottled in texture
and colour, resembling an aged stone that’s almost split in half or a claw, as the shell is open down
the centre. These shells were sometimes worn as pendants and are the result of the import of luxury
goods. Cowrie shells are often found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Although some aristocratic graves contain bowls or plates of bronze, the bronze‐ladle in this case is a
unique object and very well preserved. It has subtle decorations around the perimeter and on the
underside of the handle, and is believed to have been used in ceremonies in the Coptic church of
Eastern Egypt.
In a while we will invite you to listen to a myth involving the god Thor. Don’t miss it.
In the meantime, continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 3. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
The modest tools, used for weaving and cultivating the earth, tell us a lot about what Vikings did
much of the time.
Medieval Scandinavia was primarily rural and archaeological finds show that men and women had
distinct roles. Women tended to the household economy and chores while men worked the fields.
Men, as well as many women, would occasionally take part in Viking expeditions ‐ but most never
left the place they were born.
More than gender or status, a person’s life was defined by if they were free. As with many societies
at that time, the Norse practiced slavery. Many were captured in the spoils of war; others were
common folk stripped of freedom for one reason or another.
For further commentary on the objects in this section, visit number 3.1.
STOP 3.1. KEYS FOR THE LADY OF THE HOUSE
The objects in this display case were found in female graves.
The first item, a horn, was used as a drinking vessel. The white [bull] bone tapers from its opening to
end in a point with delicate silver metalwork adorning the opening’s rim.
The second case contains the “Keys for the lady of the house”: a set of bronze keys in varying size and
shape. Whether functional or symbolic, keys indicated property, and the presence of them jingling in
a pocket represented power. Rather than pockets, Norse women would wear chains on their clothes,
from which they’d hang keys and household tools. Sometimes, a leather pouch attached to a belt was
used to display belongings that represented status.
In the same case there is also a silver pendant in the shape of a female figure in profile. It is thought
to represent a Valkyrie: the mythological character popularized by Richard Wagner’s opera. Valkyries
rode among warriors on the battlefield and chose the bravest to fight for the gods upon their death.
A second silver pendant ‐ this one a copy ‐ is crafted in the shape of a bowler chair. Known as the seat
of honour, it symbolizes women as head‐of‐the house and farm. It has a wide round base with no legs,
so as to sit directly on the floor. It features no arms and a low, arched backrest so as to be easily slip
in and out of. A pattern of silver studs likely represents a delicate fabric.
If you want to listen to a commentary about a warrior’s grave, find number 3.2. If not, you can continue
exploring the exhibition.
STOP 3.2. THE WARRIOR IN BIRKA
In this display case are finds from a Viking warrior’s grave, including a double‐edged iron sword. Most
remarkably, recent genetic testing suggested that the human skeletal material thought to be
associated with this grave was from a female, presenting the possibility that not all Viking warriors
were male... A possibility that is still the subject of much debate among the archaeological community,
mostly because there are still questions over the actual connection between the female skeleton and
the weaponry; could the skeleton have come from a different grave?
The grave was excavated close to Stockholm, in Birka, which is now a World Heritage site. The port of
Birka an important trading centre. . Birka also held a regional assembly, known as a ting. Only free
men could take part in assemblies. Because of Birka’s strategic importance it also had a military
garrison. Perhaps our anonymous warrior was part of it.
The iron stirrups displayed in this case are rudimentary in design, with a simple bar for a boot rest and
a ring at the top for strapping to the saddle. Their presence in a grave remind us that warriors were
sometimes buried with their horse, if they had one.
Continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 4. HOMES, COLOURFUL AND BUSTLING
The heart of Norse society was the family. Most families lived on farms. Depending on the available
resources, farms would group together to form villages. Norse identity was forged by family and farm.
When asked “where are you from?” a Norseman or woman would probably respond with the name
of their homestead.
The wealthiest estates boasted a special building called the longhouse. Longhouses were long wooden
structures where sometimes banquets were held.
During banquets the Norse had lots of food, recited poetry, played music and danced. Although some
Norse instruments have been found, we don’t know what the music they played was like. Possibly the
closest we come nowadays is the traditional melodies and rhythms of Iceland and the Faroe Isles in
the North Atlantic.
If you want to know more about the Norse (how big they were, how they dressed) visit number 4.1.
Otherwise, continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 4.1. LOOKING GOOD
The question “what were Norsemen and women like?” is inseparable from the question “how do we
know?”
One way to find out is to go to written sources. A contemporary Arab traveller described Vikings as
men who were as tall as palm trees, with beautiful bodies, pale skin and many tattoos.
This display called, Looking Good, features the skull of a Viking man. In addition to clothes and
jewellery, Vikings sometimes modified their bodies in different ways, like filing down their teeth. On
the upper jaw of this specimen, the front teeth show furrows created by deliberate filing. The reason
behind the strange dental practice is unknown but it seems to have been exclusive to men.
Archaeological finds confirm an average height of 5 feet, seven inches for men, only four‐and‐a‐half
inches below the average height of modern Scandinavian men. But human remains also tell us that
the Norse people suffered from illnesses and serious injuries, that they didn’t always have enough to
eat and that their lives were very hard, to the point that the majority of men died before they were
45. Women, who also faced the dangers of childbirth, often didn’t reach 30.
If we want to know how Norse folk dressed, we need to look at their graves. As well as remains of
fabric (wool in particular) we can learn from the tombs where exactly jewels were worn. While the
fabric may have decomposed we can discover, for example, where they wore brooches.
Another source of information about clothing is the artistic representations of the human figure found
on wall hangings, drawn on stone, and engraved in metal.
As for colours, there was the option of dyeing cloth. Dyes were obtained from plants. Yellow was the
easiest. Blue was more difficult and without blue you can’t get green. Red had to be obtained from
warmer latitudes and, therefore, not everyone could afford it. Not everyone could afford linen, silk or
gold and silver embroidery either. As in every other era, clothing was a symbol of social status.
We still have to look at another important question: What language did the Norse speak?
STOP 4.2. EVERYDAY RUNES
The Norse of the Viking era spoke Old Norse, the language from which Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
and Icelandic are derived. The alphabet they used, which already existed before the Viking age, is what
you can see in this part of the exhibition. If you look closely, you will notice that some of the letters
are the same as ours. Take the letter resembling our letter B, for example. (PAUSE) It was also
pronounced “B”. Other letters are not the same although they appear to be. Look for an arrow
pointing upwards. (PAUSE) It looks like our letter T, doesn’t it? It was also pronounced “t”. On the
other hand, other letters are completely different. Can you see a find a cross with a diagonal horizontal
bar? (PAUSE) The sound it made was N but it doesn’t look anything like our letter N. In any case, most
specialists believe that the Norse’s alphabet derived from the Latin alphabet. Though it wasn’t called
alphabet but futhark. The word futhark is made up of the first six letters of the Norse alphabet. In
fact, they weren’t called letters either, but runes.
Runes don’t have round shapes because they were engraved on hard surfaces. It’s not easy to make
the letter O with a hammer! And speaking of hammers, after the silhouette of the Viking boat and the
Mióllnir, (Thor’s hammer) runes are the other great icon of the Viking era.
Try writing your name in runes before continuing with the exhibition.
STOP 5. MORE THAN WORSHIP
An important role within the Old Norse (pre‐Christian) cult practice was played by amulets. With them
you were able to create a closer relationship to the gods that perhaps was more private and secret.
The amulets often have the shape of certain gods attributes. They occur in materials such as simple
iron but also in more exclusive materials such as amber or silver. Fire steel shaped rings are believed
to represent Freyr ‐ a god of fertility and prosperity, staffs and spears for the chief god Odin, and the
axe might represent Thor, the god of thunder.
Christians believe in a single God. On the other hand, the Norse who still practiced their ancestral
religion were polytheists. They believed in a considerable number of gods, goddesses and other
supernatural beings.
There were two main groups of divinities: the Vanir and the Aesir. The Vanir group was made up of
Njord and his two children. Njord is the god of the wind, fertile land, navigation and fishing. His son
and daughter, Freyr and Freyja, are the gods of fertility. With these characteristics, it’s not surprising
that the Vanir were the gods most venerated by the people, along with Thor.
Among the Aesir, we find Odin, the god of war and wisdom, his wife Frigg and his children. Thor, was
one of Odin’s children.
There were also the Norns, female figures who controlled destiny.
The 300 years that span the Viking Age began when Christianity was already established in Europe and
ended with an officially Christianized Scandinavia. Among the Norse of that time, some practised the
old religion, some were Christian and some probably practised both.
As the centuries went by, the cross began to substitute the symbols of Nordic religion. However, many
people, without realizing, still pronounce the names of the ancient gods every day. For example, the
third largest city in Denmark is called Odense, meaning Odin’s sanctuary. The capital of the Faroe Isles
is called Tórshavn, Thor’s port. And when we spend the week looking forward to Friday, we are
looking forward to the day of Frigg, or possibly Freyja.
If you wish to examine in detail some of the objects exhibited in this section, find number 5.1.
Otherwise, continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 5.1. THE VANIR – GODS OF THE PEOPLE
The pieces in this display case (“The Vanir – Gods of the People”) are related to two of the Vanir gods:
Freyr and Freyja. It is thought that the phallic bronze figurine with an elongated torso and pointed
head represents the god Freyr, whom Norsemen associated with prosperity.
The silver pendant is a representation of Freyr’s sister, Freyja, the goddess of fertility. We can tell that
Freyja is pregnant and that she is wearing a brooch and a necklace like the ones in the display case.
This may portray Freyja with her magical gold jewel called Brisingamen.
If you want to explore another display case, find number 5.2.
STOP 5.2. DEAR ON BROOCHES TELL of CHRIST
Find the round, rather flat, silver brooch exhibited in this display case. It features four sculpted deer
standing at right angles. (PAUSE) The animals are gathered around a source of water with their heads
turned back.
The scene might be connected to these lines from the Book of Psalms in the Bible:
As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
So panteth my soul after thee, O God.
“Hart” is an old word for deer, and we know deer were used as symbols of Christ from the early times
of the Christian Church. The source of water could represent “the well of life” mentioned in another
psalm. Or it could also refer to Paradise, if we see it as a mountain with four rivers flowing from it. This
is how it is described in the Book of Genesis:
And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into
four heads.
The deer motif also appears, in a simplified version, on a number of silver box‐brooches, such as the
one displayed. Christian symbolism is not so evident here, particularly as they also convey other Old
Norse motifs.
Continue exploring the exhibition.
STOP 5.3. THE PANTHEON ACCORDING TO NORDIC SAGAS
Do you know those days when it rains and then the sun suddenly peeps out from behind the clouds?
On days like that, you’ll see the Rainbow Bridge that leads up to Asgård.
That’s where the gods live, high up among the clouds and the rustling leaves.
The giants and trolls live in Utgård and can be very frightening and dangerous. But the most dangerous
creature of all is the Midgård Serpent.
The geography of Norse mythology is complicated. To begin with, there is the Tree of the World, an
ash called Yggdrasil. Everything that exists in the cosmos exists in the space between the roots and
the highest branches of Yggdrasil. The Nornes, the weavers of destiny, live at the foot of the Tree of
the World. They are called Urdr (the past), Verdandi (the present) and Skuld (the future).
Asgård is at the top of the tree. This is the upper world governed by Odin where the gods have their
palaces. Midgård is Middle Earth where humans live. Asgård and Midgård are united by the bridge
Bifrost which the gods built out of water, air and fire and which only they can cross.
The giants, who are neither men nor gods, live in Jotunheim, site of the citadel of Utgård.
The elves live in Alfheim.
Altogether there are nine different worlds, all between the roots and the highest branches of
Yggdrasil. Odin was suspended from one of these branches for nine days and nine nights in exchange
for learning the secret of the runes. It’s not clear if this was before or after he gave an eye in order to
obtain wisdom. Yes, an eye! Ouch!
So, it’s time to get to know better the inhabitants of some of these nine worlds in Norse mythology.
We recommend that you begin with Thor, a god with a bit of a temper!
To listen to one of his adventures have a seat at one of the listening stations, or enter number 100 as
you walk. After that, or later on, you can listen to two more stories. They all have numbers that are
easy to remember: 100, 200 and 300.
STOP 6. THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
Before the arrival of Christianity, Norsemen buried their dead close to the family farm, sometimes
under a small pile of earth or tumulus. Often, though not always, they were cremated before they
were buried. In time, Christianity unified funeral customs. The Norse stopped cremating the dead and
began to bury them in local cemeteries next to the church. Gradually, the dead ceased to belong to
one family alone and belonged to the Christian community in general.
The objects and animals buried with Norse men and women, whether they were cremated or not, give
us clues into their beliefs. Spiked shoes, for example, were possibly meant for the dead to walk with
on the icy path that led to Hel, the kingdom of the dead. Horses, carts and sledges could also make
the journey easier. The dogs were perhaps there to guide them on this one‐way journey.
But the Norse’s most remarkable burial custom was to be buried or cremated within a ship. To be
buried like this must have been a great honour because a ship was a most valued possession. In fact,
it seems that at times, in order not to waste resources, just the nails were buried instead of the entire
ship.
STOP 6.1 THE GHOST SHIP
This hanging sculpture is composed of the 219 iron rivets of an authentic Viking ship, from eastern
Sweden. The ship’s planks, boards, oars, etc. long ago decomposed – leaving only the rivets in the
ground where it was buried. Here, the rivets have suspended from almost undetectable wires, in the
shape they were discovered ‐ showing the ghostly, three‐dimensional silhouette of the original
vessel.
Continue to explore the exhibition.
STOP 7. NORSE CRAFTMANSHIP
Norse men and women liked beautiful things. We know this because, although their life was far from
easy, they clearly owned jewellery and other luxury items; some of them made from material as fragile
as glass. But we mostly know they liked beautiful things because they made ordinary objects ‐ such as
swords, bridles for horses, combs for weaving and utensils for ironing clothes ‐ into things of beauty.
In this section the Norse’s skill in working the materials at their disposal: wood, leather, clay, bone,
horns, fabric and, especially, metal, are on full display. In the cases you’ll find some of these raw
materials and many of the tools that artisans used.
It is believed that among these tools there were some primitive magnifying glasses: round pieces made
of glass. The Scandinavian climate meant people couldn’t work outdoors all year round and houses
hardly had any windows, so it’s not surprising that artisans used magnifying glasses to work.
While you’re exploring the display cases in this section, consider the shapes used for decorating the
more elaborate pieces. At first they seem like simple geometric shapes but upon closer inspection you
will find that many of them represent real and imaginary animals. This style of decoration was deeply
rooted in Scandinavia: it existed before the Viking age and survived into the Christian era.
STOP 7.1 EXQUISITE ARTS AND CRAFTS
The so‐called Penannular brooch on display is made of silver and bronze and gilded. The circular
brooch features an animal face at the top centre. The circle remains open at the base and an animal‐
head with its teeth bared crowns each end‐knob. Fine filigree inlays of gold make this brooch even
more spectacular. Brooches were an important and common accessory in the Viking Age, used not
only for practical purposes but they also served as indications for rank and social position. They were
often decorated with animal‐heads on the end‐knobs, although Penannular brooches with this
splendid design and size are quite unusual.
Go towards the sword in this section and select number 7.2.
STOP 7.2. THE SWORD
This sword is a harmless replica of the kind used by the Norse. When you lift it, consider how long you
could carry it on your back or hanging from a belt. Would you be able to hold it in one hand like the
Vikings did? I do hope so, because otherwise you wouldn’t have a free hand to hold your shield!
The sword was the most prestigious weapon among the Vikings. We will talk about it in the next
section.
STOP 8. AWAY ON BUSINESS
Weights and scales found in tombs tell us that the Norse engaged in commerce. But what did they
sell?
To begin with, they had a lot of woodland. This gave them access to timber, honey, wax, horns,
amber and animal pelts. Vikings also produced flint, tar and iron, and trafficked slaves.
And what did the Norse seek when they would go a‐Viking? Top of the list was silver, for everything
from jewellery ‐ as displayed here ‐ to currency. In those days, one might carry “money” by way of a
silver bracelet that would be divvied into chunks to pay for things ‐ hence the scales.
Silver coins, jewels, rods and bars flowed in the Viking Age ‐ much of it from plundering and much of
it from trade. Some was also buried for safekeeping and many Viking silver hoards likely remain buried
to this day.
STOP 8.1. PRESTIGIOUS WEAPONS
In this area you can see real swords, the head of a battle axe and the point of a spear. Along with bows
and arrows, these were the weapons Norsemen used when they left their homes to go a‐Viking.
They’ve rusted with time but were once shiny, and certainly ‐ sharp, metal. The non‐metal elements
like the pole of the axe and handle of the sword have long disintegrated.
The best swords, and especially the blades of these, were imported from the continent. An inscription
on the long needle‐point blade of this particular sword states that it was made by the sword smith
Ulfberth (or a sword smith‐“company” with the same name) which probably was located in present‐
day Germany.
In ideal battle conditions the first weapon used would have been the bow and arrow. When the enemy
drew closer, Vikings would have used spears, and in hand‐to‐hand fighting, axes, swords and even
knives. In ideal conditions, warriors would have had some protective elements such as leather or metal
helmets, some sort of chain mail garments and, above all, wooden shields (with a shield‐boss, i.e. a
metal piece in the middle to protect the hand). Battle axes, such as the on display in this section, often
had a hook. Why? Well, with this hook it was possible to catch hold of the enemy’s shield and pull it
aside, making them more vulnerable.
However, we don’t know how often the Vikings fought in ideal conditions. Very possibly their battle
axes were often the same ones that they would have used on the farm. Very few would have had a
sword and fewer still a sword with a decorative handle and a double edge reinforced with steel. Metal
helmets and chain mail were very special accessories.
In reality, the Vikings’ best arms were bravery, their ships and… the element of surprise.
STOP 9. OVER THE SEA
Ever since the first replica of a Viking ship crossed the Atlantic 125 years ago, history and sailing fans
have been able to see dozens of functioning reproductions of Norse ships, each one more exact than
the one before. These reproductions have been built using data collected in various ways. On the one
hand, gathering details from the remains of real ships studied by archaeologists and other experts.
But also from visual information found on picture stones or on the famous medieval tapestry of
Bayeux in Normandy. Written sources and clues from ancient local traditions were also taken into
account.
Norsemen perfected ship design, and each Viking ship had a different function:
Smaller boats were used for quick coastal excursions or river jaunts to the Baltic Sea.
Merchant ships were slow but able to carry large cargo, which helped when colonizing new territory.
But the outline that was feared the most, and the one that still comes to mind when we think of the
Vikings, is the longship silhouette. The Viking longship was the perfect warship: strong, light, fast and
easy to manoeuvre. It could go under sail in open waters but it was the strength of its oarsmen that
allowed it to appear and disappear like a ghost during battle. Narrow enough to enter almost any river,
it didn’t need more than a metre of water below the keel and was so flat that it didn’t need a port to
moor: it could be dragged ashore like a small boat. Nor did a longship need to turn round in order to
retreat because it could be rowed in reverse. It was also so light that it could be taken out of the water
and sometimes carried across land. And although it was light, it wasn’t fragile. Each plank, cut with an
axe so as not to break the grain of the wood, was fixed to the plank immediately below it to make the
ship stronger and more waterproof. The oarsmen and the warriors were one and the same. They slept
on deck and sat on the trunks containing everything they needed for the voyage. All resources,
including space, were stretched to the maximum. The sail, made of wool and smeared with animal fat,
could cope with any kind of wind.
Dragon figureheads and blood‐coloured sails terrified people when they saw them but we don’t know
if this was their original function.
If you want to know how far the Norse travelled on these magnificent ships, visit number 9.1.
STOP 9.1. TRAVELLING EAST AND WEST
Between the 8th and 11th centuries the Norse set off on expeditions in all directions.
To the east, where there were few opportunities for pillage but many for trafficking in slaves, Vikings
sailed, or rowed up the Volga as far as the Middle East. They threatened Constantinople more than
once but the Byzantine emperors also chose them for their loyalty to join their Vareg guard. Vikings
settled in what is now Ukraine where they were actually called rus.
Heading south, they went upstream along the Seine and sacked Paris. In order to put an end to their
attacks, the Franks let the Vikings settle in the north of France (what is Normandy today). Christian
descendants of those Vikings founded a prosperous principality in southern Italy.
It might surprise you to learn that, for one entire week in the year 844, the Vikings sacked one of the
most important cities of the Cordoba caliphate, Isbiliya, the place we now know as Seville, Spain. They
arrived by going up the river Guadalquivir.
To the west, they repeatedly attacked the British Isles, with monasteries being one of their favourite
targets. We know, for example, that at the end of the 8th century they attacked a monastery in
northeast England, on the island of Lindisfarne. The foundation of Dublin is proof of their continued
presence in the area. The Vikings also colonized Iceland, which was then more or less uninhabited.
And as we’ll see later on, from Greenland they travelled as far as Canada .
STOP 9.2. REINTERPRETTING THE VIKINGS
In this part of the exhibition we look at some of the clichés associated with the Norse over the
centuries. We begin, naturally, with those famous, and non‐existent, horned helmets.
Archaeologists have found very few helmets from the Viking era and none with horns.
In fact, it seems that the mistaken notion of Vikings with horns comes from… opera! Specifically, the
costumes created for the premiere of the Ring of the Nibelung, the cycle of four operas written by
Richard Wagner in the second half of the 19th century. Who could’ve guessed that a prop devised by
Carl Emil Doepler, a set designer, would become much more famous than the designer himself?
However, it is much easier to forgive Mr. Doepler’s poetic licence than the Nazis’ attempt to
appropriate Viking iconography, when they borrowed runes to create the logo of their infamous SS
organization.
Fortunately, the rigorous work of archaeologists and historians made accessible by exhibitions such
as this one is setting the record straight. Researchers still don’t have the answer to all our questions
about the Norsemen but their work continues. For example only a small percentage of the important
archaeological site in Birka, Sweden, has been excavated.
Meanwhile, you can continue to enjoy the greatest treasure they have left us – their incredible stories.
STOP 10. VIKINGS IN CANADA
In the early 11th century, Vikings arrived in Newfoundland and established a small encampment –
known today as L’Anse aux Meadows. The Sagas, written two hundred years or more later, recount
multiple Norse explorations to present‐day Canada. Taken together, the archaeological and written
records of Canada’s Viking history provide valuable information on the trials and tribulations of
settling and exploring what was yet another new frontier for the Norse.
Leif Eriksson was the first to intentionally explore this new territory. His expedition delighted in the
rich natural resources that they found, including salmon, timber, and even wild grapes. The latter
inspired them to call this place Vinland (or “wine land”).
STOP 10.1. L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS
In 1961, Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad announced an important find – traces of a small, very old
encampment at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. Years later, this remains the only firm
archaeological evidence for a Norse presence in Canada. The site consists of the footprints of eight
main structures, visible above the ground as a series of grassy ridges. Initial archaeological
excavations by Anne Stine Ingstad showed it was occupied by the Norse just over 1,000 years ago.
It is possible that this site was built and occupied by Leif Eriksson and members of his expedition.
Each hall area at L’Anse aux Meadows was likely a manor – with a large communal living area used
by residents and a private living area reserved for the head of the manor, his family, and close
associates. Some of the smallest huts may represent slave dwellings. This display case features a
bronze pin, not quite 5 cms in length. With a straight barrel that has no key‐like teeth, and only a
simple ring at the head this object would have been used for fastening a neck cloak. It is also one of
the first Viking artefacts found at L’Anse aux Meadow ‐ which remains the only firm archaeological
evidence of Norse presence in Canada.
STOP 10.2. INDIGENOUS‐NORSE INTERACTION
When exploring Canada, the Norse encountered Indigenous peoples – they called them skraelings (a
term they also applied to the indigenous peoples of Greenland). The Sagas include descriptions of
both friendly and violent encounters.
In this display, you is a small small stone crucible (a tool used in metalwork), excavated from an
archaeological site on Baffin Island. , excavated from an archaeological site on Baffin Island. Though
it looks like a standard rock, scientists found traces of a copper‐tin alloy and glass spherules on the
inside of it; hinting that it was once used at high‐temperatures to tool non‐iron metalwork. Such
technology was previously unknown in the area before Europeans arrived. Given the location of this
find, it is possible that the crucible relates to Norse‐Indigenous interaction in the far north.
LISTEN TO VIKING MYTHS
STOP 100. THOR TAKES A BITE
There are lots of stories about Thor’s adventures. Lots of people have told them, each in their own
way. This is the story of how Thor went fishing. Like all fishermen’s tales, it changes a little bit with
each telling.
Thor is the god of thunder. He’s the one who makes all the thunder and lightning, as he drives his
goat‐driven chariot across the sky and wields his mighty hammer.
But sometimes, Thor gets a bit tired of making thunderstorms. He longs for adventure. He'd rather
fight giants and trolls.
The giants and trolls live in Utgård and can be very frightening and dangerous. But the most dangerous
creature of all is the Midgård Serpent, the Serpent of the World. Thor would really love to come face
to face with it.
In fact, when the Midgård Serpent was little, it lived in Asgård with the gods. But the gods got tired of
tripping over the small slippery snake. (They didn’t like the way it stared at them either. It didn’t look
very friendly, you know.) And that's why Odin, who is in charge of Asgård, threw the serpent into the
sea, so the gods wouldn’t have to look at it ever again.
Now the Midgård Serpent lies at the bottom of the sea, and it isn’t that small any more. It has grown
so big and so long that it encircles the whole world! And it's angry as well. It lies down there, biting its
tail, and thinking how best to take revenge on the gods.
Thor often boasts that one day he'll go fishing and catch the terrible Midgård Serpent.
“We know you fight giants and trolls”, say the gods. “But how are you going to fight a serpent that’s
as big as the whole world?”
“No problem”, says Thor. “I’ve got my hammer Miollnir and my belt of strength.”
When Thor tightens his belt of strength, it makes him twice as strong.
“Yes, yes”, say the gods, “of course you will”.
“I’ll show them I can catch the Midgård Serpent”, thinks Thor.
But first, he needs a boat. Then he remembers the giant Hymir who lives by the sea in Utgård: he has
a good, sturdy boat. Thor decides to pay him a visit.
But before setting out, he disguises himself as a little boy so the giant won’t recognize him. That's
really clever of him. The giants don’t like Thor very much, after all the times he’s travelled to Utgård
to fight them. When Thor arrives in Utgård, he finds Hymir down by the beach, getting his boat ready.
“What are you doing?” asks Thor in his best little boy’s voice.
Hymir glares at the boy.
"Mm. That red hair looks familiar." But the giant has no idea this little chap is really Thor.
“I’m going fishing,” he says grumpily.
“Can I come, too?” pleads Thor.
“You’re too small”, thunders Hymir. “I’m not taking small boys on my boat. It's too cold!”
“I’ve got warm clothes on”, says Thor, patting his woolen shirt. (His hammer and his belt of strength
are well hidden underneath it.) The giant nods crossly.
“Hm. Alright then” he mutters. “But you’ll have to bring your own bait.” He points to a field nearby.
“You’ll find plenty of worms over there.”
Thor dashes off to the field. But worms won’t be enough for the kind of catch he has in mind. He’s
going to need something much, much bigger. So he goes up to one of Hymir’s prized bulls and swiftly
twists its head off. Hymir goes pale when he sees the little boy coming back with a bloody bulls head
under his arm. He’s never encountered a boy quite like this one before.
Thor and the giant get into the boat. As Thor places the bull’s head by his feet. Hymir stares at him
grimly. That was his best bull! But Thor doesn’t even notice that Hymir is angry. He grabs the oars and
rows out to sea at top speed. The giant watches him quietly, and once the boat is far enough from the
shore, he clears his throat and says:
“Let's stop here for a while. This is where I usually fish for herrings.”
“Ha! Small fish!,” snorts Thor and carries on rowing with powerful strokes. The giant looks at the boy.
There’s definitely something familiar about him, but he can’t quite figure what.
The water gets darker, and land is soon out of sight. Not even birds dare come this far from the shore.
Hymir sits grunting with his head in his hands. They have entered the realm of the Midgård Serpent,
and the giant knows this is no place for them to be. Thor lifts his oars with a satisfied sigh. This is going
to be his best adventure ever!
Thor chooses a fishing line that is as thick as his thigh, and fastens the bull's head to the hook. He
throws out the bait, which disappears in the water with a mighty splash.
“Aren’t you going to wish me luck?” Thor asks. Beads of sweat appear on the giant’s forehead.
“Watch out, boy. You might catch a bigger fish than you bargained for,” says Hymir in a worried voice.
The giant just wants to go home, away from these treacherous waters. He wishes he had never set
eyes on this little boy. Meanwhile, the Midgård Serpent lies in a coil at the bottom of the sea, biting
its tail dreamily. He likes to imagine how, one day, he will destroy those gods who threw him into the
sea. And it’s not just the gods he wants to bite. The Midgård Serpent dreams of destroying the whole
world, and Utgård, too.
Suddenly something bumps against the serpent’s nose. It's the bull’s head on the hook. The Midgård
serpent spits out his tail and swallows the head, hook and all.
A huge wave surges over the sea and jolts the boat. Hymir clings onto the gunwale with both hands.
Thor loses his balance for a moment, and grips the line tightly.
“We’ve got a bite”, he whispers to the giant.
When the Midgård serpent realizes he’s been caught, he starts lashing out with his tail. The sea churns,
the sky turns black, the giant throws himself to the bottom of the boat. On the shore, mountains shake
and wolves howl with fear. The whole world shakes as Thor struggles to pull the Midgård Serpent out
of the depths of the sea. Reaching under his shirt Thor tightens his belt of strength. Now he is twice
as strong. He pulls and pulls so hard that his feet push right through the bottom of the boat. Then,
with a final haul, he drags the serpent out of the water.
Thor and Hymir shiver as they stare straight into the eyes of the mighty beast. The gaze of the Midgård
Serpent is cold. He has a scaly head with long feelers. His slippery body twists and turns as he hisses
and spits out his foul‐smelling venom. Thor takes out his hammer, and just as he is about to fling it on
the serpent's head, the giant springs to action. Hymir pulls out his knife and cuts the fishing line
throwing Thor backwards into the boat. The Midgård Serpent is free again. He blinks a few times
before sinking back down into the sea with the line still hanging out of his mouth.
The sea is calm again. The mountains stop shaking, the sky is clear. Everything is back to normal. It
almost feels as if nothing had happened.
“Nooo!!!” shouts Thor as he boxes the giant's ears. “No one will believe me now!”
Angry as a hornet, Thor jumps out of the boat and wades back to shore. Hymir rows his way back. That
night, the giant can’t sleep. He keeps thinking about the strange red‐haired boy and the terrible
Midgård Serpent. It’ll be a long time before he goes fishing again.
Thor goes home to Asgård where he tells everyone how close he came to catching the Midgård
Serpent. He describes the serpent’s terrifying eyes. He stretches out his arms to show how large it
was.
”It was this big!” he boasts.
Thor vows that one day he will try to catch the serpent again. One day, he will succeed. One day,
before the days of the gods and giants come to an end.
STOP 200. THE APPLES OF IDUN
This story is a thousand years old, maybe even older. It’s been told by lots of different people in lots
of different ways. It’s been told so many times that nobody knows any more how the original story
went.
Right at the very top of the World Tree is a kingdom called Asgård. That’s where the gods live, high up
among the clouds and the rustling leaves. If you’ve been there, you’ll know that the gods are young
and strong, even if they’re as old as the hills. Their hair doesn’t go grey, and they don’t get wrinkles or
get weaker with age, like us humans do. Years come and go ‐ a hundred, a thousand years – but the
gods stay young forever. And do you know why? Well, it’s all thanks to Idun.
Idun is a goddess. Wherever she goes, she carries with her a beautiful little box that she never puts
down. That box contains the most valuable thing in the world: Idun’s apples. The apples are golden
and shiny, they‘re juicy and thirst‐quenching. They’re the most delicious apples there have ever been.
But the really amazing thing about these golden apples is not how wonderful they taste. It’s their
magic powers. Those who eat them never grow old.
Idun guards her apples carefully. None of the gods’ children can have so much as a bite, and none of
the gods are allowed to eat too many. That’s because the more apples you eat, the younger you get.
So Idun must be very strict. The gods are allowed one apple a day, no more no less. When Idun gives
someone an apple, a new one immediately appears in her box. It’s magic. (Magic is quite common in
the world of gods, you see).
But it’s not only the gods who live in the World Tree. In the lower branches, far away from Asgård, lies
Utgård, the land of the giants. The giants would love to get hold of Idun’s apples. They want to be
young and strong forever, too, just like the gods. But Idun says no. Only the gods are allowed to eat
her apples.
One of the giants, whose name is Thjazi, is always wondering how he can steal Idun’s apples. One day,
he sees his chance. It all starts when he has an argument with Loki. Loki is a giant, too, but he looks
like a god and actually lives in Asgård. Loki is constantly getting into arguments and fights. And most
of the time the gods just try to ignore his troublemaking.
However, this time Loki does something really stupid. To make up with Thjazi, he promises to lure Idun
away and hand the apples over to him. Loki regrets it almost immediately, but a promise is a promise,
and he has to keep his word.
The first problem is getting Idun to leave Asgård, which she never does. Loki goes to Idun and tells her
that in a large forest outside Asgård, he has seen a tree with golden fruit. He tries to convince her to
follow him into the forest.
“Maybe the fruit of this tree has the same magical powers as your apples!”, says Loki.
Idun is finally persuaded. Side by side they leave Asgård and enter the vast forest.
Thjazi the giant is ready and waiting. He has disguised himself as an eagle and is circling high up in the
clouds. He follows Idun and Loki’s every move, waiting for the right moment to pounce. He dives down
towards Idun, the wind whistling through his wings. He grabs her and her box with his giant claws,
flaps his wings and soars up into the sky again. Idun screams and beats Thjazi until feathers fly.
Loki stays on the ground and watches them rising higher and higher. Soon, all he can see is a small
fluttering speck in the distance.
Idun is gone. The world stands still. For a long moment everything goes silent. Strange things start to
happen to the gods. At first, they don’t even notice. A grey hair in Thor’s beard, a tiny wrinkle between
Freya’s eyes… A freezing cold blast of wind blows through the top of the World Tree. Everything seems
a bit greyer, just a little bit sadder.
No one understands what’s gone wrong. Until the watchman at the gate remembers that he’d seen
Loki and Idun walking out of Asgård. And yes, he clearly remembers that Idun was carrying her box.
The gods put two and two together and start looking for Loki. By then one of the gods has backache,
another is going bald, a third is going deaf. Now that Idun is gone, they are all growing old, and fast.
When they finally find Loki, they’re fuming with anger. Loki breaks out in a cold sweat. Shaking with
fear, he promises he will fetch back both Idun and her apples. If Freya lends him her falcon disguise,
he’s more than willing to venture into Utgård. Freya fetches the disguise and lays it on the ground in
front of him.
Loki puts on the beak and wings and flaps away. It takes him a while to get the hang of flying, but soon
he’s floating high in the sky. He peers down over the World Tree and sees dark thickets and black
water. It is Utgård, the world of the giants.
He can see Thjazi’s farm but no sign of the giant. Loki’s beak feels dry, and his wings are tired. He
cannot keep on flying.
Loki manages to land and find Thjazi’s house. He pushes the door open and scrapes the floor with his
bird feet. There, in darkness, sits Idun. She’s holding the box in her arms, a few apple cores glistening
in the shadows. Loki reveals himself, and asks her to forgive him for what he did. Idun is angry. She
looks at his skinny bird legs and unsteady wings.
“Will you carry me back to Asgård in your beak?” Loki nods. “Then turn me into a hazelnut, but promise
you won’t swallow me on the way home” says Idun firmly.
Loki nods again and magically turns Idun and her box into a tiny brown nut. He picks her up in his beak
and flies up and away from Utgård. But Thjazi the giant comes back just in time to see them taking off.
He flings on his eagle disguise and flies off after Loki and Idun. He can fly faster than the wind.
In Asgård, the gods see Loki heading towards them, followed by a fierce‐looking eagle.
“Quickly, let’s build a fire”, one of the gods says.
And just as Loki reaches the ground and Thjazi is about to land, they light it. The hot flames whoosh
up and burn off the giant’s feathers. Before he knows, he’s crashing into the fire.
Loki takes off the falcon disguise and turns Idun back to her original shape. The gods stand silently
around the fire until there’s nothing left of Thjazi the giant.
“Oh, well”, says Idun finally, opening her box. “Anyone fancy an apple?
STOP 300. THE DEATH OF BALDER
Hullo! Yes! It’s you I’m talking to, sitting there under that tree. Let me tell you a story.
Do you know those days when it rains and then the sun suddenly peeps out from behind the clouds?
On days like that, if you look up at the sky, you’ll see the Rainbow Bridge that leads up to Asgård. Up
there, behind a wall, there are houses and farms. And that’s where the gods and goddesses live.
There are lots of gods. And they all have different powers. One of them is strong, another clever, one
can do magic, another knows everything there’s to know about love.
Apart from that, the gods are very much like us. They can get annoyed, bored, angry or jealous, just
like we do.
With one exception: Balder. Balder’s always kind, always cheerful. And he’s so good‐looking that gods,
humans and giants all fall in love with him the moment they set eyes on him. It’s no wonder: Balder
has such fair hair… And you should see his eyelashes; they’re just like white petals!
Anyway, let me get on with the story.
One morning, Balder isn’t feeling himself. He’s worried and depressed.
“Last night, I dreamt of my death”, he whispers.
All the gods worry; most of all, Balder’s mother, the goddess Frigg. She knows that sometimes the
dreams of gods come true.
“Don’t be afraid, my dear son”, says Frigg. “I’ll make sure that nothing bad can happen to you.”
The goddess takes her plea to the fire and the stars, to iron and water; to all animals and trees, to the
scariest giants and naughtiest trolls.
“Promise you’ll never harm Balder”.
And they all promise, because they all love him. That is, all except one: Loki.
Loki lives in Asgård, and he looks very much like a god, but he’s actually a giant. And just as everyone
loves Balder, hardly anyone likes Loki. Loki can do magic, and he’s not bad‐looking either, but he plays
too many tricks and mostly just causes trouble. That’s why the gods try to avoid him as much as they
can.
One day, Loki is sitting in the shadow of a tree in a meadow in Asgård. Next to him is the blind god
Hod, who has not joined in the gods’ newest pastime.
The gods are shooting arrows at Balder, knowing he cannot be harmed by iron or stones. The arrows
just bounce off him and tickle him until he chokes with laughter.
“Loki, what’s going on now?” asks Hod, hearing the gods clap and cheer.
“Now it’s Thor’s turn to shoot”, says Loki. “He’s taking aim.”
“Oh dear”, says Hod. “But it won’t be a problem for Balder, will it?“
“Nah, he won’t get so much as a scratch”, says Loki, sounding disappointed. “Thor might as well tickle
him with a feather.”
“Isn’t he the best?”, says Hod, impressed. “There’s nobody quite like Balder.”
“He’s not that great”, says Loki. I know plenty of people who are just as charming and good‐looking. ”
“Yeah, right. Like who?”, asks Hod.
The gods cheer again. One of the goddesses strokes Balder’s fair hair. Balder says something and
everyone around him laughs.
“I’ve had enough of this!“, says Loki, getting up. “Haven’t people in Asgård got anything better to do?”
“Don’t go”, says Hod. “You’ve got to tell me what they’re doing now!”
But Loki has already left. He’s gone into the forest so he doesn’t have to look at Balder for a while.
“Balder, Balder, Balder”, mutters Loki. “Nothing but Balder. I wish he would disappear for good.”
And then he remembers Frigg’s plea. Has she really talked to everyone and everything in the whole
world? Has she really got every living or dead being to promise never to harm Balder? Loki decides to
find out. Maybe she forgot something. Loki asks the big trees and the little trees, he asks the rose
bushes and the oak trees, the alders and the boles. But all the plants give him the same answer:
“I couldn’t harm Balder. He’s so handsome and good!”
But then Loki catches sight of a small plant with dark green leaves. The plant is called mistletoe, and
apparently, it hasn’t promised anything at all.
“Hm, I’ve never heard of this Balder”, grumbles the mistletoe. “Frigg never even spoke to me. She
probably thought I was too small!”
“Then come with me!”, says Loki, breaking off a small sprig of mistletoe.
He whittles it into an arrow and runs back to the meadow. Hod is still sitting under the tree and
listening to the gods cheering.
When Loki sees the blind god, he has a really wicked idea.
“I’ve got a bow and arrow for you”, says Loki. “Now you can join in the games, too!”
“ I’m not so sure”, says Hod. “I wouldn’t be able to hit anything!”
“Go on, have a go”, says Loki. “I’ll help you!”
Hod stands up reluctantly. Loki stands behind Hod and helps him pull back the arrow and take aim at
Balder. The mistletoe arrow flies up and over the field, but when it hits Balder’s naked chest, it doesn’t
bounce off and fall to the ground, like the other arrows. Instead, it plunges into his flesh and pierces
his heart, exactly as in Balder’s dream. The handsome god falls to the ground and dies, lying as white
as a flower in the green grass.
Out in the field, the gods fall silent. For a while no one dares utter a single word. When they finally try
to speak, the gods are choked with tears. Only Hod’s voice is heard.
“Eh, what’s happened? Loki! What’s going on?”
Loki has disappeared again. He plans to keep out of the way for a while, just until the memory of
Balder has faded.
But Loki was wrong when he thought Balder would one day be forgotten. The whole world cried when
the god lay dead in the meadow. The trees, even the stones, shed tears.
The story of Balder has been told over and over by different people at different times. With every
telling, Balder gets nicer and fairer and Loki nastier and nastier. How would YOU tell the story?