The Viking horned helmet myth
June 6, 2006 1:05 PM Subscribe
Contrary to popular belief, Vikings did not wear horned helmets, if the Viking Answer Lady is to be believed. Apparently, the whole kerfuffle was instigated at least in part by these guys.
If believing that Vikings wore horned helmets is wrong, then by the hammer of Thor, I don't want to be right.
posted by Robot Johnny at 1:10 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by Robot Johnny at 1:10 PM on June 6, 2006
It would make the games more interesting if the football team in Minnesota wore real horns on their helmets.
p.s. Nice use of the word (but not the Tag, unfortunately) kerfuffle.
posted by LeLiLo at 1:11 PM on June 6, 2006
p.s. Nice use of the word (but not the Tag, unfortunately) kerfuffle.
posted by LeLiLo at 1:11 PM on June 6, 2006
"No self-respecting Viking warrior ever wore a horned helmet in battle--they weren't that dumb."
Amen, Amen! Nice post. I love the viking answer lady.
(points for kerfuffle.)
posted by OmieWise at 1:13 PM on June 6, 2006
Amen, Amen! Nice post. I love the viking answer lady.
(points for kerfuffle.)
posted by OmieWise at 1:13 PM on June 6, 2006
excellent!
You know what I like best about the Vikings? Besides the whole "pillaging" concept and having a dragon head as the hood ornament on your long boat. No. That's cool. But what is cooler is that the religion had a temporary heaven. They believed that Asgard would end along with everything else. That even their gods - even Odin - will succumb when the stormy giants retake the universe.
The only reason to go to heaven at all was to a part of the last great battle. Even though you were on the losing side.
posted by tkchrist at 1:41 PM on June 6, 2006
You know what I like best about the Vikings? Besides the whole "pillaging" concept and having a dragon head as the hood ornament on your long boat. No. That's cool. But what is cooler is that the religion had a temporary heaven. They believed that Asgard would end along with everything else. That even their gods - even Odin - will succumb when the stormy giants retake the universe.
The only reason to go to heaven at all was to a part of the last great battle. Even though you were on the losing side.
posted by tkchrist at 1:41 PM on June 6, 2006
You know, that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread: Floydd's beautiful chicken hat really belongs here more than there.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:57 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:57 PM on June 6, 2006
I looove that hat! I should just put it in every Viking and chicken related thread.
If I knew a baby and could knit I'd be purling up a maelstrom.
I found it whilst googling "How to draw a chicken," since I already know how to draw a pig.
posted by Floydd at 2:09 PM on June 6, 2006
If I knew a baby and could knit I'd be purling up a maelstrom.
I found it whilst googling "How to draw a chicken," since I already know how to draw a pig.
posted by Floydd at 2:09 PM on June 6, 2006
That is goodnewsfortheinsane! thank you!
posted by safetyfork at 2:32 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by safetyfork at 2:32 PM on June 6, 2006
Floydd's beautiful chicken hat...
Floydd's beautiful chicken hat...
Floydd's beautiful chicken hat...
Oh man.
posted by sklero at 2:43 PM on June 6, 2006
Floydd's beautiful chicken hat...
Floydd's beautiful chicken hat...
Oh man.
posted by sklero at 2:43 PM on June 6, 2006
Floydd, that hat just stole the thread. Nice work.
Good post too.
posted by arcticwoman at 3:54 PM on June 6, 2006
Good post too.
posted by arcticwoman at 3:54 PM on June 6, 2006
Did anyone check out the right hand nav in Floydd's link. I so want to click that one under pics and print, but am at work, so am, appropriately, too chicken.
That said - I am a descendent of Vikings who settled in Normandy. I always used to be embarrassed with the other kids to be a Norman (notice the lack of Heavy Metal bands called Norman as opposed to, say, Saxon or WASP), but when I discoved my true Viking heritage I just laid them waste with an axe after a fine meal of Amanita Muscaria.
posted by Sparx at 4:07 PM on June 6, 2006
That said - I am a descendent of Vikings who settled in Normandy. I always used to be embarrassed with the other kids to be a Norman (notice the lack of Heavy Metal bands called Norman as opposed to, say, Saxon or WASP), but when I discoved my true Viking heritage I just laid them waste with an axe after a fine meal of Amanita Muscaria.
posted by Sparx at 4:07 PM on June 6, 2006
Should I tell him? It is the anniversary of the super-sized thread MeTa9622, sometimes known as 9622v2. The longboat left 9622 and has wandered around the cybersphere ever since.
It is still afloat - somewhere.
posted by Cranberry at 4:57 PM on June 6, 2006
It is still afloat - somewhere.
posted by Cranberry at 4:57 PM on June 6, 2006
They described the inhabitants of northern Europe wearing all manner of outlandish things on their heads.
That's certainly still true. You can recgonize Icelanders abroad by the riduclous hats.
I've seen Viking helmets in the Icelandic national museum and they looked a lot like this one.
While on the longboat, I myself like to wear whatever is handy and ridiculous.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:59 PM on June 6, 2006
That's certainly still true. You can recgonize Icelanders abroad by the riduclous hats.
I've seen Viking helmets in the Icelandic national museum and they looked a lot like this one.
While on the longboat, I myself like to wear whatever is handy and ridiculous.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:59 PM on June 6, 2006
All hail the longboat!
(Though it won't actually open in my browser, but uh, that's the link. Or should be.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:04 PM on June 6, 2006
(Though it won't actually open in my browser, but uh, that's the link. Or should be.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:04 PM on June 6, 2006
...anyone else hear the “Immigrant Song”?
posted by Smedleyman at 5:35 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by Smedleyman at 5:35 PM on June 6, 2006
By the hoary hammer of Hrosvita*! This is one of the best topics ever. Vikings are the new ninja.
*who was not a viking, buta German nun who may have been the first female playwright.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:37 PM on June 6, 2006
*who was not a viking, buta German nun who may have been the first female playwright.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:37 PM on June 6, 2006
Awesomest, homunculus.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:18 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:18 PM on June 6, 2006
I know it's not strictly about vikings but this looks entertaining.
posted by moonbiter at 9:56 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by moonbiter at 9:56 PM on June 6, 2006
Has matteo ever unearthed the saga of Nord-diva Anna Russell?
posted by rob511 at 11:53 PM on June 6, 2006
posted by rob511 at 11:53 PM on June 6, 2006
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posted by jack_mo at 1:09 PM on June 6, 2006