The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Viking Age Sword and Hilt
12017-05-22T10:59:05-07:00Caroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7ea164561Iron Viking Age Sword and Hiltplain2017-05-22T10:59:05-07:00Caroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7ea
This page is referenced by:
12017-05-22T11:07:29-07:00Viking Age Sword and Hilt13Iron Viking Age Sword and Hiltplain2017-09-19T20:04:20-07:00Sword. Still Image, nd. Http://kulturarvsdata.se/vm/objekt/38550. Vänern museum. http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/91682/vm_objekt_38550.html?q=viking%2A.800-1050CC BY58.5101619,13.0778447IronVänern MuseumLidköping, Sweden800-1050This sword and hilt was found in Lidköping Port, Sweden and produced sometime between 800-1050. The sword and hilt were made from iron while the hilt had traces of wood.[1]
Swords during this time period were status symbols displaying wealth, power and most importantly linage. Quality swords such as this were often custom made for a single person and passed down from father to son. Because of their expense, quality swords could have been used as gifts between high status people such as kings or taken during battles and raids.
This specific sword was found near town on the southern edge of an inland freshwater lake (Lake Vanern). In 9th and 10th centuries the town was likely a trading post for travelers and fishermen. Because of this, it is plausible that it was used as personal defense by either a merchant or fisherman that traveled in the area.
The round pomel and missing hand guard may also give a clue into the life of Swedish weaponry. Most swords made during this time had pommels that were flat nearest the hand. This made it easier to hold the sword if your hand slipped up the hilt. Hand guards also stopped other swords from sliding down the blade and cutting your hand in battle.[2] This sword appears to not have either. This might suggest that the sword was re-purposed and used in substitution for a farming tool of some sort or possibly as a display of wealth.
