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Tiedrich: "I was disappointed when the email lady lost, but..."
I was disappointed when the email lady lost, but I didn't dress like some fucked up viking and go apeshit at the CapitolLink to tweet
?s=20
40 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
https://www.history.com/news/did-vikings-really-wear-horned-helmets
The Invention of the Viking Horned Helmet
https://ingebretsens-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/51267328-frank-invention-of-horned-helmet.pdf
The Debunked Helmet
by Elfrida Östlund 1 August, 2021
http://www.scandinavianarchaeology.com/the-debunked-helmet/
Horned helmets. Traditionally, the Vikings are associated with their incredible, fashionable headgear, right? The beautifully formed bull’s horns, attached to each side of the helmet in perfect symmetry, creating a terrifying and lasting impression, making enemies turn and run since 793 A.D. Normally carried by the Viking warrior into battle, raids, and… wait, what? In case it is not obvious to you already: all of this is nonsense and is one of the most widespread myths concerning Scandinavian pre-historic culture. Today this version of the Viking is, thankfully, debunked but once upon a time he was very much alive. Where did this manly-man Viking with the horned helmet come from? One thing is for certain: not history, and he was certainly not created from material culture. It was within the sphere of popular culture that he was born, this iconic horned Viking. And oh boy, was he popular!
A Piece of Art
In 19th Century Europe, there was an upswing in popularity and interest in Norse mythology. Naturally, Scandinavian history also witnessed a revival. Interest was especially focused within the sphere of popular culture and art where heroes, kings, and gods were commonly depicted and portrayed. Where the artists got their inspiration differs between textual sources such as the sagas and collected materials such as swords, shields, axes, etc. presumed to be from the Viking Age. One important question remains: where did these artists find the inspiration for horned helmets? The sweet and short answer to this is that we simply have no idea. Somehow the horned helmet trend in connection to Vikings and Norse mythology truly exploded, with not just one or two artists portraying the feature but several artists adopting it. Clearly, this was a trendy and apparently fresh way of portraying these seafaring heroes, if one can judge from 19th Century paintings alone. Let us go through at least some of the early birds of the “very modern but not so accurate Viking Age helmet”.
The Ring of The Nibelung (more commonly known as The Ring) is a 19th Century opera by Richard Wagner. It is based on The Nibelung Song (Nibelungenlied), a German medieval manuscript from the 11th Century, as well as Norse mythology such as the Volsung Saga and the Poetic Edda. Naturally, we get to meet one or two Vikings amongst the heroes and gods in Wagner’s four-act opera. And yes, according to the illustrations inspired by The Ring, some of them did in fact sport horned helmets. Two names worth mentioning here are Michael Echter and Carl Emil Doepler, both German painters working in close contact with Wagner. Michael Echter was commissioned by King Ludwig II to decorate his palace with murals inspired by The Ring, of which the king had grown very fond. Sadly, Echters frescos were destroyed together with the palace during WWII and are therefore lost forever. Luckily, Franz Hegel repainted some of Echters works. In one of the repainted illustrations, we can see a tall, rather big, Viking warrior wearing the now very famous horned helmet. This is also one of the earliest examples of the horned helmets in connection to Norse mythology and Vikings.
Franz Hegel’s re-painting of one of Michael Echter’s frescos. Photo: Public domain.
Soon after, Carl Emil Doepler would follow Echter’s example and make the Viking even more fashionable. Doepler was commissioned by Wagner himself to create appropriate costumes for the premiere of The Ring in 1876. One of the characters who was honoured with adorning said horns was Hunding, a man who in Wagners play is a warrior of giants’ blood. Interestingly enough, Doepler had studied Viking Age (or presumed to be at the time) artifacts by visiting several museums. The weaponry depicted is most likely inspired by actual archaeological 19th Century findings. Hunding’s vestment and helmet, on the other hand, are a result of artistic freedom.
Carl Emil Doepler’s interpretation of Wagner’s character Hunding. A Viking of giant’s blood appearing in The Ring.
Another interesting interpretation made by Doepler in connection to The Ring is the one of Odin. While this might be considered a sidestep from this article’s subject it is worth mentioning. While Doepler spared Odin from being given horns, he instead gave him wings. Yes, wings. When things could not get more confusing, they just did… These are commonly used in popular culture when illustrating the Norse Valkyries. Doepler most likely saw it fit to give Odin wings resembling that of the Valkyrie’s, in his role as their leader. The Norse Valkyrie were the ones gathering the dead to bring them to Odin and Valhalla, or Freyas Folkvang according to mythology. These wings would soon become synonymous with Odin, and until this day they are commonly used in illustrations and movies. This is perhaps artistic licensing at its best, people!
To the left: Brünnhilde, one of Wagner’s Valkyries from The Ring, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. To the right: Odin depicted with wings on his helmet, illustrated by Carl Emil Doepler. Photos: Public domain.
snip
Forget almost every Viking costume you’ve ever seen. Yes, the pugnacious Scandinavians probably sported headgear when they marched into battle, but there’s no reason to believe it was festooned with horns. In depictions dating from the Viking age—between the eighth and 11th centuries—warriors appear either bareheaded or clad in simple helmets likely made of either iron or leather. And despite years of searching, archaeologists have yet to uncover a Viking-era helmet embellished with horns. In fact, only one complete helmet that can definitively be called “Viking” has turned up. Discovered in 1943 on Gjermundbu farm in Norway, the 10th-century artifact has a rounded iron cap, a guard around the eyes and nose, and no horns to speak of.
The popular image of the strapping Viking in a horned helmet dates back to the 1800s, when Scandinavian artists like Sweden’s Gustav Malmström included the headgear in their portrayals of the raiders. When Wagner staged his “Der Ring des Nibelungen” opera cycle in the 1870s, costume designer Carl Emil Doepler created horned helmets for the Viking characters, and an enduring stereotype was born.
Malmström, Doepler and others may have been inspired by 19th-century discoveries of ancient horned helmets that later turned out to predate the Vikings. They may also have taken a cue from ancient Greek and Roman chroniclers, who described northern Europeans wearing helmets adorned with all manner of ornaments, including horns, wings and antlers. But not only did this headgear fall out of fashion at least a century before the Vikings appeared, it was likely only donned for ceremonial purposes by Norse and Germanic priests. After all, horns’ practicality in actual combat is dubious at best. Sure, they could help intimidate enemies and maybe even poke out a few eyes, but they would have been even more likely to get entangled in a tree branch or embedded in a shield.
The popular image of the strapping Viking in a horned helmet dates back to the 1800s, when Scandinavian artists like Sweden’s Gustav Malmström included the headgear in their portrayals of the raiders. When Wagner staged his “Der Ring des Nibelungen” opera cycle in the 1870s, costume designer Carl Emil Doepler created horned helmets for the Viking characters, and an enduring stereotype was born.
Malmström, Doepler and others may have been inspired by 19th-century discoveries of ancient horned helmets that later turned out to predate the Vikings. They may also have taken a cue from ancient Greek and Roman chroniclers, who described northern Europeans wearing helmets adorned with all manner of ornaments, including horns, wings and antlers. But not only did this headgear fall out of fashion at least a century before the Vikings appeared, it was likely only donned for ceremonial purposes by Norse and Germanic priests. After all, horns’ practicality in actual combat is dubious at best. Sure, they could help intimidate enemies and maybe even poke out a few eyes, but they would have been even more likely to get entangled in a tree branch or embedded in a shield.
The Invention of the Viking Horned Helmet
https://ingebretsens-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/51267328-frank-invention-of-horned-helmet.pdf
The Debunked Helmet
by Elfrida Östlund 1 August, 2021
http://www.scandinavianarchaeology.com/the-debunked-helmet/
Horned helmets. Traditionally, the Vikings are associated with their incredible, fashionable headgear, right? The beautifully formed bull’s horns, attached to each side of the helmet in perfect symmetry, creating a terrifying and lasting impression, making enemies turn and run since 793 A.D. Normally carried by the Viking warrior into battle, raids, and… wait, what? In case it is not obvious to you already: all of this is nonsense and is one of the most widespread myths concerning Scandinavian pre-historic culture. Today this version of the Viking is, thankfully, debunked but once upon a time he was very much alive. Where did this manly-man Viking with the horned helmet come from? One thing is for certain: not history, and he was certainly not created from material culture. It was within the sphere of popular culture that he was born, this iconic horned Viking. And oh boy, was he popular!
A Piece of Art
In 19th Century Europe, there was an upswing in popularity and interest in Norse mythology. Naturally, Scandinavian history also witnessed a revival. Interest was especially focused within the sphere of popular culture and art where heroes, kings, and gods were commonly depicted and portrayed. Where the artists got their inspiration differs between textual sources such as the sagas and collected materials such as swords, shields, axes, etc. presumed to be from the Viking Age. One important question remains: where did these artists find the inspiration for horned helmets? The sweet and short answer to this is that we simply have no idea. Somehow the horned helmet trend in connection to Vikings and Norse mythology truly exploded, with not just one or two artists portraying the feature but several artists adopting it. Clearly, this was a trendy and apparently fresh way of portraying these seafaring heroes, if one can judge from 19th Century paintings alone. Let us go through at least some of the early birds of the “very modern but not so accurate Viking Age helmet”.
The Ring of The Nibelung (more commonly known as The Ring) is a 19th Century opera by Richard Wagner. It is based on The Nibelung Song (Nibelungenlied), a German medieval manuscript from the 11th Century, as well as Norse mythology such as the Volsung Saga and the Poetic Edda. Naturally, we get to meet one or two Vikings amongst the heroes and gods in Wagner’s four-act opera. And yes, according to the illustrations inspired by The Ring, some of them did in fact sport horned helmets. Two names worth mentioning here are Michael Echter and Carl Emil Doepler, both German painters working in close contact with Wagner. Michael Echter was commissioned by King Ludwig II to decorate his palace with murals inspired by The Ring, of which the king had grown very fond. Sadly, Echters frescos were destroyed together with the palace during WWII and are therefore lost forever. Luckily, Franz Hegel repainted some of Echters works. In one of the repainted illustrations, we can see a tall, rather big, Viking warrior wearing the now very famous horned helmet. This is also one of the earliest examples of the horned helmets in connection to Norse mythology and Vikings.
Franz Hegel’s re-painting of one of Michael Echter’s frescos. Photo: Public domain.
Soon after, Carl Emil Doepler would follow Echter’s example and make the Viking even more fashionable. Doepler was commissioned by Wagner himself to create appropriate costumes for the premiere of The Ring in 1876. One of the characters who was honoured with adorning said horns was Hunding, a man who in Wagners play is a warrior of giants’ blood. Interestingly enough, Doepler had studied Viking Age (or presumed to be at the time) artifacts by visiting several museums. The weaponry depicted is most likely inspired by actual archaeological 19th Century findings. Hunding’s vestment and helmet, on the other hand, are a result of artistic freedom.
Carl Emil Doepler’s interpretation of Wagner’s character Hunding. A Viking of giant’s blood appearing in The Ring.
Another interesting interpretation made by Doepler in connection to The Ring is the one of Odin. While this might be considered a sidestep from this article’s subject it is worth mentioning. While Doepler spared Odin from being given horns, he instead gave him wings. Yes, wings. When things could not get more confusing, they just did… These are commonly used in popular culture when illustrating the Norse Valkyries. Doepler most likely saw it fit to give Odin wings resembling that of the Valkyrie’s, in his role as their leader. The Norse Valkyrie were the ones gathering the dead to bring them to Odin and Valhalla, or Freyas Folkvang according to mythology. These wings would soon become synonymous with Odin, and until this day they are commonly used in illustrations and movies. This is perhaps artistic licensing at its best, people!
To the left: Brünnhilde, one of Wagner’s Valkyries from The Ring, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. To the right: Odin depicted with wings on his helmet, illustrated by Carl Emil Doepler. Photos: Public domain.
snip
Yeah, what about Scandinavian man buns?
http://nationalclothing.org/america/81-native-american-indians/189-secret-knowledge-behind-the-native-american-headdress.html
- or whatever that moron might have thought...
The all organic Qanon shaman wore coyote tails, horns, fur, and tattoos in the style of Native Americans in the Southwestern US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism
thus it was not a tangential reply
so, you're welcome
EXACTLY who he meant. There was actually no need to sidetrack the INTENT of the message because you didn't like the VERBIAGE. He's a fake ass shaman/viking/fraudster/idiot... who the F cares what.
I like learning new things. 
I wasn't eating or drinking when I read this. 
... we only wear costumes on Halloween. It's not a way of life for us.
but in Europe 
