I've been told that the stereotypical Viking helmet with horns is just a cheesy myth. Is this true? If so, what did Viking helmets look like? I'm working on a Halloween costume and want something that's more-or-less authentic but that everyone will still recognize as a Viking. Any brilliant ideas? Thanks.
2006-09-12 09:18:38 · 6 answers · asked by Leslie D 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The horned ones were apparently ceremonial, a practical one was hemispherical with a nose guard.
Just go for the horns after all Halloween parties are a ceremony for as dudes . .
2006-09-12 09:30:03 · answer #1 · answered by dougie boy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Did Vikings really wear horns on their helmets?
07-Dec-2004
Dear Straight Dope:
Did Vikings really have horns on their helmets? --Thad in San Antonio
SDSTAFF bibliophage replies:
No self-respecting Viking warrior ever wore a horned helmet in battle--they weren't that dumb. As anyone who has done any slaughtering can tell you, horns provide nothing more than a good handhold to steady your work while you're slitting someone's throat. Nor did Viking warriors wear wings on their helmets, as they were commonly depicted doing before the horned image took over. Popular belief to the contrary isn't entirely baseless, though. Historical and archaeological evidence indicates that priests among the Norse and earlier Germanic peoples did wear headgear with horns (but not wings) in religious ceremonies. Furthermore, the ancient Celts wore helmets with wings (or other weird stuff), also for ceremonial purposes. The use of horned headdress in religious ceremonies wasn't limited to Germans and Celts--there are dozens of examples from around the world dating back to the earliest civilizations.
Visit the web site and read the rest.
2006-09-13 01:06:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this site it is brill....
The Viking Horned Helmet: Myth or Legend
The Viking Horned Helmet: Myth or Legend? Warriors have a tendency to enjoy displaying both their prowess and their battle gear. ... 1978) NOTE: There still may be a literary source for a horned Viking helmet lurking out there . . . somewhere ... appropriate place for the horned Viking helmet is to be found in ............
www.tirbriste.org
This site shows you how to make helmets....Have fun..
Viking Helmet
Viking Helmet. How to make your own Viking Helmet. What you need. Construction paper, the color of your choice. A pencil. A ruler and some glue........www.viking-folklore.com
2006-09-12 09:27:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
from what i have been able to gather, they are discounting horns because archaeologists have found plenty of remains of vikings, but the helmets have not had any horns, or anything thing that looks like it even might have been horns, so they are saying vikings did not have horns. otherwise, i would just do the helmet, leather type hat helmet, without the horns on it.
check here! i love the vikings. i am sure your costume will look wonderful!!
2006-09-12 09:47:17 · answer #4 · answered by afterflakes 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what the real things looked like, but you're right, the horned helmet never happened.
2006-09-12 09:25:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No the viking did wear helmet with horns on them seen quite a few in museums here and in Scandinavia. Here a site about them http://www.iol.ie/~sweeneyd/history/viking/
2006-09-12 09:26:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋