north-sea-valkyrie

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Midsummer völva 🔮

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The tools of a völva; viking age witch, seeress, healer, and mystical aid to warriors in battle.

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Gratulerer med dagen til Norge, mitt andre hjem 💕🇧🇻

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The York Anglo-Saxon Helmet, The Riverside Arts Centre Museum, Nottingham, 6.1.18.

Created around 750 to 775 CE, this Anglo-Saxon helmet is inscribed with Latin across the top and features the name of the helmet’s owner ‘Oshere’ above the nose guard. It is likely that the translation reads ‘Warrior of the Royal House of Os’, linking it to a royal family in northern England.

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The völva 🌙

A touch of magic from the Viking Age; kit based on Swedish finds, and shared concepts between the Scandinavian graves of the völur, the seers and witches of the Norsemen.

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In recovery from the coronavirus, but still want to viking. Wearing my newly finished tablet-woven headband.

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Currently in quarantine, so I'm working on my new Viking Age kit inspired by finds from the graves of Swedish völur/witches, particularly from Birka.

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Picture I took of the 12th-13th c. Borgund Stave Church, Borgund, Lærdal Municipality, Norway.

The interior is beautiful and you can very much see artistic homages to their pagan past. I would recommend a visit if you're in the area!

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I was going through my pictures and found this one I took of Fantoft Stave Church, Bergen, so thought I'd share.

It's a reconstruction of a church originally built in 1150 in Fortun, Sogn, a village in Sognefjord. In the 1900s, a newer church was built in Fortun and the medieval church was threatened with demolition, but it was bought by a consul and was moved piece by piece to Fana, Bergen.

However, this was tragically one of the stave churches burnt down during the revolts of the early black metal scene in Norway. Varg Vikernes was charged with the arson of this church although there's still debate on his innocence - in this particular case, that is.

Luckily there are a few original stave churches surviving, such as the gorgeous 12th century Borgund Stave Church, which I visited last summer. Definitely worth a visit if you can!

The Fantoft reconstruction is beautiful, but also a grim reminder of how easily and needlessly history can be destroyed in the name of senseless pseudo-religious/political action. According to the internet, out of over 1000 stave churches in Norway, only 28 now survive in some way.

No matter what faith you're from, history is history and every artefact we have is precious. We have to preserve it. 💕

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Viking dresses by Savelyeva Ekaterina

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Authentic Viking Hall Lake District

© Harry Tyhurst Baker

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Getting frosty outside ❄

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Enjoying the winter sun, Migration Period style

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Migration period brooch, found in Østfold last season. It is possibly the foot plate of a cruciform fibula with animal head ornamentation, but we have yet to find any exact parallels. We would be grateful for any tips or help in identifying the exact type.

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My first Migration Period outfit based on finds from 4th-5th century Norway is well underway! I'll wear it to Tingvatn for Vinterviking and then at the Vikingting later this year, along with my Viking Age gear 💖

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Viking age brooches.

My new Borre disc brooch 😍 Worn with my old 9th century Ribe brooches that I don't use much anymore, but are quite pretty. The design for these Ribe brooches is based on a viking ship, with the little circles representing shields lining the sides.

Dresses made by me.