#oseberg ship

[ltwilliammowett]

Figurehead from the Oseberg ship, about 800 AD; in the Museum of National Antiquities, Oslo

[scandinavianheritage]

The Oseberg ship

[thousurroundingverdure]

[c-schroed]

Some time ago, I was doing chores while watching a documentary about ancient burial rites (to be precise, it was episode three of the Mysteries of the Ancient Dead series; yes, this is a normal thing for me to do).

But shortly after the beginning of the episode, the topic went to an old Viking ship called the Oseberg that was used for a burial. On it: Two female bodies from the 9th century, sharing a bed in this noble grave. One wealthy woman in her eighties, plus a woman in her fifties.

And while the experts in the documentary went through all the possible theories (Was the mystery middle-aged woman a relative? A fellow noblewoman? A slave that was sacrificed for her deceased mistress?), I found myself pausing my chores, sitting down in front of my tablet, feet kicking the air and head rested on my hands like

Oh Please Tell Me More

About Viking Sappho and Her Friend.

Some nice summary can be found at Wikipedia:

And as a little bonus, a screenshot from the documentary showing a pic of Odin in a mood quite as gleeful as mine:

[lowstakesvampires]

the little joys of immortality

[ancienthistoryart]

Oseberg Ship, Viking Ship Museum, Oslo

[museum-of-artifacts]

1904: Excavation of the 'Oseberg Ship', a Viking Longship of the 9th century. Norway, .

Visit: BLOG

[leasthaunted]

Episode 109: Let's Get Kraken

In the most recent episode, Cody and Garth dive into the deep waters to talk about Kraken! And in Garth's corner, he covers the art of figureheads (the sculptures of the front of ships)!

Enjoy the images discussed in the episode below (trigger warning: the last two images are of dead animals, there's no blood or obvious signs of distress but y'all deserve a warning nonetheless)! And please come join the episode discussion on the Least Haunted Discord!

Sorry for the late post, I was hunting for a lake monster!

The book Cody read for the episode: Monsters of the Sea by Richard Ellis.

The Swine Whale (left) and possibly Kraken (right) Carta Marina map of Scandinavia (1539).

Illustration by Denys de Montfort. Historie naturelle des Mollusques (1802).

In 1861 the French ship Alecton recovered part of a Giant Squid, Achiteuthus. This event would inspire Jules Verne when writing 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

A Scandinavian grapnel anchor, aka Krake, made from the top of a spruce tree.

"The Kraken" in 1981's Clash of The Titans, although a feat of stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen, NOT A KRAKEN.

The Mollusk album by Ween. The inspiration for SpongeBob SquarePants according to show creator, Stephen Hillenburg.

They Might Be Giants album Apollo 18 limited edition Zoetrope vinyl! Only 240 were ever made, Cody has #195 and Garth has #196.

GARTH'S CORNER, GARTH'S CORNER, GARTH'S FIGUREHEAD CORNER!

Here are some of the figureheads mentioned in Garth’s Corner. Special props to the YouTube Channel Baltic Empire for “Carved works and Figureheads: A History of Ship Decorations.” Garth also credits Chris Riley for his article “The History of Ship Figureheads.”

Here’s a carving of an elk’s head found in Säkkijärvi, Finland. It was made between 1750 and 1,500 BCE and is thought to have been attached to the front of a boat.

Some examples of Greek Ships with eyes.

The Oseberg Ship, a lavish ship that was buried in Norway some time in the 800s CE.

A model of the 80-gun Naseby (1655) showing Oliver Cromwell on a horse.

A mezzotint etching by Robert Sayer “Hercules as Ship's Figurehead” (1788).

A modern ship, Neptune, a replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon, originally built for the film "Pirates" (1986).

And finally, here’s an awkward mermaid Garth saw online. Not sure where he found it but here she is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trigger Warning Below ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dead Sperm Whale with squid scars on its skin.

Dying Architeuthis found in Toyama Bay, Japan 2015.

[ltwilliammowett]

The excavation of the Viking Longship also known as the Oseberg ship from the burial mound in 1904

[broomsick]

Oseberg ship prow replica, by artist Thorleifr on DeviantArt

[mushed-kid]

mushy do you know about the oseberg ship burial? it’s so cool and it was probably the burial place of a wlw couple!

whaaaat no i dont know about it! i might have to google this now…. interesting

[swindlefingrs]

I can’t believe today is the day I learned the Oseberg Viking ship was captained by a 80 year old bearded woman

[mjolnir-viking-jewelry]

Wood mjolnir wall hanging – 299$

Introducing our Wood Mjolnir Wall Hanging, crafted in the iconic Oseberg Style a tribute to Viking heritage and craftsmanship. ✧ Material: oak ✧ Height: 15.74 inches (40 cm) ✧ Width: 12.59 inches (32 cm) This remarkable wall decor features a Thor's hammer design inspired by the prow of the famous Viking ship from the Oseberg burial site. Meticulously carved from high-quality oak, this wood carving captures the essence of Viking artistry and symbolism. The intricate detailing of the Mjolnir design adds a touch of Norse mythology to any room in your home or office. Embrace the spirit of the Vikings and elevate your space with this unique and historically inspired wood Thor hammer decor. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a lover of Viking culture, or simply seeking distinctive decor, our Wood Mjolnir Wall Hanging is sure to leave a lasting impression.

[maniculum]

Happy Pride! In this episode of the podcast, we explore the varied gender identities of Viking witches. While the modern stereotype of Vikings is that that of the masculine warrior and dutiful wife, grave goods found at several sites illustrate the fluidity of gender in the Nordic and Icelandic world!

Citations & References:

Bennett, Judith M. "'Lesbian-Like' and the Social History of Lesbianisms." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 2000, pp. 1-24.

Bill, Jan. “Ambiguous Mobility in the Viking Age Ship Burial from Oseberg.” Materialities of Passing: Explorations in Transformation, Transition and Transience, 2016, pp. 207–20.

Colwill, Lee. "The Queerly Departed: Narratives of Veneration in the Burials of Late Iron Age Scandinavia." Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography, edited by Alicia Spencer-Hall & Blake Gutt, Amsterdam University Press, 2021, pp.177-97.

Mayburd, Miriam. “‘Heizt Þóttumk Nú Heima í Millim⋯’ A Reassessment of Hervör in Light of Seiðr’s Supernatural Gender Dynamics.” Arkiv För Nordisk Filologi, vol. 129, 2014, pp. 121–64.

Murray, Jacqueline. “Twice Marginal and Twice Invisible: Lesbians in the Middle Ages.” Handbook of Medieval Sexuality, 1996, pp. 203-33.

Greenberg, David F., and Marcia H. Bystryn. “Christian Intolerance of Homosexuality.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 88, no. 3, 1982, pp. 515–48.

Osberg Ship example - Link

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[daffodil--lament]

well now i am thinking about the oseberg ship