Viking Lore Articles — jewelry

The Role of Jewelry in Viking Culture

Posted by Amber Lee on

The Role of Jewelry in Viking Culture

History Channel specials and Medieval Christian manuscripts depict Vikings as a singularly ravenous and violent lot, but historical evidence suggests that they were also a highly sophisticated society of artists and artisans. When they weren’t out discovering new continents or reciting complex skaldic verses, the Vikings excelled at woodwork and metalwork. They were great makers and lovers of art, including jewelry.

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A History of Necklaces

Posted by Amber Lee on

A History of Necklaces

Many people are surprised to learn that the invention of the necklace actually predates the invention of the first writing in Near Eastern civilizations. The earliest known necklaces hail from the Stone Age, making them some 40,000 years old, and they were crafted entirely from natural materials such as vine or animal sinew.

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Modern Day Viking Great Ship: Draken Harald Hårfagre

Posted by Amber Lee on

Modern Day Viking Great Ship: Draken Harald Hårfagre

You probably know that Vikings were excellent shipbuilders, but did you know that these ancient masters of the sea left no plans or instructions as to how to build their great long boats? Modern day ship builders interested in building replicas of the great long boats have had to depend simply on pictures, old Norse literature, and any preserved long ships found by archaeologists in the field. North America is known as Vineland by the Vikings. We know today that the Vikings were the first Europeans to reach North America and to trade with the native people there. Ancient Vikings...

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Customer Favorite: Wolf Totem Pendant Necklace

Posted by Amber Lee on

Customer Favorite: Wolf Totem Pendant Necklace

Wolves are known for their keen intelligence, graceful strength, and their unbreakable bond to their family - their pack mates. Wolves live in challenging environments, but still, succeed as apex predators. What qualities do you think are admirable in this animal? Ancient Vikings respected wolves for these enduring qualities and relied on this animal as a sacred totem. Just as wolves hunt in packs and use their intellect to trap much larger prey, Vikings would use clever hunting methods to trap larger prey for their family group. Sometimes ancient Vikings even had encounters with wolves which would have been a...

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Viking Totems

Posted by Amber Lee on

Viking Totems

Wolves, dragons, and bears, oh my! Many Vikings of ancient history took on certain totems, especially animals, to help them brave through a challenge or even through the daily struggles of life that they encountered in ancient days. Do you have an animal that you identify with?

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