The popular and not inaccurate view of the Vikings is of thuggish invaders and ferocious fighters. Whilst it’s always acknowledged that they were also masters of navigation and sea-faring and were great traders, not much attention is paid to their culture and how some of it influenced later church art in Britain. Their religious beliefs worked seamlessly with their legends so sometimes the two are hard to separate. Sagas tell of heroic deeds by both man and monster, whilst others unintentionally show the nuts and bolts of Scandinavian society.
Gallery
Viking Art & Legend - Picture stone. Valhalla. Odin. Sleipnir. Ship s.ix - s.x Gotland
