. Social Scandinavia in the Viking age. ship from Gokstad, Nor- ^0 Ibid., 19; Falk, Altnordisches Seewesen, in KulturhistorischesZeitschrift, IV, 71-73. 31 Gudmundsson, Nordhoernes Skibe, 10. 32 Falk, Altnordisches Seewesen, in Kulturhistorisches Zeitychrift, IV,98. 83/bid., 100. 204 SOCIAL SCANDINAVIA IN THE VIKING AGE way, which was discovered towards the close of the lastcentury, was built for fifteen pairs of oars and was aboutsixty-six feet long. The width was a little more thanone fourth as great as the length; and these proportionswere perhaps representative of the average war
. Social Scandinavia in the Viking age. ship from Gokstad, Nor- ^0 Ibid., 19; Falk, Altnordisches Seewesen, in KulturhistorischesZeitschrift, IV, 71-73. 31 Gudmundsson, Nordhoernes Skibe, 10. 32 Falk, Altnordisches Seewesen, in Kulturhistorisches Zeitychrift, IV,98. 83/bid., 100. 204 SOCIAL SCANDINAVIA IN THE VIKING AGE way, which was discovered towards the close of the lastcentury, was built for fifteen pairs of oars and was aboutsixty-six feet long. The width was a little more thanone fourth as great as the length; and these proportionswere perhaps representative of the average war long ships or dragon ships of the latter partof the viking period were probably even more narrowas compared with their breadth. The Scandinavian ship—in the more distinctive senseof the word—was really a large row boat to which a mast had been added. The mast was generallyMast and made from the trunk of a fir or pine tree, and, in the case of the larger vessels, its foot wassunk in a wooden socket fastened to the foundation tim-. Fig. 29. Plans of a Viking Ship. (From Gudmundssons Nordboernes Skibe.) a. Breast-beam. c. Cross beam forming frame b. Rowers bench. work of vessel. ddd. Supports for tent covering. bers in the middle of the ship. This receptacle, which,because its ends were shaped like the tail of a fish, wascalled the mast-fish,—was so constructed that the mast TRANSPORTATION 205 could be lowered without first being raised out of thehole which received the foot (Fig. 29).^^ The mast sup-ported a single, square sail of linen or woolen cloth, heldin place by means of ropes, usually made of skins, par-ticularly walrus hide.^ In some of the war vessels there was at the head ofthe mast a top-castle of small size in which two warriorsstood in time of battle, to secure a different vantagepoint from which to attack the enemy, as well as forlookout purposes.^^ The earliest type of anchor was merely a large stone,grooved or perforated in such a manner that a rope might
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