. Social Scandinavia in the Viking age. oating of ^ The most characteristic weapon of the ScandinavianNorth was the deadly battle-ax, which was but littleknown in the lands to the south until intro-duced there by the vikings. At an earliertime this ax was probably the chief weapon of the North-ern warrior, but by the Viking Age it was to some extentsupplanted by the sword. The pride of the warrior in his 21 Ihid., 90. 22 Ibid., 91-103. 23 Ibid., 120-123. 258 SOCIAL SCANDINAVIA IN THE VIKING AGE battle-ax, as in his sword, was shown by bestowing uponit an individual name and by the rich
. Social Scandinavia in the Viking age. oating of ^ The most characteristic weapon of the ScandinavianNorth was the deadly battle-ax, which was but littleknown in the lands to the south until intro-duced there by the vikings. At an earliertime this ax was probably the chief weapon of the North-ern warrior, but by the Viking Age it was to some extentsupplanted by the sword. The pride of the warrior in his 21 Ihid., 90. 22 Ibid., 91-103. 23 Ibid., 120-123. 258 SOCIAL SCANDINAVIA IN THE VIKING AGE battle-ax, as in his sword, was shown by bestowing uponit an individual name and by the rich ornamentation ofthe blade, which was occasionally embellished with goldand silver wrought into beautiful patterns (Fig. 35). There were more than a half dozen different styles ofthese weapons, some of which showed foreign influence,but the light hand ax of conventional shape was prob-ably the favorite form. The broad ax, the characterof which was indicated by its name, was also a commontype. Other well-known varieties were the snag ax,. Fig. 35. Danish Battle-Ax with Design in Silver. (From MuUersTor Oldtid.) a halberdlike implement having no hammer extension;the bearded ax, possessing a broad blade with a longbeardlike projection; and the war demon, anotherlance-shaped weapon, with a pike on top.^^ Carefully made instruments for defense in Defensive battle w^ere employed in the North at a very HdmeTs^* early time. Even in the first part of the Iron Age warriors protected their heads by means of metal helmets, decorated upon the crests with ?i*Ibid., 104-120; Origines Islandicae, II, 310. THE CAREER OF THE VIKING 259 figures of animals and supplied with nose-guards andshields for the sides of the face (Fig. 37).-^ But by theearlier part of the Middle Ages such elaborately con-structed head-gear appears to have been rarely worn forpurposes of protection; its function was primarily deco-rative, or to indicate social standing, as in the case ofchieftains. Sometimes such helmets we
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