Ivory Vikings

Ivory Vikings PDF Author: Nancy Marie Brown
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1137279370
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Book Description
In the early 1800's, on a Hebridean beach in Scotland, the sea exposed an ancient treasure cache: 93 chessmen carved from walrus ivory. Norse netsuke, each face individual, each full of quirks, the Lewis Chessmen are probably the most famous chess pieces in the world. Harry played Wizard's Chess with them in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Housed at the British Museum, they are among its most visited and beloved objects. Questions abounded: Who carved them? Where? Nancy Marie Brown's Ivory Vikings explores these mysteries by connecting medieval Icelandic sagas with modern archaeology, art history, forensics, and the history of board games. In the process, Ivory Vikings presents a vivid history of the 400 years when the Vikings ruled the North Atlantic, and the sea-road connected countries and islands we think of as far apart and culturally distinct: Norway and Scotland, Ireland and Iceland, and Greenland and North America. The story of the Lewis chessmen explains the economic lure behind the Viking voyages to the west in the 800s and 900s. And finally, it brings from the shadows an extraordinarily talented woman artist of the twelfth century: Margret the Adroit of Iceland.

Valkyrie

Valkyrie PDF Author: Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1350137103
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Book Description
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE Valkyries: the female supernatural beings that choose who dies and who lives on the battlefield. They protect some, but guide spears, arrows and sword blades into the bodies of others. Viking myths about valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war – to make the pain and suffering, the lost limbs and deformities, the piles of lifeless bodies of young men, glorious and worthwhile. Rather than their death being futile, it is their destiny and good fortune, determined by divine beings. The women in these stories take full part in the power struggles and upheavals in their communities, for better or worse. Drawing on the latest historical and archaeological evidence, Valkyrie introduces readers to the dramatic and fascinating texts recorded in medieval Iceland, a culture able to imagine women in all kinds of roles carrying power, not just in this world, but pulling the strings in the other-world, too. In the process, this fascinating book uncovers the reality behind the myths and legends to reveal the dynamic, diverse lives of Viking women.

The Real Valkyrie

The Real Valkyrie PDF Author: Nancy Marie Brown
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250200830
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Book Description
In the tradition of Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, Brown lays to rest the hoary myth that Viking society was ruled by men and celebrates the dramatic lives of female Viking warriors “Once again, Brown brings Viking history to vivid, unexpected life—and in the process, turns what we thought we knew about Norse culture on its head. Superb.” —Scott Weidensaul, author of New York Times bestselling A World on the Wing "Magnificent. It captured me from the very first page." —Pat Shipman, author of The Invaders In 2017, DNA tests revealed to the collective shock of many scholars that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to imagine her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined. Nancy Marie Brown uses science to link the Birka warrior, whom she names Hervor, to Viking trading towns and to their great trade route east to Byzantium and beyond. She imagines her life intersecting with larger-than-life but real women, including Queen Gunnhild Mother-of-Kings, the Viking leader known as The Red Girl, and Queen Olga of Kyiv. Hervor’s short, dramatic life shows that much of what we have taken as truth about women in the Viking Age is based not on data, but on nineteenth-century Victorian biases. Rather than holding the household keys, Viking women in history, law, saga, poetry, and myth carry weapons. These women brag, “As heroes we were widely known—with keen spears we cut blood from bone.” In this compelling narrative Brown brings the world of those valkyries and shield-maids to vivid life.

Song of the Vikings

Song of the Vikings PDF Author: Nancy Marie Brown
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 1137073713
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229

Book Description
Much like Greek and Roman mythology, Norse myths are still with us. Famous storytellers from JRR Tolkien to Neil Gaiman have drawn their inspiration from the long-haired, mead-drinking, marauding and pillaging Vikings. Their creator is a thirteenth-century Icelandic chieftain by the name of Snorri Sturluson. Like Homer, Snorri was a bard, writing down and embellishing the folklore and pagan legends of medieval Scandinavia. Unlike Homer, Snorri was a man of the world—a wily political power player, one of the richest men in Iceland who came close to ruling it, and even closer to betraying it... In Song of the Vikings, award-winning author Nancy Marie Brown brings Snorri Sturluson's story to life in a richly textured narrative that draws on newly available sources.

The Far Traveler

The Far Traveler PDF Author: Nancy Marie Brown
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780156033978
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Book Description
"Brown's enthusiasm is infectious as she re-teaches us our history."--The Boston Globe Five hundred years before Columbus, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed off the edge of the known world. She landed in the New World and lived there for three years, giving birth to a baby before sailing home. Or so the Icelandic sagas say. Even after archaeologists found a Viking longhouse in Newfoundland, no one believed that the details of Gudrid's story were true. Then, in 2001, a team of scientists discovered what may have been this pioneering woman's last house, buried under a hay field in Iceland, just where the sagas suggested it could be. Joining scientists experimenting with cutting-edge technology and the latest archaeological techniques, and tracing Gudrid's steps on land and in the sagas, Nancy Marie Brown reconstructs a life that spanned--and expanded--the bounds of the then-known world. She also sheds new light on the society that gave rise to a woman even more extraordinary than legend has painted her and illuminates the reasons for its collapse. "Brown rightly leaves scholarly work to scholars. Instead, her account presents an enthusiastic appreciation of her education in how fieldwork and literature offer insights into the past."--The Seattle Times "[Brown has] a lovely ear for storytelling."--Los Angeles Times Book Review NANCY MARIE BROWN is the author of A Good Horse Has No Color and Mendel in the Kitchen. She lives in Vermont with her husband, the writer Charles Fergus.

Viking: The Norse Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual

Viking: The Norse Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual PDF Author: John Haywood
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 0500771413
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 264

Book Description
Combines the latest research and discoveries with a humorous eye to take us inside the Viking world So you want to be a Viking? Vikings are the lords of the northern seas. Fame, glory, and wealth await those who brave storms and enemy spears to plunder far and wide in foreign lands. Who wouldn’t like to come home laden with silver, earning a reputation that will live on long after lesser men have been forgotten? This book tells you everything you need to know to become a successful Viking warrior in the tenth century. How to join a Viking war band What to look for in a good Viking leader How to behave at a feast How to choose the right weapons and armor How to plunder a monastery and ransom a monk How to navigate at sea

The Lewis Chessmen Unmasked

The Lewis Chessmen Unmasked PDF Author: David H. Caldwell
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781905267941
Category : Chessmen
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This book was written to accompany a travelling exhibition about new research on the Lewis chessmen. National Museums Scotland and the British Museum partnered in creating the exhibition, The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked.

The Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages

The Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages PDF Author: Anna Maria Elizabeth Cust
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 111

Book Description
In 'The Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages' by Anna Maria Elizabeth Cust, the author delves into the complex relationship between ivory craftsmanship and medieval society. Through meticulous research and vivid descriptions, Cust provides an in-depth examination of the techniques and skillful artistry employed by ivory workers during this period. The book is distinguished by its detailed analysis of the cultural, economic, and religious significance of ivory objects in medieval Europe, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of the Middle Ages. Cust's narrative style is scholarly yet accessible, making this book a valuable resource for scholars and history enthusiasts alike. The meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive examination of the subject matter make 'The Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages' a significant contribution to the study of medieval craftsmanship and material culture. Anna Maria Elizabeth Cust, a renowned historian and expert in medieval art and craftsmanship, brings her expertise to bear in this insightful exploration of ivory workers in the Middle Ages. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources and archaeological evidence, Cust offers a compelling account of the role of ivory in medieval society and its impact on the artistic traditions of the time. Her passion for the subject shines through in the meticulous research and thoughtful analysis that characterize her work. I highly recommend 'The Ivory Workers of the Middle Ages' to anyone interested in medieval history, art history, or the history of craftsmanship. Cust's thorough examination of this fascinating topic provides readers with a newfound appreciation for the skill and creativity of medieval ivory workers, making this book a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of medieval material culture.

The Vikings

The Vikings PDF Author: James Graham-Campbell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Northmen
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Book Description

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