viking Archives - Soldrøm

Winter Wonderland

06/01/2015

Last time I walked though Adalsborgen it was summer, now I wanted to see what this old Viking Fortress and forest looked like in winter.

Winter is very beautiful, the sun is low on the sky and creates the most beautiful sunsets. Also when the snow has arrived, it’s like diamonds glints that show in the light. So even though I miss summer, I really enjoyed taking a walk in Adalsborgen, and walk in this Winter wonderland.

The Viking Garden

30/09/2014

This summer a new facility opened in The botanical garden in Oslo. It is the viking garden and it’s a part of the 200th anniversary of The Museum of National History.

In the new viking garden you’ll first notice the 33 meter viking “ship” in steel. Without any doubt inspires by the Oseberg ship.

Oseberg Burial Mound

11/09/2014

Not far from where I grew up in Tønsberg, actually right behind my old school you’ll find Oseberg burial mound. Since I lived this close to this amazing place, the viking history and traditions was something I learned about from an early age.

The Oseberg burial mound (in norwegian: Oseberghaugen) contained numerous grave goods and two female human skeletons. One of them is suggested to be Queen Åsa of the Ynling clan, mother of Halfdan the Black and grandmother of Harols Fairhair (Harald Hårfagre).

One of the biggest discoveries is the Oseberg ship.The ship’s interment into its burial mound dates from 834 AD, but parts of the ship date from around 800, and the ship itself is thought to be older. It was excavated in 1904-1905 and is widely celebrated and has been called one of the finest finds to have survived the viking age.

You can see the ship in all it’s glory at The Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy, Oslo.

A Vikingshoot in Adalsborgen

06/08/2014

In a previous post, I talked about the forest and fortress Adalsborgen. I love to dress up, especially in historic costumes. So in the spring I made a new viking dress (the red one, the green is from 2013).

Me and my friend Therese , whom also enjoy to dress as a viking decided to have a photoshoot. A vikingshoot in the old, enchanted woods.

Here are some of the pictures from the shoot:

Nordic Viking Festival

07/07/2014

This weekend (4-6. of July) I was at the Nordic Viking Festival in Borre, Norway. A viking fair like no others I’ve been to in ages. So much to see from dusk till dawn.

Approxamently 700 viking enthusiast from all over the World is gathered in Borre to recreate a bloody, exciting and important part of our history here in Scandinavia.

The viking festival is close to Borre beach and the old viking burial mounds. 150 viking tents with people in all ages dressed as vikings. It was like traveling back in time. Truly magical.

On the marked you could buy anything from jewellery to food (a viking is got to eat, right?). Craftsmanships in all historical genres was represented, so many talented and wonderful people gathered.

Also the replicas of the viking ships from Tønsberg (Gaia Oseberg) and Sandefjord (Gaia) was at the harbour and you could take a short ride on this ships.

Excellent entertainment all the way, and a wonderful way to spend the weekend. I was of course dressed as a viking. Can’t wait till next time.

Prices: A/120,- C/60,- People dressed as vikings/0,-

VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE HERE>>>

Adalsborgen

18/06/2014

The county of Vestfold (south of Oslo) has a long history with vikings. During the viking age (the period from 793 AD to 1066 AD) in Vestfold cities were established and a new civilisation grew strong and stronger.

The viking history isn’t just a brutal one, with raids and Conquest as one usually thinks of. They were also great explorers and traders. West of Borre, there is a forest I’ve grown to know very well, Adalsborgen.

Without any knowledge, it’s hard to get a picture of what this ruins in the woods might have been. It used to be a big fortress, surrounded by smooth mountain walls, that was a natural defence against enemies. They also built a high stone wall (3-4 meters) around the area.

Adalsborgen was an active fortress from the iron age till the late middle ages. After 1503 there are no longer any documents that show any use of the fortress. And now it’s gone.

Utsikten fra Borgåsen

What is left is a beautiful forest with ruins of rocks that whispers of what used to be. It is a magical place I really love it here, it’s quiet and peaceful. Here are some photos I took from a previous hike.

Kaupang

17/06/2014

In Viksfjorden, right outside Larvik, you’ll find Kaupangkilen. Kaupang is considered to be the first town in Norway, and about 800 A.D. the city had approximately 500 inhabitants. Kaupang is also known by the name Skiringssal.

After the year 950 A.D. the city slowly disappeared and during the medieval times there wasn’t a town here anymore. Why it disappeared is unknown but there are several theories to why this happened. One theory is the isostatic uplift, the rise in the level of the land that made the town harbour without sea.

Another theory is that

En annen teori er at siden Kaupang ble etablert under merovingertiden (570-800 e.kr.), altså under dansk styre, forsvant byens status gradvis etter danskene forlot stedet. Da danskene igjen fikk makt i Norge ønsket de å etablere nye handelssteder og Kaupang ble forlat.

Selv om Skiringssal ikke hadde bystatus særlig lenge, har det likevel vært mange bemerkelsesverdige funn her. Smeltedigler, støpeformer, -avfall og modeller. Vevtyngder, spinnehjul, smykker og m.m. Det har også blitt funnet glassperler som stammer fra Midtøsten og Middelhavsområdet.

Frankiske drikkebegere og keramikkkar fra Danmark har også blitt funnet. Noe som kan vitne om den store handelen som tok sted i byen. Det er også mynter fra arabiske områder og ikke minst, romerske bronsemynter. Kaupang ligger ved et flott landeområdet, men hvis man vil dra dit for å utforske sporene etter Skiringssal burde dette gjøres om sommeren.

I løpet av sommeren foregår det ulike aktiviteter og vi ser folk i kostymer som lager mat og viser hvordan vikingene levde. På denne siden vil du se hvilkeaktiviteter som kommer og når. >>> For inngangsbilletten kan man også ta turen innom museet på Kaupang, samt andre museer i Larvik.

Priser: 50 kr,-

Viking festival 2013

17/06/2014

July 6th – 7th 2013, Midgard historical center in cooperation with Borrefylkingen, arranged their first Viking Festival. In the course of the weekend, 3600 vikings and visitors gathered around the Viking Hall, which for the first time was open to the public.

The theme for the festival was the 1200 year anniversary for the Battle of Borre from 813, when Frankish annals tell us that two Danish kings, Harald and Reginfred, traveled to Vestfold to quell an uprising.

Little more is known, so we were terribly excited to finally get to know how the battle ended – did the Norwegians succeed in liberating themselves from the iron grip of the Danes?

The battle was recreated by 90 viking warriors from all over Scandinavia, and was set up both days. Our experimental archeology was a success, and we were happy to see that the Norwegians were victorious at both occasions!

Thus, history was made this day, and we can conclude that the Danes did not succeed in their invasion of Vestfold in 813.

Not only warriors were to be found during the festival. Master craftsmen and traders from near and far had also found their way to Borre to show their skills and sell their wares, and a viking band toured the area to the amusement of the audience. Hoards of magnificent wares were available, in addition of course to delicious viking food, served within the new Mead Hall.

Midgard’s employees were thrilled to finally let the public into the Hall, and were pleased to see happy faces enjoying food and drink, guided tours, as well as the occasional mini-concert by one of the few people proficient with the ancient instruments Bukkehorn (horn from ram or goat) and lur.

The Battle of Borre was an intersting experience, but considering it’s viking history put to action, I would love more violence. That’s a first. 😛

borre-strand_vasse

Tønsberg Medieval Festival

17/06/2014

It seethes with life all year in Tønsberg area. Are you interested in medieval, Viking, whaling history or old archival treasures, we recommend a visit to the Vestfold museums.

Most of all Castle Hill. Every year, early summer they arrange a medieval festival that truly is amazing. Here’s some photos from my stay in 2013.

Viking Ship Museum

17/06/2014

The Viking Ship Museum (Norwegian: Vikingskipshuset på Bygdøy) is located at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway. It is part of the Museum of Cultural History of the University of Oslo, and houses archaeological finds from Tune, Gokstad (Sandefjord), Oseberg (Tønsberg) and the Borre mound cemetery.

In 1913, Swedish professor Gabriel Gustafson proposed a specific building to house Viking Age finds that were discovered at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The Gokstad and Oseberg ships had been stored in temporary shelters at the University of Oslo. An architectural contest was held, and Arnstein Arneberg won.

The hall for the Oseberg ship was built with funding from the Parliament of Norway, and the ship was moved from the University shelters in 1926. The halls for the ships from Gokstad and Tune were completed in 1932. Building of the last hall was delayed, partly due to the Second World War, and this hall was completed in 1957. It houses most of the other finds, mostly from Oseberg.

The Oseberg ship

The Gokstad Ship

The Tune ship