Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.2019, Page 6

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6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 1 2019
The Vikings Begin will conclude its six-month exhibition at the
National Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington, on April 14
and then open at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, where it will run from May 17 to October 27, 2019.
The Vikings Begin features dozens of early Viking artifacts from
Uppsala University in Sweden and its museum, Gustavianum, which
is home to the world’s largest collection of Viking and pre-Viking
boat grave finds. The artifacts include Viking helmets, swords and
other weapons, jewelry, glass, bowls and more, dating as far back as
the 7th century. The exhibition is divided into thematic sections on
Viking warfare, maritime trade, a ship burial, Norse gods, the Baltic
Sea, and geo-political relationships to other cultures.
Reflecting the cutting-edge research of Neil Price, Charlotte
Hedenstierna-Jonson, and John Ljungkvist, the exhibition tells
the story of the Vikings of early Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark,
and Norway) – a maritime society with a very close and important
relationship to the sea. Uppsala University’s museum, Gustavianum,
created this exhibition of original artifacts, reconstructions, and
archaeological discoveries from early Viking Age society. These
objects tell the story not only of the person buried with them, but
also of the world they inhabited: its social and economic makeup,
its religions, and its culture. The exhibition also sheds new light on
how early Viking society was organized, the role of women in early
Viking society, and the development of Viking maritime innovation
that enabled the Vikings to reach faraway lands in both the East and
the West.
“To understand the story of how the Vikings began, the exhibition
examines their relationship with the outside world, their spiritual
beliefs, the role of warfare, the importance of water and waterways,
and how trade routes influenced their world,” said Dr. Marika Hedin,
director of Gustavianum.
“The exhibition includes magnificent weapons, both for attack and
defense, and also smaller treasures such as jewelry and objects with
magical importance,” said Dr. Hedin. “The finds come from both male
and female graves, as both sexes played important roles in society.
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THE VIKINGS BEGIN
sheds light on early Viking society
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUSTAVIANUM, UPPSALA UNIVERSITY MUSEUM
Viking helmets from the 7th century. Right: this bracelet of amber, glass, and ceramic,
found in a 7th-century grave, was probably imported from abroad.
Display cases from The Vikings Begin exhibition with a tapestry in the background.
A Viking’s sword was both a tool and a work of art.