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Post by kemp on Mar 10, 2018 20:30:47 GMT -5
Iceland was settled by the Norwegian Vikings who brought their Scottish and Irish thralls ( slaves ) with them in the 870’s. Most of the modern population of Iceland reflects ancestry from the Norse and Gaels. Prior to this time Iceland experienced small scale exploration by various Vikings such as the Swedish Viking explorer Garðar Svavarsson, but Viking settlers were few and far between prior to 874. Gaelic monks may have been amongst the first people ( in recorded history ) to have lived in Iceland, about a century before the Viking expeditions, although they had abandoned the settlements by the 880’s. Viking sword monument in Keflavik Iceland
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Post by kemp on Mar 10, 2018 20:32:08 GMT -5
Viking wood sculpture in Iceland
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Post by kemp on Mar 10, 2018 20:54:40 GMT -5
I had read this National Geographic article that claimed many Icelanders still believed in elves or Huldufolk ( hiiden folk ). 'More Than Half of This Country Believes in Elves’ www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/iceland/believes-elves-exist-mythology/Even though it may be exaggeration to suggest so many Icelanders believe in their existence, these Huldufolk or hidden people are part of Iceland’s folklore and may have had an origin in the Norse alfar ( elves ) folktales brought over by the Viking settlers, also the stories of the Irish and Scottish they brought with them. The topography of the region certainly has an otherworldly look to it, dotted with still active volcanoes and close to the Arctic circle with tundra conditions it is easy to see it as the land of ice and fire ( Ginnungagap ), where ice and fire met.
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Post by kemp on Apr 2, 2018 17:07:58 GMT -5
I recently went to the Vikings exhibition at Melbourne Museum, which was touted as the largest assembled collection of its kind. A little pricey, but plenty of artifacts from the Swedish History Museum, including pendants, tools, weapons and utensils. Whatever else someone might think of these Scandinavian seafarers who set out to trade and/or raid other peoples over a thousand years ago, they certainly came from culture skilled in various crafts, including metal work and ship building. Very fine silver work on this Thor’s hammer pendant from Viking age Sweden.
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Apr 16, 2018 12:03:11 GMT -5
Viking sword monument in Keflavik Iceland The Viking 5-lobed pommels are my favorite. They make for some wicked (and beautiful) swords.
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Apr 16, 2018 12:07:04 GMT -5
Viking wood sculpture in Iceland This one looks like a close-up of a play thing a Viking maiden might keep at her beside from the Dragon's Den Adult toy store, Kemp!
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Apr 16, 2018 12:08:38 GMT -5
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Post by deuce on Apr 16, 2018 12:55:25 GMT -5
That's pretty damned cool. Thanks Chris!
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Apr 16, 2018 13:29:50 GMT -5
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Post by kemp on Apr 16, 2018 20:02:39 GMT -5
Viking wood sculpture in Iceland This one looks like a close-up of a play thing a Viking maiden might keep at her beside from the Dragon's Den Adult toy store, Kemp! I know what you mean. I was reminded of Viking chess pieces. Replica Isle of Lewis chess set.
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Post by Char-Vell on Apr 17, 2018 17:49:25 GMT -5
This one looks like a close-up of a play thing a Viking maiden might keep at her beside from the Dragon's Den Adult toy store, Kemp! I know what you mean. I was reminded of Viking chess pieces. Replica Isle of Lewis chess set. Which Norse God was in charge of faux-phalli?
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Post by kemp on Apr 18, 2018 9:30:44 GMT -5
Reading the article I was interested to find out if the Vikings had a settlement on the island of Ruegen ( now a part of Germany ), but it seems that they had semi permanent centers which they used to trade with the local Slavic Rani, descendants of Wendish people that migrated to the region and who assimilated an earlier tribe ( the Germanic Rugii ).
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Post by kemp on Apr 19, 2018 8:59:31 GMT -5
I know what you mean. I was reminded of Viking chess pieces. Replica Isle of Lewis chess set. Which Norse God was in charge of faux-phalli? If I had to pick one it would be Loki going by some of his 'deeds'
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Post by deuce on May 19, 2018 12:12:58 GMT -5
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Post by deuce on May 23, 2018 23:58:51 GMT -5
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