The Vikings were a formidable force that sprang out of northern Europe and expanded through sheer aggressive force. They dominated most of modern-day Europe and beyond during the Middle Ages. Mead and beer were their alcoholic beverages of choice, but what did the Vikings drink out of?
Vikings often drank out of cattle horns that were fashioned for holding their favorite drinks such as mead and beer. They often drank from the horns in short amount of time because the base—that is, the tip of the horn—was pointed, not flat. Drink ware in Viking households could have also been from wood or clay. Not only are people interested in the major events, like raids, and in famous warriors, like Ragnar Lodbrok , but a lot of people want to know about the day-to-day life of average Vikings, including household items, like drink ware.
The Vikings were known for raiding, but they had a playful side, too. Drinking horns as well as wooden and clay cups had some variety based on their source and how they were made. A lot of people wonder what the Vikings looked like. See Did the Vikings Paint their Faces? Some families and clans may have reserved their use for special life and community events. In fact, they were held with such high regard that families would pass them down from one generation to another.
Drinking horns varied from basic animal horns from their cattle to more primitive cones that were made by rolling birch bark fashioned into the shape of a horn. Drinking horns made of glass were also highly valued and some were imported through trade from other European countries. Perched at the apex was the prestigious imported glass horn. Some drinking horns were routinely used as normal drinking vessels, yet others were used only during important ceremonies such as weddings, festivities, and religious rituals.
The Vikings were incredible seafarers. Scandinavia is surrounded by water and rivers and lakes are numerous inland. However, alcoholic beverages were the favorite drink of most Vikings. Categories: Culture , History , Vikings. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email.
Photo: Ribe Viking Center It is probably no surprise, but the Vikings drank from drinking horns — both water, milk and mead. Article continues Reconstructed Iron Age c. This object hides many secrets. Photo: Per E. For the living, drinking horns were just cups, but as the traditions of the Norse people grew more vivid, possibly due to their interactions with the Greeks and Iron Celts, or possibly due to their isolation, the mysticism around mead and the horns that held it grew stronger as well.
Along with their other trade skills and traditions, families would pass down drinking horns from one generation to the next. Each generation would sometimes add their own decorations and carvings as the horns were passed on, further enriching the mystique and value of the horn itself. But while this was the tradition for the living, for the dead the drinking horn was altogether different. We said before that drinking horns were not used in the symbolic burial of great warriors, and that is true.
As a historical fact, most of the ancient drinking horns that have been unearthed from Norse burials were actually found in the clutches of women, not men. Back to the topic though. Drinking horns are always associated with those tall, long haired, well-muscled Vikings we see in Hollywood, and possibly for good reason, though it had nothing to do with them being buried with a horn, like the warriors of the Scythians.
More to the point, it was because they were resurrected with one! As time passed, as it does with all things, the connection shared between drinking horns and the afterlife became stronger and stronger, and as legends were passed down from generation to generation and as each warrior sought to earn their own drinking horn as a reward from the Valkyrie , drinking horns became just as popular with the gods as they once were at the dinner table.
From the end of the 7th century to the beginning for the 12th century AD, the Norse used their skills in navigation to travel all over the world, from Scandinavia, central Asia, and yes, even as far west as North America. As time passed, as it does with all things, the connection shared between drinking horns and the afterlife became stronger and stronger, and as legends were passed down from generation to generation and as each warrior sought to earn their own drinking horn as a reward from the Valkyrie, drinking horns became just as popular with the gods as they once were at the dinner table.
We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Search 0 Cart. Ale Horns. Armory Axes Knives Swords. New Release! Kuksa Cup NEW. This cup of fun was so associated with revelry that slain warriors were offered a Viking drink horn when arriving at Valhalla. Since we craft authentic mead, true to its lineage and history, we also pay homage to the Viking drinking horn.
Ready to join the eternal party and sip mead like a real Viking? There is actually a large amount of norse pagans in Missoula. Hey, so you decided to leave a comment! That's great. Just fill in the required fields and hit submit.
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