DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

63

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Belief in the old gods did not die
out overnight. This stone mold
from Himmerland in Denmark
shows that craftsmen were happy
to make Thor’s hammers and
Christian crosses at the same time.
Many Christian Vikings kept their
faith in Thor, just in case.

ADAM AND EVE

Scandinavian craftsmen

soon started depicting

scenes from the Bible

as well as dragons and

Viking legends. This

stone carving from Skara

Church in Sweden shows

Adam and Eve being

expelled from Paradise.

Cross

Thor’s

hammer

Cross

Early Scandinavian

cross from Birka in

Uppland, Sweden

Knee-lengt h tunic tied

in place wit h cords

AWAY, DEVILS!

Ringing church bells to

call people to church was

an important sign of

official Christianity. These

bell-ringers are woven on

a 12th-century tapestry

from Skog Church in

Sweden (p. 52). They are

thought to be ringing

the bells to keep the

old gods away.

Only t he hands are

nailed to t he cross

Hair hangs down

in long braids

Collar

BAPTIZED

Baptism in water was a true sign of

conversion to Christianity. People

wore the white baptismal clothes

for a week after the ceremony.

CHRIST THE TRIUMPHANT KING

The most powerful symbol of

Christianity is Christ on the cross.

Even before they converted, Viking

traders often wore crosses so that

they could travel freely through

Christian lands. Scandinavian

artists interpreted the cross in their

own way. This crucifix comes from

Åby in Jutland, Denmark. It is

made of carved oak covered in

sheets of gilded copper. Christ is

shown as a king wearing a crown.

His eyes are wide open, and only

his hands have nail holes. He looks

triumphant, not suffering.

CNUT THE GREAT

Born in Denmark, Cnut

invaded England in

1015–16. By 1028, he

was the king of Denmark,

England, and Norway.

Though he took England by

the sword, he was a Christian

king who built churches to

make up for the bloody raids

of his Viking ancestors.