DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

31

WELL COMBED

Combs carved out of bone or antler

have been found all over the Viking world.

These two are from Birka in Sweden. Viking

men and women made sure their hair was well

combed. They also used metal tweezers

to pluck out unwanted hairs, and tiny

metal ear scoops to clean out their ears.

Ant ler, probably from an elk

Iron rivet

DAILY DRESS

Viking women were very particular about

their appearance. This woman is wearing

a long underdress. On top she has a

short overdress, like a smock. This is

held up by two brooches. An Arab

who visited the town of Hedeby

around 950 said that Viking

women wore makeup around

their eyes to increase their

beauty. He also noted that

many men did the same.

Linen headdress tied
under t he chin

Brooch

Child’s tunic

Child’s shoes

Overdress

Long underdress

DRESS

FASTENERS

Oval brooches were only worn

by women. This pair comes from Ågerup in

Denmark. Finding brooches such as this in a grave

shows that the dead person was a woman. While

the dress has usually rotted away, the position of

the brooches on the body—just below the

shoulders—shows how they were worn.

SWEDISH WOMAN

This silver pendant is from

Birka, Sweden. It is in the

shape of a woman in a dress

with a triangular train. She is

carrying a drinking horn, and

may be a Valkyrie (p. 53).

Hair tied in bun

Drinking

horn

Train of dress

ALL DRESSED UP

Like the one above, this

small pendant shows a

well-dressed woman. She is

wearing a shawl over a long,

flowing dress. Her hair is

tied in an elegant, knotted

style. Her beads and a large

brooch are easy to identify.

The importance of pendants

like these is unclear.

They could have had some

magical meaning.

The figures represented

may even be goddesses.

Bead necklace

Overdress decorated

wit h woven bands

Knotted

hairstyle

Large ring

brooch

Shawl

Long under-

dress wit h a

flowing train