The Viking Age (Vol. 1&2). Paul B. Du Chaillu
the objects here were also badly damaged. Only one coin has been found, i.e. a silver denarius of the time of the Empress Faustina Junior (d. 175), with “Pudicitia” on its reverse. The number of single and double-edged swords, many of which are in tolerably good preservation, is 67. The single-edged swords, between 15¾ and 24 inches long, are simply welded, sometimes having ornaments traced on the blade, and several of these were still in their wooden scabbards when found. The double-edged swords vary in size from about 19 or 20 inches, to 35 or 36 inches. On several are factory stamps—a star-shaped sign on one side of the blade near the tongue or hilt point, and a ring-shaped figure on the sides of the hilt points, a mark which looks rather like a scorpion; in one stamp are Latin letters, which are somewhat difficult to decipher. Many are welded or forged from two united blades, while others are made of a single blade and have no factory mark. Fourteen are damascened in different patterns.
VIMOSE FIND.
Fig. 385.—One of four bronze buckles, enamelled in red, green, and blue, the inside borders of black mosaic enamel. ⅔ real size.
Fig. 386.—Sax, or single-edged sword. ¼ real size.
Fig. 387.—Damascened sax. ¼ real size.
Fig. 388.—Bent sax, or single-edged sword. ¼ real size.
Fig. 389.—Single-edged sax or iron sword. ¼ real size.
Fig. 390.
Fig. 391.
Sax, or single-edged swords, one in wooden scabbard. ¼ real size.
In this remarkable find several enamelled objects have been discovered. This art appears to have been unknown to the nations of classical antiquity. There is no word for it in Greek or Latin. Philostratus,162 when describing a wild boar hunt, mentions the beauty and fine colour of the harness of the horses, and, when stating how these colours were produced, mentions that they were made by the barbarians living on the shores of the ocean.
Fig. 392.—Griffon’s head, ornament belonging to helmet of bronze. Real size.
This description may very well refer to the people of the North, the great splendour of whose riding gear and chariots we see from the finds and sagas.
Fig. 393.—Fragments of ring-armour of hammered iron. Real size.
Fig. 394.—Bronze mounting, plated with gold silver, and belonging to ring-armour. Real size.
Fig. 395.—Remains of ring-armour of iron, with traces of gold plating. ½ real size.
Fig. 396.
Fig. 397.
Fig. 398.
Spurs, one of bronze, with iron point; the others of iron.
Fig. 399.—Wheel. 1
20 real size.
Fig. 400.—Man’s head on a piece of bronze covered with a thin gold plate. Real size.
Fig. 401.—Ferrule of silver for hilt plated with gold. Real size.
Fig. 402.—Parts of a wooden plane. ⅓ real size.
Fig. 403.—Shoulder-strap of leather, with bronze button and design of dolphin. About ⅐ real size.
Fig. 404.—Silver ornament plated with gold. Real size.
Fig. 405.—Fragment of wooden shield with gilt-headed nails.
Fig. 406.—Silver-plated bronze ornament.
Fig. 407.—Silver mounting to scabbard. Real size.
Fig. 408.—Silver mounting for scabbard. ½ real size.
Fig. 409.—One of 1,000 spears, inlaid with concentric circles. ⅓ real size.
Fig. 410.—One of 1,000 spears. ⅓ real size.
Over 1,000 spears were found; the handles of most of them were broken off, but five have been preserved complete; these are 8 feet 7⅔ inches long, 9 feet 2 inches long 9 feet long, 11 feet long, and 6½ feet long. The handles are made of ash, and some spears are ornamented with threads of gold, silver or bronze inlaid in concentric circles; sometimes ornaments are traced up the middle of the blade, and originally these also were filled with some kind of metal.
Fig. 411.—Crocodile’s head carved in wood. Real size.
Fig. 412.—Brynja, or coat of mail, 3 feet long.
Fig. 413.—Bone comb with svastica. ½ real size.
Fig. 414.—Fragments of checker-board. ⅙ real size.
VIMOSE FIND.