Viking Helmet: An Overview of its History, Uses, and Significance

Europe has had a long history of invasion, but one of its most feared is the Viking raid. These people sailed from modern day Denmark and Sweden in the 9th century, terrorizing the English, French, Irish and Spanish coasts. The Vikings were skilled sailors- Canute was reportedly able to make his throne float on water; they founded Dublin; they discovered Vinland (modern-day Newfoundland); and they had many laws for social behaviour. They also explored America 500 years before Columbus did.

Historical Background Of Vikings

When you hear the word "Viking," what images do you see? If you're picturing a man with a horned viking helmet and a Scandinavian accent, who is usually carrying an axe or some cosplay swords, then you're not too far off. The Vikings were known as fearless warriors from Scandinavia who traveled around Europe from the late 800s to 1100s. They are often credited for bringing civilizing knowledge to many areas where they settled. Yet at the same time, they acquired these skills through violent plundering of farms and peoples in other regions like Britain and Ireland.

The word "Viking" comes from the Old Norse "vik," which means "bay." The Vikings often used natural harbours to their advantage in battle. Their knowledge of sea navigation was fairly good; the Vikings were still using the sun and stars to navigate their boats when Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

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Introducing Viking Helmet

Viking Helmet was a piece of armor used by Vikings during their raids in Europe from the 8th to 11th centuries. It was also known as a kettle hat or as a spangenhelm. These helmets were made from iron and were very light due to their light construction. Its name came from the round shape of its top which resembled the shape of a kettle. Viking helmets were originally designed for military purposes but these days they are mostly used for stage performances and even Halloween costumes.

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A viking's helmet was intended to protect the wearer's face, neck and jaw. The visor (often known as corselet) was made from thick leather and often contained small holes for ventilation. A metal nose guard contained an eye slit. While these helmets weren’t exactly light, they weren't meant to make the wearer feel as though he were encased in a steel box either. The Vikings wore these helmets as a symbol of status or as a practical measure against head injuries- since they typically wore plate medieval armor over their heads as well.

Who Wore A Viking Helmet?

Viking helmets (spangenhelm) which had more than one piece of metal on it were worn by all members of the vikings army who needed protection on their head and face like the chieftains, ax men, archers, standard bearers and such. The helmets were very important to the battle strategies of the vikings since they usually wore them because of their protective qualities even when not fighting.

Normally, when a group of scribes wear their helmets, they wear them in different ways. For example, if it is in battle, they can wear them with the bar in the back pointing back. However, if the occasion is for celebration or enjoyment then they can wear it with the wings pointing down or forwards. During this activity, two common patterns are noticed. One is that the riders will push up their chin to rest on top of their helms. The other pattern noticed was when the helm was lowered by slightly grabbing it by its bands and letting it rest on top of his head.

A Brief History Of Viking Helmets

Some Vikings wore helmets made from leather and metal. The two main types of Viking helmets were the Spangenhelm and the Kettle Hat. A Spangenhelm has a metal framework that is attached to a band of leather that goes around the head and then fastened to the lower rim of the helmet to provide protection for your forehead, back, and sides. The Kettle Hat also had a metal framework but it was not attached to any wings. These types of helmets were worn mostly by well-off warriors who could afford them or those who could make them themselves from their spoils from battles with enemies.

The Spangenhelm
A Spangenhelm is a type of Viking helmet that is constructed from metal plates or bands, which are hinged on the sides of the head. It was used by Vikings because it offered maximum protection to the head. A spear could be thrust through this helmet easily because the metal plates are not attached to each other using rivets or any other method. However, these types of helmets were mainly worn by well off warriors and those who could make them themselves from their spoils from battles with enemies.

The Kettle Hat
The other type of Viking helmet was the Kettle Hat, known in Scandinavian as kettle hat. This type of helmet was similar to the Spangenhelm in that it had a metal framework attached to a band of leather that goes around the head and then fastened to the lower rim of the helmet to provide protection for your forehead, back, and sides. However, it is possible that this type of helmet could have been worn by warriors who could not afford these types of helmets because these helmets are made up of metal bars which are bent into a circle.

Warriors Were Protected by These Helmets

Viking helmets were designed to protect the wearer from attacks coming from the front, but they did not offer protection on the sides and back of the head. During this time period, many battles were fought in open fields of long grass, so it was uncommon for warriors to be attacked by someone on their side. These helmets were designed to not only protect against frontal assaults but had a metal mesh that extended out and protected their neck and shoulders.

This is where the Anglo-Saxons had an advantage over their Viking invaders. The Anglo-Saxon helmets came in two different styles depending on what time period it was made in. Both of these styles provided full head protection and neck protection for the wearer while also providing a wide field of vision for accurate shooting of a bow and arrows. Both types of helmets were made with a rounded top, a nasal bar, and cheek guards, but the older style did not have a face mask while having ear guards.

Another thing that was different about Anglo-Saxon helmets compared to Viking helmets is the design of the chin strap system. The chin strap for an Anglo-Saxon helmet was made of multiple pieces of leather that allowed for some give when worn. The chin strap on a Viking helmet was more like a yoke that fit over the head and pulled the helmet down on their head. The Anglo-Saxon helmet had a design that allowed it to stay in place better than the Viking helmets.

Helmets Were Used By Vikings For A Long Time

It is very hard to estimate how long Vikings had been using their helmets. But it is estimated that Viking helmets were first used around 800-1000 AD (recent archaeological evidence proves that these helmets can be dated back to at least 865AD). The oldest helmet found was discovered in Sweden and dated back to 975 AD. This gave us an approximate date on when the first Viking helmet was used. The helmet was found with other equipment which dates it back to at least 1818 AD.

The Inspiration Behind The Viking Helmet!

In the past, there were many civilizations that made helmets. The main reason for this was that they wanted to protect their head from any kind of danger. Among these civilizations were the Romans, Persians and Greeks. These helmets were usually constructed from iron which was a very difficult metal to work with but one of the most effective ones in protecting a person from a blow to the head or face. The viking helmet was based on these helmets and had many similarities with them, especially in its construction.