How Authentic Objects Shape the Look and Feel of Viking Drama
Television shows like Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla have helped bring Norse history to a wider audience. But the visual language of these series owes much to real archaeological finds. While there are plenty of dramatic liberties, the production designers and historical advisors often drew heavily from actual Viking artefacts. Helmets, weapons, ships, jewellery, and everyday tools all had real-world counterparts that inspired what viewers saw on screen.
Viking Helmets: Beyond the Horned Myth
Despite popular misconceptions, no historical Viking helmet with horns has ever been found. The most important real-life example is the Gjermundbu helmet, discovered in a burial mound in Norway in 1943. It dates to the 10th century and features a rounded iron cap with a spectacle guard for the eyes and nose.
The helmet styles seen in Vikings are partly based on this example, though often stylised or mixed with elements from other periods. In the show, helmets are sometimes shown with decorative flair, but the basic dome shape and nasal guard can be traced back to the Gjermundbu find.
Viking Swords: Real Blades with Mythic Weight
Many swords featured in the show take inspiration from Petersen Type H and Type S Viking swords, commonly found across Scandinavia and the British Isles. The most prized of these were the Ulfberht swords, high-carbon steel blades inscribed with the +ULFBERHT+ signature, indicating exceptional craftsmanship and possible Frankish origin.
These swords were prestige items, and the series does well to show them as status symbols. In Vikings, characters like Ragnar and Bjorn wield richly decorated blades, which mirror surviving artefacts with pattern-welding, silver inlays, and ornate hilts.
Viking Axes: Tools of War and Honour
The Danish axe, a long-hafted, wide-bladed weapon, features prominently in both seasons of Vikings. Real Danish axes were used from the late 10th century and became symbols of elite warriors. These axes were not just brutal weapons but were also finely made and sometimes adorned with carvings or silverwork.
The portrayal of warriors like King Harald using large bearded axes is consistent with finds from places like Gotland and Dublin.
Shields: Colours, Patterns, and Practicality
Viking shields were typically round, wooden, and reinforced with a metal boss. They were painted, often in striking patterns or solid colours. Surviving shields are rare, but several fragments and depictions survive, including those from the Gokstad ship burial.
The series includes colourfully painted shields, arranged in ship formations, and even the dramatic shield wall tactic, which has historical basis. The dimensions and grip styles are largely consistent with surviving evidence.
Jewellery and Brooches: Identity and Status
The show’s use of oval brooches, Thor’s hammer pendants, and intricate arm rings reflects a range of archaeological finds from graves in Norway, Sweden, and beyond. These items weren’t just decorative—they indicated gender, rank, and cultural identity.
In Vikings, Lagertha’s brooches and rings draw directly from real examples, such as those found in the Oseberg burial. The attention to detail in these costumes adds a layer of authenticity often overlooked.
Ships: Real Designs Brought to Life
The Oseberg and Gokstad ships, both found in Norway, serve as the primary models for Viking ships in the show. Their clinker-built hulls, broad sails, and shallow drafts made them ideal for raiding and river travel.
The show’s longships are often very close in form, although sometimes scaled down for practical filming reasons. The visual design matches well with the sleek, fast vessels that struck fear across Europe.
Domestic Tools and Everyday Life
Finds from sites like Birka and Kaupang have revealed combs, pots, looms, and even board games like Hnefatafl. The inclusion of such objects in the background of many scenes helps ground the world of the show in a believable past.
Cooking pits, woven fabrics, and carved woodwork seen in the show often reflect real finds from Scandinavian settlements.
The Limits of Authenticity
While the creators have drawn inspiration from real artefacts, they’ve also taken liberties. Some costumes use modern materials like leather far more than the Vikings did. Hairstyles, tattoos, and some jewellery are exaggerated for effect. Armour is sometimes based more on fantasy than archaeology, particularly in early seasons.
Even so, many objects on screen were directly influenced by museum pieces, lending a degree of authenticity that strengthens the overall immersion.
Where to See the Real Artefacts
Several museums across Scandinavia and Europe house the original items that inspired the series:
- Viking Ship Museum, Oslo: Gokstad and Oseberg ships, along with helmets, tools, and textiles
- National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen: Swords, jewellery, and brooches
- Swedish History Museum, Stockholm: Birka grave goods, arm rings, clothing accessories
- British Museum, London: Viking artefacts from the Danelaw and Irish Sea regions
- Kaupang and Lofotr Museums, Norway: Domestic artefacts, tools, and trade goods
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla rely heavily on historical artefacts to bring their world to life. While creative liberties are taken, the production teams consistently draw on real Viking objects to ground their vision. For viewers and historians alike, these artefacts provide a bridge between dramatic fiction and historical reality.
