Why Viking horned helmet?Modern images are often of medieval warriors fierce and desperate fighters with impressive size and fearsome armor axes.But why the Vikings horned helmet?After all, it is no secret that the main purpose of medieval armor, which was an important component and helmet, was to protect their master.
mythologization of the Middle Ages
Medieval armor forged strong enough, but as light as possible, which was an important factor in the battle.However, we are often confronted with the ideas of his contemporaries, and that medieval armor weighed an incredible amount that knight clad in armor, was not able to independently get to his feet or climb on a horse.Of course, all this had nothing to do with reality.Any modern historian reconstructor that era, or just interested in it, it is easy to refute these myths.For example, on average, a full suit of armor in the XV century, when it reached the apogee of its improvements, weighed no more than thirty kilograms.This is comparable to the computation of modern infantry.By the way, most of the weight of modern fighters concentrated in a backpack and puts pressure on the shoulders.Armor also been evenly distributed throughout the body.The same applies to the idea of inherent artistic and sculptural beauty supplements for armor.All this could only stop the fight, and therefore impractical such things could only have a ceremonial purpose, but certainly were not designed for combat.
So what Viking horned helmet?
As the reader probably already realized, here, too, we are dealing with a myth.Absolutely no reason was the Vikings horned helmet.And indeed, in the history of archaeological excavations have never found such artifacts belonging to the Scandinavian warriors.It was found more than a thousand a variety of hats: pointed, blunt, with nanosnikami and visors.However, cattle among them there were none.Several of these helmets that belonged to other people, but no one Norman.They certainly were not fighting, and served some ritual events.After all, the main function of the helmet - effective protection of the head of the warrior from enemy attacks.This goal was pursued for centuries by designers, blacksmiths.The greatest effect can be achieved only with the most smooth surface of the helmet.Sword same, dropping the horn, slide safely, and can rip the helmet from his head, expand it in an uncomfortable position for a host, if not cause it to split.In reality helmets medieval Scandinavians were similar to the famous helmet of St. Wenceslas (second photo), were also presented with a half-mask helmets, modern archaeologists have received the name "gernmundbyu" - the place of discovery (the image on the third photo).
Where did the legend of the horned helmet?
With this element of Scandinavian Defense was an interesting story.Surprisingly, horned viking helmet attributed not later writers, directors, or simply narrow-minded consciousness.These have made them their own contemporaries.It is worth remembering that these soldiers, which cause in X-XII centuries, the fear of the whole of Europe, were pagans.They are regularly destroyed and plundered the coastal communities of the continent.Often subjected to looting Catholic churches and monasteries that were at that time the main strongholds of culture and education.The barbarous and rigid behavior of the Vikings did not have anything particularly new to contemporary Europe.But blasphemous treatment of the Christian holy places made them in the eyes of the clergy not just enemies and literally children of the devil.So why Viking horned helmet depicted in this situation?It is in the spiritual images of the first time they are presented with horns on their heads that became clear allusion to their essence.This way, they soon found and throughout the continent.Therefore, the question of why the Vikings horned helmet, you can answer this: they did not wear such armor, it's just a legend.
