COPENHAGEN – Denmark’s National Museum unveiled Wednesday what it described as the first “portrait” of a Viking: a miniature 10th-century figurine depicting a man with an imperial moustache, braided beard and neatly-groomed hairstyle.
Carved out of ivory walrus tusk, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures just three centimeters.
“If you think of Vikings as savage or wild, this figure is proving the opposite, actually. He is very well-groomed,” curator Peter Pentz told AFP, holding up the piece with white-gloved hands.
“He has a center parting up to the top of his head, and then in the neck his hair is cut,” Pentz said.
He has a side wave that leaves the ear visible, and, in addition to a large moustache and a long, braided goatee, he also has sideburns. AFP
During the Viking era, beautiful hair was a sign of wealth and status, Pentz explained.
“A hair design like his, which is very neat — you can see a little curl or tuft of hair running over the ears — (suggests) this guy is at the top.”
“He could be the king himself, King Harald Bluetooth.”
The artwork, which is believed to be an ancient board game piece representing a king, was originally found in the Oslo fjord in Norway in 1796.
It has been tucked away and forgotten in the archives of Denmark’s National Museum ever since.
When Pentz stumbled upon the figurine in the museum’s large collections a few years ago, he said it felt like the Viking was looking right at him. AFP
