Viking artefacts discovered across a vast extent from Russia and Turkey to Greenland and North America bear witness to an artistic legacy that astonishes with its wealth and diversity - and gives the lie to the popular misconception of the Vikings as a seafaring horde of barbarous plunderers.
'Vikings' is a richly illustrated introduction to this extraordinary culture, presenting an art of immense sophistication, whose artefacts range from exquisite gold jewelry to superbly decorated weapons, intricate woodcarvings, and vividly incised and painted runestones.
The book covers themes that have long preoccupied the popular imagination, including:
- The restless spirit of the Vikings and their extraordinary voyages in quest of adventure, booty, conquest, glory - and simply trade
- The mighty gods and goddesses such as Odin, Freyja, Thor and the mischief-making trickster Loki
- The mysteries of the afterlife, including Valhalla, land of dead warriors, and the Underworld domain of the goddess Hel
- The belief in magic, enchantment and transformation; the veneration of heroes
- The cult of warriors, such as the fierce berserkers, elite fighters who believed themselves to be possessed by wolves or bears in battle
- The ceremonies and sacrifices that accompanied the burials of the Viking rulers and aristocracy - women as well as men - in their magnificent longships
These and many other themes are interpreted visually through iconography, pattern, motif and symbolism, as well as in terms of their underlying historical and spiritual significance.
The book provides an elegant showcase for the glories of the Viking world. Superb landscape photography adds an enthralling atmosphere of place when juxtaposed with close-up views of art, artefacts and decorative details. A brilliant addition to any library of art and the imagination, 'Vikings' sets new standards in capturing the achievements of a lost culture through the marriage of word and image.
