Torslunda helmet plates

The Torslunda helmet plates were produced in 1870 as a Scandinavian work of the 6th century on farm no. 5 of Björnhovda at Torslunda on the Swedish island of Oland in a Roese found. The bronze cast plates served as matrices for the production of thin sheets, which u. a. adorned the helmets of Valsgäde and Vendel in Sweden and Sutton Hoo in England. As a contemporary image source, they provide insight into the world of epics, legends and ceremonies at Germanic royal courts.

• Torslunda helmet plates
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  Drawing by O. Montelius 1873

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  Bronze plate 1

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  Bronze plate 2

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  Bronze plate 3

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  Bronze plate 4

The helmet plates show a cultic dance, recognizable by the cult helmet of one dancer and the wolf disguise of the other dancer. "Wolfskins" were close to the berserkers (probably as "bear skins"). The origin of the berserkers, who were characterized by exuberant fighting rage - is probably in the cultic-ecstatic Germanic mask warrior. The term "Odin's warrior" seems to confirm this, since Odin is the god of cultic ecstasy, the signs of which are berserk anger.

The helmet plates were made as belt buckles and supplied with a 35 mm wide, black leather belt. They were purchased by the Swedish government for 16 kroner and are now owned by the State History Museum in Stockholm, where they have inventory no. SHM 4325. The site has the RAÄ number Torslunda 139 1.

See also

• Animal warrior

literature

• Mårten Stenberger : Nordic prehistory. Volume 4: Prehistory of Sweden. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1977, ISBN 3-529-01805-8 .
• Britt-Mari Näsström: Bärsärkarna. Vikingatiden's elite soldiers. Norstedt, Stockholm 2006, ISBN 91-1-301511-7 .

Web links

Commons : Torslunda helmet records  - album with pictures, videos and audio files