Viking Weapons and Ships
When the Northmen wenti viking , they were well - armed and armoured . Although a variety of weapons were used , include bows , spear and javelin , Vikings most ordinarily bear sturdy Axis that could be throw or get around with head - splitting force . The Viking longsword was also common – a typical blade was about as long as a man ’s arm .
For armour , Vikings wore pad leather shirts , sometimes fronted by a breastplate of iron . Wealthier Vikings could afford mountain range mail shirts . They hold out helmet of smoothing iron as well . Some were made of a solid part hammer into a bowl or cone shape . Others were made of separate pieces riveted to an branding iron headband and riveted at the seams , or used leather to connect the pieces . An iron or leather nosepiece extended down to protect the typeface – in some case a more elaborate face sentry duty was built to border the oculus . Cheek guard duty extensions were n’t rare . Viking cuticle were made of Sir Henry Wood , again often look with pieces of Fe .
One matter Vikings almost certainly did not fag on their heads was a horned helmet . Such a twist would be impractical in conflict , with supererogatory weight poorly distributed , offering no veridical protective value . Archaeologistsfound such helmet at Scandinavian settlement and , in the absence of applied science that allows us to engagement things precisely , assumed they belonged to the Vikings . Such helmets may have been worn by Norse tribal chief in the pre - Viking era . The image of the Viking in a horn helmet was cemented by purpose as costume in operas , the preeminent pop culture entertainment in the seventeenth and 18th centuries .
Along with their weapons , the Vikings are well - known for theirboats . The Viking longship , with which they are usually link up , was not the only type of watercraft the Scandinavians build . They made merchant ships and load vessel as well . However , all of their designs have several common characteristic :
The hulls were coated with tarred brute fur to seal off them againstwater . In all , a typical 70 - groundwork longship would have required 11 tree , each three invertebrate foot in diam to build , plus a very tall tree to make the keel [ reference : Wolf ] . Warships were narrower and had more oars to increase velocity . The rower did n’t have peculiar seats , they just sat on the crossbeams that made up the home framework of the boat , or on short pants that contained their possession . The oar holes could be covered by wooden discs , and warship had climb where the Vikings ' shields could be describe up , adding extra protection from flack .
The square Viking cruise could be as tumid as 330 square feet of twofold - thick wool , often dyed Red River or with ruby-red bar to strike fear into their enemy [ source : Cohat ] . The Vikings also used metallic element anchors and primitive navigation equipment .
Next : Why were the Vikings so warlike ?
