Viking Helmet Facts: How Was It Made, Why Does It Have Horns, And More!

The Vikings were superb ship-builders and navigators, and they used these skills to travel as far afield as the eastern coast of North America and the eastern Mediterranean.

The Vikings had a reputation for raiding wherever they landed, and many of their leaders grew wealthy from plunder. Vikings were known to wear helmets all throughout the Viking age.

The materials they used to use and the designs they employed for their headpieces and other clothing items are worth applauding. Get reading to know a few facts on the Vikings as raiders and traders.

During the Viking Age, Vikings wore helmets depending on where they are from. They mainly used a metal helmet during the Viking Age. During the Viking era, Norse warriors used the gjermundbu helmet. A gjermundbu helmet was discovered alongside the burnt remains of two males and many other Viking artifacts near Haugsbygd in southern Norway in 1943.

The gjermundbu helmet, which was found in nine fragments, was later restored. Along with metal helmets, they used to wear helmets to display their Viking characters.

Leather helmets and the horned helmet headgear helped in that case. Viking warriors are associated with horned helmets in popular culture, but there is no evidence that the horned helmet ever existed in the Viking period.

The depiction of a horned helmet as headgear in history is a fallacy that began in the 1870s. A warrior's grave was also adorned to reflect the way the warrior had fallen in battle.

Headgear worn by each warrior protected their head and skull in battle. Having acquainted with the Vikings, learning about their skills, artistry, trade, and much more, let's dive further to know more about Viking helmets. Afterward, be sure to also check out Viking battles facts and Viking runes facts.

The Viking Helmet Design

Viking helmets were not complicated but commonly had a bowl and a nose guard. Historians have a difference of opinion about the structure and design of helmets. Some argue that Vikings wore horned helmets while others deny this. Several pieces of iron joined together with rivets added the bowl to helmets.

An iron band circled the bowl and two other iron bands crossed at the top of helmets and four openings, all filled with iron plates, created the bowl shape. The nose guard rooted to the bowl. However, not all helmets were made of iron.

Hardened leather was also used in place of iron. Though they were cheaper, they offered less protection. The helmets were great works of mastery during that time but there were instances when they could not withstand powerful blows received during warfare.

Viking axes, spear tips, and sword thrusts were sharp enough to penetrate Viking helmets and injure the wearer. Some helmets had markings to distinguish them from others.

As a liner, leather or sheepskin was used as a layer inside the bowl for comfort as well as protection. Some helmets had a leather chinstrap that kept the bowl in place. Towards the neck, chain mail curtains were affixed for protection for the neck while iron plates acted as cheek protectors.

Discoveries Of Norse Helmets

The Norse and Vikings refer to the same Germanic people who inhabited Scandinavia during the Viking Age and whose language was Old Norse. The word 'Norse' refers to Norsemen who were warriors, full-time traders, and farmers.

In 1943, a 10th-century artifact was discovered at the Gjermundbu farm in Norway. It had a rounded iron cap, a guard around the eyes and nose, but no horns.

Around the 1800s, Scandinavian artists popularised the images of horned helmets that Vikings wore. These horned helmets were discovered alongside the burnt remains of two males and other artifacts of the times, near Haugsbygd in southern Norway.

In the 50s, a 10th-century Viking's helmet was discovered in Yarm in Stockton on Tees in Britain. It was the second nearly complete Viking helmet found in the world.

The battered helmet was discovered by workmen who were digging trenches for sewage pipes. Its shape and functional features were then studied only to come to the conclusion that no horns were found affixed.

Around five Viking helmets, which are just fragments now, have been discovered in various parts of Europe.

What We Know About Viking Helmets From The Norse Sagas

The depictions of the Viking Age, from the 8th to 11th century, clearly indicate that the Viking warriors wore bareheaded helmets. Some had iron or leather clads on them.

The discoveries from Europe do not bring up horned helmets and that makes a major chunk of historians believe that the horned helmets of Vikings are only a myth. The Roman and Greek chronicles also had a similar perception of Vikings wearing helmets, adorned with ornaments, horns, or wings.

It is likely that such horned helmets were used by Nordic or Germanic priests for ceremonial purposes. The helmet plaques excavated from Sutton Hoo and Vendel show that the god-like warriors donned horned helmets while they were out of reach for the Viking traders and raiders.

Another reason for the denial of the horned helmets is due to the fact that they would have been more likely to get entangled in a tree branch or a shield which would only put the wearers into trouble!

The Origin Of Viking Helmets

In 793, a group of Vikings raided the monastery of Lindisfarne, in northern England. The attack was the first of many raids along the coasts and up the rivers of Europe.

Houses and churches were plundered, people were taken as slaves and the Vikings demanded money before they would leave. They were great warriors who even mastered weaponry. Each warrior provided his own armor. Some could afford strong mail armor, and others relied on leather tunics.

Most wore pointed iron helmets and carried a round wooden shield. Most Viking warriors fought with swords or axes, although spears and bows were also used. Iron swords were the most important weapons of all.

The Material Of Viking Helmets

Viking helmets weighed between 4.4-8.8 lb (2-4 kg). Iron was in great demand and, therefore, expensive. Not all Viking warriors could afford helmets.

This is evident from the fact that they were repaired and passed down the generations from father to son. The caps made of sheepskin or other absorbent material not only absorbed blows to the head but also soaked up sweat to prevent the iron inside from rusting.

The Viking helmet discovered in Yarm in Britain was made of iron bands and plates, which were riveted together at the top. This helmet had browbands, an eye mask below, and iron mail curtains etched to circular holes.

The helmet was found damaged and was likely pierced with some spade or plow whilst buried. The Gjermundbu helmet had four iron plates and a riveted visor to offer facial protection.

They were meant to protect the back and neck sides of the wearer. Owing to the expense of iron, archaeologists suggest that such headgears found in Norway may have been worn only by the high-ranking warriors.

They were also heavy due to which Vikings also used leather as an alternative material for their helmets. Some were mere skullcaps designed to protect the head from severe wounds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Viking helmet facts then why not take a look at Viking religion facts, or Viking houses facts?