Treasures of the Vikings - Vikings: The Lost Realm - S01 EP6 - History Documentary
Banijay History・32 minutes read
Viking raids targeted valuable items, leading to the creation of hordes filled with treasures like jewelry, gold, and silver, showcasing their global reach and trade networks with distant regions. The Spillings Horde, the largest Viking silver hoard discovered on Gotland, contained over 14,000 coins from the Middle East and Europe, raising questions about the reasons behind burying such vast wealth, with theories ranging from banking practices to spiritual beliefs.
Insights
- Viking art, characterized by themes of plunder, serpents, and rings, often made from various materials, offers a unique visual record despite much of it being lost due to its perishable nature.
- The discovery of the Spillings Horde in Gotland, the largest Viking silver hoard ever found, containing over 14,000 coins from distant regions like the Middle East and Italy, raises questions about the purpose behind burying such wealth, with theories ranging from primitive banking practices to spiritual beliefs tied to the afterlife, adding layers of mystery to Viking culture and practices.
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Recent questions
What are some common themes associated with Viking artifacts?
Viking artifacts are often linked to plunder, treasure, serpents, dragons, amulets, and rings. These items reflect the Vikings' penchant for travel, trading, and theft to amass wealth. The distinct visual record of Viking art showcases their unique craftsmanship and use of various materials to create beautiful and intricate pieces. However, due to the perishable nature of many Viking artifacts, much of their art has not survived to the present day.
What valuable items did Vikings seek during raids?
During their raids, Vikings targeted valuable items such as jewelry, gold, silver, coins, and other artifacts. They often sought treasures like Cuthbert's pectoral cross, showcasing their desire for precious and ornate objects. Early Viking loot primarily consisted of precious metals, which were often recycled to create new forms of art and wealth.
Where can significant Viking hordes be found in Britain?
Significant Viking hordes have been discovered in Britain, with some of them being displayed at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham. These hordes contain diverse pieces made of silver and other materials, ranging from small, portable items to larger hack silver pieces. The artifacts found in these hordes offer insights into Viking trade, economic practices, and the importance of silver as a primary payment method.
What was the largest Viking silver horde ever discovered?
The largest Viking silver horde ever discovered is the Spillings Horde, unearthed in Gotland. This exceptional hoard contained over 14,000 coins, primarily originating from the Middle East, Italy, and Denmark. Weighing 67 kilos, the Spillings Horde showcases the extensive trade network of the Vikings, with Baghdad as a significant minting town sourcing silver from Afghanistan.
Why were Viking hordes buried, and what theories surround their significance?
The burial of Viking hordes, such as the Spillings Horde, remains a mystery, with theories ranging from primitive banking practices to spiritual beliefs like Odin's law. Some suggest that buried possessions would return in the afterlife, leading to the hoards being left untouched for generations. The significance of these hordes lies in their vast wealth and the insights they provide into Viking trade, economic practices, and cultural beliefs.
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Summary
00:00
"Viking Art, Raids, and Treasures Explored"
- Vikings associated with plunder, treasure, serpents, dragons, amulets, and rings.
- Vikings traveled for trading, travel, and theft to come back richer.
- Viking age artifacts reflect a distinct visual record of art.
- Viking artwork is distinctive, beautiful, and made from various materials.
- Most Viking art has not survived due to perishable nature.
- Viking raids began in 793 A.D., targeting valuable items and materials.
- Early Viking loot included precious metals, often recycled for new forms.
- Vikings sought treasures like Cuthbert's pectoral cross during raids.
- Viking treasures included jewelry, gold, silver, coins, and artifacts.
- Viking hordes, containing gold, copper, and art, were found across Western Europe.
18:45
"Viking Silver Hordes: Global Trade and Treasure"
- Lakeside Arts in Nottingham hosts a traveling exhibition featuring significant Viking hordes found in Britain.
- The hordes displayed are diverse, containing small, portable pieces of silver and other materials.
- Viking hordes evolved from random items to more hack silver, emphasizing commodity over form.
- Scandinavia's economic transformation led to the use of silver as a primary payment method.
- Silver was highly valued by Vikings, who traded extensively with regions beyond their borders.
- Tallinn, Estonia, served as a crucial trade gateway for Vikings, connecting them to various regions.
- Viking trade routes extended to the Black Sea, Constantinople, and even China, showcasing their global reach.
- Gotland Island in the Baltic Sea was a hub for Viking trade, with an abundance of silver hordes found annually.
- The largest Viking silver horde, the Spillings Horde, was unearthed in Gotland, showcasing exceptional preservation efforts.
- The Spillings Horde was discovered beneath a former building, indicating a significant storage or warehouse function.
36:41
"Gotland's Viking Hoard: Largest Ever Discovered"
- The Viking horde found on Gotland was exceptional due to the over 14,000 coins it contained, making it the largest Viking period hoard ever discovered, primarily consisting of silver and other metals weighing 67 kilos.
- The coins in the hoard, now displayed in Gotland's museum in Visby, originated mainly from the Middle East, with some from Italy and Denmark, showcasing a distant trade network with Baghdad as a significant minting town sourcing silver from Afghanistan.
- The hoard's significance lies in the mystery of why such vast wealth was buried, with theories ranging from primitive banking practices to spiritual beliefs like Odin's law, suggesting buried possessions would return in the afterlife, leading to the hoards being left untouched for generations.
