Viking ship
The boat-types were quite varied, depending on what the ship was intended for,[1] but they were generally characterized as being slender and flexible boats, with symmetrical ends with true keel.
As a rule, ship lanes in Scandinavia followed coastal waters, hence a majority of vessels were of a lighter design, while a few types, such as the knarr, could navigate the open ocean.
[3] The ship's shallow draft allowed navigation in waters only one meter deep and permitted beach landings, while its light weight enabled it to be carried over portages.
The Hedeby coins, among the earliest known Danish currency, have impressions of ships as emblems, showing the importance of naval vessels in the area.
This is shorter than the Gokstad type of longships, but knarrs are sturdier by design and they depended mostly on sail-power, only putting oars to use as auxiliaries if there was no wind on the open water.
The ship's shallow draft allowed navigation in waters only one meter deep and permitted beach landings, while its light weight enabled it to be carried over portages.
Longships were also double-ended, the symmetrical bow and stern allowing the ship to reverse direction quickly without having to turn around.
Later versions sported a rectangular sail on a single mast which was used to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys.
They were owned by coastal farmers and assembled by the king to form the leidang in times of conflict, in order to have a powerful naval force at his disposal.
Essentially, the Vikings simply used prior familiarity with tides, sailing times, and landmarks in order to route courses.
The carvings on Viking ships are known for their intricate geometric patterns, mythological creatures, and symbolic designs, primarily found on the bow, stern, and other wooden elements.
Common Viking ship carving patterns and themes include animal motifs, geometric designs, mythological scenes, and inscriptions.
Possessing a well-carved ship symbolized a family's wealth and influence, highlighting their place in Viking society.
[19] In some archaeological discoveries, experts found that the hulls of ships were adorned with rich patterns, such as intertwining vines, geometric shapes, or animal totems.
These patterns are filled with symbolic meanings, many of which can be traced back to Viking mythology and belief systems.
The famous Oseberg Ship, for example, has an interlocking animal motif on its bow: a ribbon-animal, gripping-beasts rendered with humanoid heads, and more ambiguous forms that echo the bodies of creatures seen at the prow.
[21] The French historian, the monk at the St. Omér monastery in Flanders, in about 1040 wrote a detailed description of Viking ships, focusing on their elaborate decoration and the fleet's formation.
The ships' sides were painted in vibrant colors and adorned with wood carvings, particularly the king's vessel, which was the most intricately decorated.
This passage serves as valuable evidence of the Vikings' investment in ship artistry as a reflection of power, wealth, and rank.
Nothcotte Toller, however, states: Whether such fiery funerals ever actually took place is impossible to know; but it is much more difficult to imagine that a king's body and accompanying treasures would have been simply pushed out to sea, where they would have been in danger of returning, or of falling into the hands of strangers or even enemies who might maltreat the one and plunder the other.
Ships and bodies of water have held major spiritual importance in the Norse cultures since at least the Nordic Bronze Age.
There are a considerable number of modern reconstructions of Viking Age ships in service around Northern Europe and North America.
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, has been particularly prolific in building accurate reconstructions of archaeological finds in its collection.
