Sutton Hoo helmet, 1.3 mm

Product description

The original helmet was found in 1939 near the English town of Woodbridge during archaeological research into the Saxon ship burial of Sutton Hoo. Today it is part of the collection of the British Museum in London. The helmet has similarities with 7th century helmets found in Vendel (Sweden). This helmet is equipped with late-Roman neck and cheek plates, and the engravings on the helmet and the grave in which it was found suggest that it must have belonged to a Saxon king or chieftain.

This helmet was made in the Germanic animal style type II/B

This helmet is a faithful replica of the original, it is decorated like the original with iron plaques inlaid with Saxon button motifs, warriors, riders and possibly a religious ritual depicted on them. The plaques are attached to each other with brass strips. Like the Vendel helmet, the Sutton Hoo helmet has a ridge running down the middle, which terminates in a horse motif finished with red enamel.

This helmet is fitted with a leather inlay for extra comfort and is made of 1.3 mm steel. The helmet is battle-ready and is suitable for a head circumference of maximum 61 cm. It weighs approximately 2.85 kg.

This helmet is a museum replica.

The Viking god Odin and Germanic god Wodan was the god of the aristocracy and warrior class. Odin/Wodan is associated with omniscience, he is the master of Runes and poetry and commands seidr (magic). The god is known as the god of war and death but his deeper meaning lies in maintaining the cosmic order. According to mythology, Odin/Wodan is the first of kings and master over the Einingjarl, the heroic fallen warriors of Walhalla with whom he rides to defeat Ragnarok (total chaos). Objects depicting Odin/Wodan can be linked to the aristocracy and warrior class, the Viking Jarls and Karls and magic.

Dragons were the mythical variant of the serpent and were included in the earliest myths of modern man. With the spread of mankind, dragon mythology also migrated around the world. In many Indo-European peoples, dragons play a prominent role in their mythologies. In Germanic and later Viking mythology, dragons are seen as all-destructive monsters. At the same time, they symbolize the malevolent beast that must be defeated by a hero. These two archetypes – the destroyer and the adversary of the hero – reinforce each other.

In Indo-European cultures, the wolf had a dual meaning. The animal was a dangerous enemy, but was also respected for its cunning, strength and fury. This relationship led to rituals in which the wolf was central. The koryos ritual is an important expression of this wolf cult. From this developed the Germanic Ulfheðnar, warriors who revered Odin (Wodan) and were known as the "wolves of Odin." In Germanic and Old Norse art, wolves symbolized loyalty, protection, aggression and strategic insight.

Odin is the god of the war bands, the úlfhéðnar and berserkers. In the season of the dead (between late October and Yule) he leads the Wild Hunt to restore the cosmic balance. This process ensures that the light returns during Yule (the winter solstice), after which the earth becomes fertile again. Many of Odin's characteristics are reflected in the depictions of horned spear dancers, but there is another aspect that connects him to this symbolism. From the Migration Period onwards, the horns of the spear dancer always terminate in two ravens. Odin is accompanied by two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who tell him everything. The horns, an ancient sign of fertility, may have lost their symbolism and meaning around this time. Although they continued to be depicted and remained characteristic of the Odinic spear dancer ritual, the ravens were added to them. The ritual is probably performed by the priestly class. Among Indo-European peoples, the religious and ruling class were roughly the same, with the king serving as high priest. The ritual can be seen as a shamanistic war dance.