Vendelhelm Valsgärde 8, 2 mm (battle-ready)

Product description

This magnificent, richly detailed helmet from the Vendel period is a reproduction of an original find from the ship burial of Valsgärde (grave 8), a farm located on the banks of the Fyris River (Fyrisån) near Gamla Uppsala, Sweden. The grave is dated to approximately 625–650 AD, and the warrior's helmet was placed at his feet. The original is preserved in the Gustavianum, the museum of Uppsala University. This replica is made from 2 mm thick steel and equipped with a mail aventail, consisting of flat, riveted rings with an internal diameter of 8 mm.

The plates are crafted from thinner steel (pressblech foils) and attached to the helmet with brass bands/strips. The crest and eyebrows are also made of brass. The intricate patterns are accurate reproductions of the original motifs. The early medieval spectacle helmet comes with an adjustable leather lining and a chin strap. This helmet is designed as a collector's or decorative piece and is therefore not suitable for combat reenactment.

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

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 practices seidr (magic). The god is known as the god of war and death, but his deeper meaning lies in guarding the cosmic order. According to mythology, Odin/Wodan is the first of kings and master of the Einherjar, the heroic fallen warriors of Valhalla with whom he rides to defeat Ragnarok (total chaos). Objects depicted with 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 mankind. With the spread of humanity, dragon mythology also migrated across the world. Among many Indo-European peoples, dragons play a prominent role in their mythologies. In Germanic and later Viking mythology, dragons are seen as all-destroying monsters. At the same time, they symbolize the malevolent beast that must be defeated by a hero. These two archetypes – the destroyer and the hero's opponent – 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 war bands, the úlfhéðnar and berserkers. In the season of the dead (between late October and Yule) he leads the Wild Hunt to restore 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 appear in depictions of horned spear dancers, but there is another aspect that connects him to this symbolism. From the Migration period onward, the horns of the spear dancer always end 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 it. The ritual was 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.