The richly decorated hilt and pattern-welded blade indicate that this sword was carried by a warrior of high rank, perhaps a Viking chieftain or a Frankish nobleman. The braided copper wires on the pommel may represent an earlier Scandinavian custom of tying a protective talisman to a sword hilt. The pattern-welded blade was forged of intertwined rods of steel and iron, a technique that produced a tough yet resilient blade with a distinctive swirling pattern on its surface. Such blades were treasured for both their practical and decorative qualities.
Collection: Images
Project: 6. Under a cloak of terror: violence and armed conflict in Europe.
Chronology: X
Scope: Secondary Education, Higher Education
Link: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24832
Resource type: Weappon
Format: Images
Source: The Met Museum
Owner: Porto group (Modernalia)
Identifier: 55.46.1
Copyright: Public Domain
Abstract: Armament
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