Viking Longships: Journey and Destiny
As the longships sailed through the misty morning air, the warriors sang an ancient song of conquest and plunder. The Jarl, a scarred, brave and powerful man, scanned the horizon for his next target. Land was near. The raiders were intent on seizing as much treasure as they could carry, and they would not be denied.
The Vikings were a people who lived in Scandinavia during the iron age. They were known for their skills as warriors and sailors, and for their advanced culture. This way of life was heavily tied to their belief in glory in the present and in the next life of Valhalla. Over 1000 years ago, the Vikings navigated the seas with their longships, striking fear in the hearts of all who dared to oppose them. No one was safe. Unerring fierceness, and skill in seafaring, battle and plundering earned them the name víkingr, meaning “pirate”.
Viking longships were advanced technology for their time. They allowed Vikings to travel, explore and change the world. Like me, you may be interested in learning more. If you get the chance to visit in person, it is like stepping back 1000 years and incredibly moving.
Check out the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/ and The Museum of The Viking Age in Oslo https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/
What kind of artist are you? You might be one that needs the stability of a certain environment or set of tools in order to create. Or, you might be someone who is able to gather inspiration from any source and spontaneously produce something powerful. There are endless ways to approach art, and no one way is more correct than the other. Often a journey is a powerful catalyst for art.
There is something to be said for those who venture into unknown territory and take their creativity along for the ride. At WICGAN we undertook our own Viking longship journey and created our latest Collection Viking Longships: Journey and Destiny. So put on your armour, tighten your sword belt, and get aboard with us.