Vikings in Ribe – a favourite subject to photograph
Those who follow this blog will probably have noticed a long time ago, that Vikings are one of my favourite subjects to photograph (I am Gudrun from Danhostel Ribe – the hostel in Ribe, Denmark).
Photos of Viking children
Throughout the years I have also photographed Viking children. In this new blog post I will show you some of my less known photos – most of them never published before.
Ribe International Viking Market
I hope these photos will remind you of the big international Viking Market in Ribe. In 2016 it will take place from the 2nd of May to the 8th of May at Ribe VikingeCenter. The market brings 500 Vikings from all over Europe to Ribe in Denmark.
Similar Viking photos
A few of the photos might look like photos you saw before. Maybe you have seen one similar to this one here: Vikings
Viking photos I never stopped liking
Most of these photos I took over the last couple of years, but a few are older. Like this one – it is almost 10 years old. The boy is now an adult, and maybe you’ll meet him as a Viking warrior or a tradesman in Ribe .
Learning Viking’s skills at an early age
During the Viking Age it was common for the children to start helping their parents from a very early age. They had to learn skills as farming, trading and also fighting. In Ribe VikingeCenter you will see Viking children work with real axes and hammers.
This Viking boy works as a smith’s helper and will probably once become a skilled craftsman himself.
Skills of Viking women and girls
Most of a Viking woman’s life was bounded by working at home. She was responsible for the household, and had all the keys to the house in her belt. She was cooking and taking care of the smaller children. If they were farmers, she milked the cows and made the cheese, but she should also be able to run all the farm while her husband was away.
Viking cooking and brewing
Viking girls helped their mothers. They had to learn to cook and brew beer and mead. They would also learn to make cheese from milk.
Handwork of Vikings
Women and girls also spent much of their time spinning, weaving and making clothing. Sewing and repairing old clothes were important too.
Selling Viking jewelry at Ribe Viking Market
At the big international Viking Market in Ribe are many wonderful things for sale – and Viking children are taught to be skilled tradesmen.
Keeping the fire going – a vital knowledge
Viking children and fetched water and collected sticks for firewood, but it was also vital for the older children to learn how to start a fire and keep it going.
A Viking baby
This little Viking baby is lucky. At the Viking Market in Ribe he was cared for and admired. If he had been born in the Viking Age his first challenge would have been to survive. Many children did not survive infancy and childhood.
Viking children – Playing and learning Viking life
Viking children had to learn many skills necessary for survival in the Viking Age – for the boys one of them was to be successful warrior. Also some Viking girls learned to fight.
Boys were taught to use sword, spear, battle-axe and shield at an early age. The youngest boys had toy weapons, but the toys were an important part of learning real-world survival.
In the blog post Our best photos from Ribe Viking Market you can see a photo of Viking Boys playing the the Viking board game Tafl (- or Hnefatafl) and another photo of Viking boys playing by a river bank trying to reach the other side with a rope without getting wet feet.
Also Viking girls played with dolls. This Viking girl is playing with a toy doll made from wool.
Viking instruments
Vikings liked music and had a variety of instruments – castanets were some of them. A wonderful photo of a boy playing a Jew’s harp a can be seen here Our best photos from Ribe Viking Market
Viking raids
When Viking children grew up most of them would be farmers, traders and craftsmen, but some of them would also sometimes join Viking raids and bring back treasures from abroad. This boy is admiring the Ribe cup. This beautiful little silver bowl was part of a silver hoard from the 700s found in Ribe. The cup has a Christian motif and was originally used in church ceremonies. The cup is Frankish and produced in southern Germany or the Alpine region. How it ended in the pagan Ribe is still all in the air. Was it stolen goods of a Viking raid or part of a trade?
Enough – He wants a break!
For small children, Ribe Viking Market can be a little overwhelming – so I’ll stop for a while.
Viking Places in Ribe
- Ribe Viking Museum (Museet Ribes Vikinger). All year
- Ribe Viking Centre (Ribe VikingeCenter). From May to Mid-October
- Ribe Viking Market takes place at Ribe VikingeCenter one week around 1st of May every year
- Book a guide for a Viking Walk at the Viking Museum or walk the hostel’s self guided Viking Walk in Ribe
Hope you have enjoyed my photos. Please like and share with other Viking freaks – but please don’t copy.
Here are links to more of our blog posts with Viking knowledge and Viking photos from Ribe in Denmark:
- Soak up the Ambience and some Viking History at the International Ribe Viking Market in Denmark
- Viking Sacrifice of horse to Norse Gods at Ribe VikingeCenter, Denmark
- The Viking wise woman was the late Middle Ages witch
- When pagan Vikings in Denmark sold slaves at Viking markets in Ribe – and the buyers were Christians
- Ribe Viking Market – a top event in Denmark
- 83 great shots from International Viking Market 2015
- Our best photos from Ribe Viking Market 2014
- Rune stone found in Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark
– And don’t forget to book your room at the hostel in Ribe
© All photos were taken by Gudrun Rishede, Danhostel Ribe