Viking Blacksmiths Forge the Sword Gram, 12th Century
Details carved on a stave-church portal at Hyllestad in Norway dating from the 12th century illustrating the saga of Sigurd Favnesbane (legendary hero of Norse mythology). In the scene at the bottom, the sword Gram is being forged. The smith is holding a piece of iron in his tongs, hammering it out on the anvil while an apprentice tends the bellows. In the upper scene the finished sword is tried on the anvil and breaks. During the Viking age all free Norsemen were required to own and carry weapons, not only for defensive purposes but also to verify a Vikings social status within their clan. With the spear, sword and shield being the basic armaments of a typical Viking warrior, the art of the blacksmith was especially essential
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Anvil Apprentice Artisan Blacksmith Blacksmithing Forge Gram Hammering Heroic Legendary Nordic Norse Portal Saga Sigurd Stave Viking Weaponry
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