Abstract
THIS ARTICLE CONSIDERS a hitherto overlooked small, bearded figurine made of walrus tusk,found in 1796 in a burial mound at Flygstad in southern Norway, and proceeds to discuss a much-debated group of early-medieval and Viking-Age beard-stroking or beard-pulling figurines. It is argued that the figurines are gaming
pieces, more specifically kings, from the board game hnefatafl. The suggestion is that symbolism of the beard and the gesture of stroking or fondling it is closely linked to masculinity, kingship, and fertility.
pieces, more specifically kings, from the board game hnefatafl. The suggestion is that symbolism of the beard and the gesture of stroking or fondling it is closely linked to masculinity, kingship, and fertility.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Medieval Archaeology |
| Vol/bind | 69 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 169-199 |
| Antal sider | 31 |
| ISSN | 0076-6097 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2025 |