THE VIKING SORCERESS
- New Viking experience
In the National Museum's spectacular exhibition, staged by Kasper Holten, you'll meet the Viking Sorceress, a powerful fortune teller.
You'll enter the mysterious world of the Vikings and delve into their complex relationship with both the present and the future.
You explore their thoughts on chaos and destiny - and through that, your own.
Perhaps the Viking Sorceresses prophecy of the end of the world can teach you something important about your own life and our time?
The exhibition is on display until 2027.
The Viking sorceress's wisdom guides you on a thought-provoking journey to the present
-
The wisdom of the Vikign sorceress guides you on a thought-provoking journey to the present -
Does this woman have supernatural powers?
The Vikings were convinced of that. Introducing - The Viking sorceress!
-
She was a seer of the past and future, a key figure in Viking society.
A "Völva" (Viking sorceress) means staff bearer, and the title reveals that the staff was her faithful companion. But it was her ability to "sejd" (or seidr), a form of magic that could involve an out-of-body trance, that truly made her unique.
At the National Museum we dive into the magical world of Viking sorceress - look forward to it!
Imagine that the spirit of the Viking Sorceress could travel freely and gain knowledge about the past, present and future.
The Viking Sorceress was not only a fortune teller; she was also a key figure in mythology.
While many associate the Viking Age with the raids, it was the Viking sorceresses who possessed powers so strong that even the king of the gods Odin sought their help.
Enter the spiritual world of the Vikings at the National Museum of Denmark and let the Viking sorceresses guide you through a journey into the unknown. Buy your ticket now and experience a spectacular exhibition that brings the past to life.
The mystery of the royal Viking Sorceress from Fyrkat
Archaeologists have discovered a unique female grave at the Ring Fortress of Fyrkat near Hobro.
-
Among some 30 graves, this one stands out in several ways and gives the impression of an exceptional Viking Age sorceress.
In the grave rest the remains of a woman - believed to be a Viking sorceress - buried with a remarkable collection of objects that scientists believe had ritual significance:
A bronze bowl from far away lands.
Bones from birds and mammals.
A leather bag containing the hallucinatory and poisonous bulbwort.
All this is accompanied by several metal staffs and a container that we assume is for ointment (seen in the picture).
It certainly wasn't a standard Viking burial. Perhaps the bulbous herb could put the Fyrkat Viking Sorceress into a trance, and the staff was possibly some kind of status symbol.
National Museum researchers believe the woman was a Viking sorceress from none other than King Harald Bluetooth's entourage, as she is buried at one of his ring forts.
Get up close to the "royal" Viking Viking Sorceress from Fyrkat.
Is this a magic wand, a spit, a whip or a status symbol?
The researchers at the National Museum have no doubt of what it could be.
-
Archaeological finds shed new light on the mysteries of the Viking Age. One of the most astonishing discoveries has been made at the Fyrkat Ring Fortress near Hobro.
In this spectacular female tomb, archaeologists have uncovered an object that scientists have long believed to be a spit. However, the story is far more magical. Gradually, the interpretation has changed and now we think it might be a staff of a Viking sorceress also known as Völva Staff! Viking sorceresses were in contact with the otherworldly, so we might be tempted to call the staff some kind og a magical wand. However, it's more likely that the staff was a status symbol - a symbolic sign of dignity.
Explore the past at the National Museum of Denmark, and be seduced by the mystery of the Viking Sorceress and get close to the magical staff.
The woman with the white whiskers
We imagine the Viking Sorceress as a silent and elegant woman with painted whiskers.
-
We have reason to believe that the Viking sorceresses painted themselves with a special kind of white finger paint - also called lead white. And we have reason to believe that the feline was her follower - a kind of totem animal.
White lead is also known as a type of makeup used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
We have also found a small container containing white lead in the famous burial at Fyrkat.
Finally, we found small female figurines with distinct lines on their cheeks that look like whiskers.
It all fits well with our knowledge of the goddess Freya, who was the ultimate Viking sorceress. She had felines as her totem.
See the viking sorceress figures with lines on their cheeks and hear the Viking Sorceress speak to you in the exhibition.
Teaching (only in Danish)
Want to read more about our teaching-tour related to the Viking Age?
Teaching 'Viking Sorceress' is designed for kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, youth education and language schools. The individual courses indicate the grade level for which we recommend teaching (only in Danish).
Thanks to
The exhibition is supported by A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation for 'Almene Formaal' and Augustinus Foundation.
