It’s a horny subject with Jorvic Norse warriors and Ulf wouldn’t be seen dead in a horned helmet which he would be on a battlefield.
All of which and more we learned at the excellent JORVIC Vikings Centre.
On the site of the great excavation site on York’s Coppergate along from our billet at the Holiday Inn, booked out when the Vikings came.
That it was the Victorians mythologising about Norse settlers which was behind all this.
Because precious horns were found in Viking burial sites.
You see going into battle with horned helmets gives your Anglo-Saxon foe the advantage.
Of pulling you down by your horns.
Those berserk Vikings
What Ulf, or Joe to give him his modern name, doesn’t know about York Vikings.
You could put on the back of a rune.
He’ll teach you how to mould a Viking sword and how they were such successful pillagers.
Probably because they were berserk much of the time.
On account of wearing bear shirts into battle, the scratching from which makes you berserker.
And author Sir Walter Scott, who gave us Illustrations.
Of Northern Antiquities and The Pirate of berserk Vikings, says we’re welcome.
Off his trolley
Norseophiles, and OK we made that up, will immerse themselves here in Jorvic.
A beloved tourist spot for Norsemen and their clans.
Through the interactive trolly carts that bring you up close and personal.
With ordinary people around their trades and pastimes.
Some, of course, get into character more than others.
And Beardie Boy ahead of me in the queue for a magnet, ordered an axe.
Although you’ll be reassured to learn that they did ask him his age first.
