[MR] weapon citations in the sagas was RE: Viking Women...Bow Chikka Bow Bow

[Jim Layne]

In my copy of the Keimskringla, by Snorri Sturlason, there are many
references to spears, swords, and axes.  I haven't counted, but would
suggest the sword occurred more often then the axe, especially when I
exclude the word axe when used in the name "Eric Blood-axe".  Having said
that, my version is an English translation, so not having read the original
written in old norse I could not say with scientific accuracy that the
translation is 100 percent.  

I was using it while doing a study of norse fighting styles, albeit not a
very academic one.  I was interested in the references to combat in the
sagas and the evidence for or against the thrust and the wrap for a 12th
century norseman.  The problem was trying to get an unambiguous sword stroke
style from a passage that reads "struck him a blow to the thigh" or
something similar.  There were some exceptions where one could easily say
the strike was a slashing or stabbing motion, but not many.  

In one passage we read: "Both hewing weapons, sword, and axe, and the thrust
of spears had been used". It seems axes and swords are both grouped as
hewing weapons, suggesting a style of slashes vice thrusts.  There is
however two occasions where the sword is used to stab through a victim in a
thrusting manner. The spear is often described as thrusting when attacking,
so the technique probably became muscle memory for warriors who would
occasionally use it with the sword perhaps. The wrap is a little more
difficult to find. I should get back to it and finish it I suppose. 

Anyway, for my input, at least from the perspective of a writer who lived
from 1179-1241 in Norway there is adequate evidence for the axe, spear, and
sword.  Several times the axe is described as big, huge, broad, or as a
battleaxe so it isn't just a throwing weapon either. If anyone needs an
electronic copy of the sagas I can forward it. I find it better for parsing
and studying.
Cheers,
James ap Llewelyn

http://layne.james.googlepages.com/index.htm



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