An axe was one of the most important tools for Viking axes Vikings as it was used to carry out daily tasks. It was also a symbol of bravery and strength.
Viking axes were available in different shapes and sizes. These differences allowed them to perform various tasks depending on the type of axe.
Mammen Axe
During the Viking Age, the axe was more than just an ordinary tool. This versatile weapon could be used for chopping, cutting, thrusting, and throwing, and was capable of destroying shields and plane armor with a single blow. The axe was also a symbol of status and power, and therefore was heavily ornamented. The axe depicted here is inspired by an original found in the Mammen barrow in Denmark and excavated in 970–71 CE. This axe features a decorated shaft, which is inlaid with silver wires. The pattern is different on each side and the axe head is carved in the Mammen style, named after that find.
Early Viking axes had straighter blades that were mostly used as tools for woodworking. In the mid-Viking period (9th–10th century), axe blades became gradually wider and curved, and these new types of axes started to be used more often as weapons. The Mammen axe was one of the first to feature this wider blade, which made it more suitable for attacking and cutting.
The axe head on the Mammen axe was often decorated with animal and human figures, and also had pointed “horns” (oxarhyrna) at both ends of the stipule. The horns were kept sharp so that they could be used as defensive weapons against other axes or as offensive weapons against an opponent. These horns were also useful for hooking over other body parts, like the neck (left), to pull away an enemy’s weapon or to disarm him. The Sturlu saga, for example, describes how Thorsteinn hooked one of his opponents in the neck with an axe, while they were running around his shield, to drag him into an open position where he could be stabbed.
The axe was also sometimes used to hook other body parts, such as the legs or the arms, in order to compel a man to move into a direction that he didn’t want to go. This technique was especially important in the case of a spear or sword, as it allowed the warrior to take advantage of his opponent’s momentum and catch him off guard.
Breid-ox Axe
The breid-ox was a viking broad axe that was used in battle. This was a powerful weapon that was also useful for tasks such as chopping wood and building buildings. It had a long shaft and an oblong head that was often ornately decorated. The oblong shape of the axe was designed to allow it to be thrown far and wide, and it could be used to split large pieces of wood or even entire trees. The axe was often adorned with Norse symbols and imagery, and this was done either by acid etching or traditional engraving.
In addition to its use in battle, the breid-ox was also used as a symbol of power and rank in the Viking world. This was particularly true of the viking provost marshal, who was in charge of maintaining order and punishing criminals. The vikings also believed that the axe was associated with Thor, the god of thunder and lightning. This is why the axe was often hung in houses to protect them from lightning strikes and other natural disasters.
Axe heads came in many different shapes and sizes, but they were generally made of flint or other types of stone. Some of them were shaped with spurs, while others had curved or swept back blades. They were typically single edged, but there were also double-edged axe heads. The vikings also used axe heads that were shaped like the eye of a wolf, which was intended to scare and deter enemies.
There were also a number of different types of axe handles. Some had a hole for the handle, while others did not. The axes with holes were generally made of flint, while those without holes were usually made of greenstone or slate. The vikings also used flake axes, which were a type of axe that was forged from a larger flake chipped from the core.
The vikings also used a variety of different types of axe heads, including the bearded axe and the skeggox. The bearded axe had an oblong shape with a sabre-like curve, known as a beard. This asymmetrical design allowed the axe to cut more efficiently, while also reducing the weight of the axe and allowing for better manoeuvrability. The skeggox was a similar design, but it had a cross motif that was a Christian symbol.
War Axe
The Okin is the most devastating axe in all of Skyrim. It’s imbued with a powerful enchantment that adds damage to health and stamina in addition to the base axe damage of 12. This makes it especially deadly for those who favor a more focused approach to combat, as well as those seeking out extra healing during battle.
The axe is a versatile weapon that has served many purposes throughout history, both in war and in everyday life. Even as a simple tool for cutting and splitting wood, it is often used as a symbol of status and power, as well as a sacred object in various religions. The Viking axe was often ornately decorated as such, and was even used as one of St Olaf’s holy attributes. It is also a common sight on parade as the weapon of choice for sappers (military lumberjacks).
Although there were many kinds of axes, the battle axe was one of the most useful for fighting. The axe head was usually slightly curved, which concentrated the force of the blow into a small area of the edge. This increased the power of axe blows and allowed them to penetrate helmets or mail. The curved blade also made it easier to hook an opponent’s ankle, allowing them to be thrown off balance and to the ground. This is a technique that can be seen in the Bayeux tapestry and other historical images of combat.
In general, axes were used two-handed, but the blade was typically held in the right hand. This allowed the combatant to use a backswing with their axe, striking at their opponent from behind. In some cases this was very effective, as exemplified by the tale of Sigurdr in chapter 33 of Hardar Saga og Holmverja.
Axes were a staple of the military during the Viking age, and were even used by royal forces as well as those of the mercenaries and noblemen who made up the bulk of the fighting forces. These axes were often more ornate and decorated than those of the ordinary warrior, and could be used as symbols of rank and status.
Hand Axe
A hand axe is a roughly chipped and shaped stone tool that was designed to be held with one hand. It was used for a range of tasks, including digging up tubers and hunting small game. The axe was also used as a weapon in combat. The axe was commonly used by warriors as a way of defending themselves against mounted cavalry, and it could also be used to break down plate armor. In medieval Europe, the axe became a symbol of power and status among the upper classes.
The earliest known hand axe dates back to the Early Stone Age and is usually referred to as an Acheulean hand ax. These tools are generally smaller than later axes and have a more narrow blade. Some have a rounded or oval profile while others are hewn with a flat edge.
The Acheulean hand ax remained relatively consistent over a 1.5 million year period, even though archaic hominins moved around a great deal. This consistency is unusual and, for most scholars, it implies that the hand axe was a cultural artifact. It was taught from generation to generation and tribe to tribe, and adapted to different environments by different cultural groups.
Other scholars believe that the Acheulean hand ax was partly genetically determined. For example, the flint that comes from chalk cliffs tends to yield hand axes with a very different form than the flint pebbles obtained from river beds.
Still others believe that there are specific “themes” underlying the wide variability of hand axe shapes. They include functional requirements, raw material constraints, similar ecology and the effects of reuse and resharpening.
Aside from the hammer-axe, there were many other axe types used by Vikings, such as the battle axe, which was similar to the breidox axe in its shape and size but was meant for use with one hand and was more heavily forged. Another popular axe was the thin-butted axe, which was characteristic of western Sweden and southern Norway. It was hewn with a fine edge and the butt often shows signs of hammering.
