Horned helmet - Definition

Helmets with horns are in popular culture often associated with Vikings, while there is no evidence that historical Scandinavians have ever worn such helmets, with the possible exception of one dubious illustration on a tapestry found in the Viking age Oseberg ship burial. The attribution probably arose in 19th century Swedish Romanticism.

European Bronze Age and Iron Age horned helmets have been found, however. They were probably used for religious ceremonial or ritual purposes.

See also: Gundestrup cauldron, Horned God.

External link

British Museum (http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ1477) Iron Age horned helmet, ca. 1st century BC.