At 37 meters long, the Roskilde 6 is the biggest Viking ship ever discovered. It is on display at the British Museum in London.
Roskilde 6 —
At 37 meters long, the Roskilde 6 is the biggest Viking ship ever discovered. It is on display at the British Museum in London.
Courtesy Paul Raffery
Dating back to 1025, the historic vessel was found in Denmark's Roskilde Fjord during excavation around the city's Viking Museum.
Discovery —
Dating back to 1025, the historic vessel was found in Denmark's Roskilde Fjord during excavation around the city's Viking Museum.
Courtesy British Museum
The London exhibition features hundreds of ancient artifacts, including these hefty swords found in Russia which date back to around 1000 AD.
Live by the sword —
The London exhibition features hundreds of ancient artifacts, including these hefty swords found in Russia which date back to around 1000 AD.
Ben Stansall/Getty Images/File
"We have this idea in our heads of invincible warriors -- they always won, they always died in battle, they never gave in, they never surrendered. But that wasn't quite the case," says exhibition curator Thomas Williams.
Awesome axe —
"We have this idea in our heads of invincible warriors -- they always won, they always died in battle, they never gave in, they never surrendered. But that wasn't quite the case," says exhibition curator Thomas Williams.
Courtesy British Museum
These delicate chess pieces give an insight into a more thoughtful Viking, rather than the stereotypical image of barbaric warrior.
War games —
These delicate chess pieces give an insight into a more thoughtful Viking, rather than the stereotypical image of barbaric warrior.
Courtesy British Museum
Vikings also enjoyed the finer things in life -- like ostentatious jewelery. These elegant decorative pieces were probably made in Denmark in the late 10th century.
Golden age —
Vikings also enjoyed the finer things in life -- like ostentatious jewelery. These elegant decorative pieces were probably made in Denmark in the late 10th century.
Courtesy British Museum
Were the Vikings really as brutish as we imagine? "It was a very male culture of drinking and gaming," says Williams. "We've got dice, a horn, a bucket used for serving beer, and serving platters -- very much a culture centered around feasting and male bonding."
Myth and legend —
Were the Vikings really as brutish as we imagine? "It was a very male culture of drinking and gaming," says Williams. "We've got dice, a horn, a bucket used for serving beer, and serving platters -- very much a culture centered around feasting and male bonding."
Jeff J MitchellGetty Images/File
"What defines the Viking period is the superiority of naval technology, coupled with this strange desire to explore the world and do sometimes appalling, but sometimes quite amazing things," says Williams.
Martime masters —
"What defines the Viking period is the superiority of naval technology, coupled with this strange desire to explore the world and do sometimes appalling, but sometimes quite amazing things," says Williams.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images/File
Did Roskilde 6 belong to King Cnut the Great? Historians seem to think so. Given the huge size of the vessel, it was likely used as a royal warship.
King Cnut's pride and joy? —
Did Roskilde 6 belong to King Cnut the Great? Historians seem to think so. Given the huge size of the vessel, it was likely used as a royal warship.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images/File