Överhogdal tapestries
Encyclopedia
The Överhogdal tapestries (Överhogdalstapeten) are a group of extraordinary well preserved textiles dating from the Viking Age
that were discovered in Överhogdal, Sweden
.
by the artist Paul Jonze in 1910, and the County Governor’s wife Ellen Widén, who was a dominant figure within the regional heritage movement at the time, took charge. The first thing she did was to give the dirty linen a good wash in a bath tub in the cellar.
First believed to date from the Middle Ages
, radiocarbon dating
tests conducted in 1991 proved that the tapestries were made between 800 and 1100 AD, the Viking Age
.
The Överhogdal tapestries have been theorized as depicting imagery of both Norse
and Christian
origin. The contents of the pictures are much debated, some characters have a pagan content, featuring the detailed look of Odin
's horse Sleipner
, while other characters are clearly part of Christian imagery. The four surviving sections of the tapestries have 323 figures of people and 146 and 3 partial animals, all generally moving to the left.
The large animal and smaller human figures seem to rush by a tree, which could be the mighty ash Yggdrasil
, a massive tree central to nine worlds
in Norse mythology. Some scholars have suggested that what is shown is the Christianization of the region Härjedalen
. However, today the dominant theory, given the radiocarbon dating of the tapestries, is that Ragnarök
, a series of events foretold to occur in Norse mythology
, is being depicted. Research has established that the figures are made of plant dyed wool, which is interwoven with the linen with a special technique.
Today, these unique tapestries are on display in a specially designed room at Jamtli
, the regional museum of Jämtland
and Härjedalen
in Östersund
, Sweden
.
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
that were discovered in Överhogdal, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Discovery and dating
The Överhogdal tapestries were found in the vestry of Överhogdal Church by Jonas Holm (1895-1986) in 1909. The tapestries were brought to ÖstersundÖstersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
by the artist Paul Jonze in 1910, and the County Governor’s wife Ellen Widén, who was a dominant figure within the regional heritage movement at the time, took charge. The first thing she did was to give the dirty linen a good wash in a bath tub in the cellar.
First believed to date from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
tests conducted in 1991 proved that the tapestries were made between 800 and 1100 AD, the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
.
Description and construction
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
origin. The contents of the pictures are much debated, some characters have a pagan content, featuring the detailed look of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
's horse Sleipner
Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
, while other characters are clearly part of Christian imagery. The four surviving sections of the tapestries have 323 figures of people and 146 and 3 partial animals, all generally moving to the left.
The large animal and smaller human figures seem to rush by a tree, which could be the mighty ash Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil
In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is an immense tree that is central in Norse cosmology. It was said to be the world tree around which the nine worlds existed...
, a massive tree central to nine worlds
Norse cosmology
The cosmology of Norse mythology has 'nine homeworlds', unified by the world tree Yggdrasill. Mapping the nine worlds escapes precision because the Poetic Edda often alludes vaguely, and the Prose Edda may be influenced by medieval Christian cosmology...
in Norse mythology. Some scholars have suggested that what is shown is the Christianization of the region Härjedalen
Härjedalen
' is a historical province or landskap in the centre of Sweden. It borders the country of Norway as well as the provinces of Dalarna, Hälsingland, Medelpad, and Jämtland...
. However, today the dominant theory, given the radiocarbon dating of the tapestries, is that Ragnarök
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
, a series of events foretold to occur in Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, is being depicted. Research has established that the figures are made of plant dyed wool, which is interwoven with the linen with a special technique.
Today, these unique tapestries are on display in a specially designed room at Jamtli
Jamtli
Jamtli is the name of the regional museum of Jämtland and Härjedalen in Östersund, Sweden. It consists of an open air museum with historical buildings, and an indoor museum with both permanent and temporary exhibitions. “Jamtli” literally means “hillside of Jämtland” in the local dialect...
, the regional museum of Jämtland
Jämtland
Jämtland or Jamtland is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden in northern Europe. It borders to Härjedalen and Medelpad in the south, Ångermanland in the east, Lapland in the north and Trøndelag and Norway in the west...
and Härjedalen
Härjedalen
' is a historical province or landskap in the centre of Sweden. It borders the country of Norway as well as the provinces of Dalarna, Hälsingland, Medelpad, and Jämtland...
in Östersund
Östersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.