Horned Viking Helmets Given Heave-Ho

Chester’s new Viking Tour has given the idea of horned Vikings the heave-ho.

It’s just one of many myths that the team behind the project want to debunk as part of their ambition to show what Vikings did in the city 1000 years ago.

The tour organizers say that Vikings never wore horns on their helmets as none have been found so far by archaeologists.

Tour director Gerald Tattum says: ‘It’s more than likely that this myth came about because Vikings were likened to the devil for attacking monasteries, so people imagined they had horns on their helmets’.

‘However, some experts think that the horns were added to Viking helmets by a costume maker for a 19th century opera by Wagner - and that theory has well and truly stuck’!

Another myth that the tour organisers want to debunk is that Vikings used to set fire to ships with the deceased on board surrounded by their treasures as part of a burial ceremony for VIPs.

He added: ‘What we do know is that Vikings buried important people in ships on land with their possessions – and this gives us a real insight into how they lived’.

‘We are updating the tour content all the time to reflect new discoveries from the Age of the Vikings but want to make sure that we debunk myths at the same time’.

‘We want to remind everyone that the Vikings played a significant role in the city’s past’.

Viking Chester Tours not only highlight misleading myths but also recount tales of magical swords, cursed graves, wolf warriors, ‘zombies’ and flying cats!

They take place June-October on Saturdays at 11am and 3.15pm, and bookings can be made at the local Visitor Information Centre or online at www.vikingchester.com

The tour organizers also want to develop a Viking Chester Centre with the Live History organization in the heart of the Viking stronghold in Lower Bridge Street to show visitors and residents how they really lived.

The team behind the project would also like to see the Viking treasure unearthed near the Castle in the 1950’s form part of a special temporary exhibition. Some of the pieces are with the city’s Grosvenor Museum but the main finds are with The British Museum in London reflecting the importance of the discovery.

The team are currently developing the tour content to align with the Vikings element of schools Key Stage 2 studies for classroom presentations or Chester-based visits.

They are also keen to solve the mystery why no Viking graves have yet been uncovered in the city and are keeping their fingers-crossed that one day the discovery will be made.