In 834 two important Viking women were buried in the 72′ (22m) long Oseberg ship (below), which had been built of oak around 820. The deck and mast were made of pine, and the ship could be sailed or rowed by 30 people. It was decorated with elaborate wood carvings of animals.
After examining the ship from below we climbed some stairs up to a viewing balcony so we could see the inside of the Oseberg.
Then we went around the corner to another viewing balcony and saw the Gokstad ship, which was built around 850. After about 50 years of exploring and raiding a rich and powerful Viking was buried with it.
Also at the museum were displays of artifacts found buried with the ships, but they were behind glass so it wasn’t possible to get clear pictures. It was pretty awe-inspiring imagining what life was like back in the 800s in the Viking Age. Much more information can be found on the museum website: Viking Ship Museum
Next stop: Bergen Railway from Oslo to Myrdal.
enjoying the journey with you Barbara, love the photos 🙂
Thank you, Tai! It’s fun savoring the memories by sharing the pictures. 🙂
I actually went to that same museum while I was in Oslo. 🙂
🙂 I remember how excited I was when the Viking ship replica of the Gokstad, Íslendingur, came to Mystic Seaport in 2000. What a thrill to see the original!
I so enjoy going on this trip with you. I know nothing about the Vikings — except I’ve dreamed of them once in a while. If I ever get to Oslo, I will definitely visit this museum. Since the possibility is slight, thank you for taking me there.
You’re so very welcome, Pam, it’s great having you along! I’m 58 and somehow I doubted I would ever get to Norway, but every once in a while, when it is least expected, a dream suddenly comes true. The endless longing has been satisfied…
Ohhh, you and I have YEARS left of adventure, no doubt!!!
Indeed!!! 🙂
Fascinating boats, and wagon, with intricate wood work! My son is a bit Viking-obsessed… a Swedish Viking 🙂
What is it, I wonder, that some of us find so compelling about Vikings? My son is a bit Viking-obsessed, too, and it’s good to have someone I can talk with about them. 🙂
Wow, Barbara! That ship is amazing! Thank you SO much for sharing your photos.
Just so you know. This summer I’m going on two-month RV trip with my nearing-ninety Godmother and her cat Pepe le Mew. I leave for the US in a week. The RV is huge, 37-feet. My Godmother will be driving and towing an SUV the entire way. She was a Flamenco dancer during her entire professional life. I’m going to try to blog about our trip and write a book about the 64 beautiful years she and my Godfather, a Venezuelan movie star (I kid you not!), were married, until Raul died last fall one month shy of his 97th birthday.
Hope you are well. Sorry to have been away so long!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Kathy, it was so nice to hear from you again! I am so looking forward to reading about your adventures traveling in an RV with your sprightly godmother – it sounds like it will be such an extraordinary trip and will generate plenty of material for blog posts and books. Safe travels, my friend! *hugs*
The detailed carving is quite incredible and it’s amazing to think how old these Viking ships are too, and how well preserved they are. Wonderful photos, Barbara. 🙂
Thanks, Joanne! 🙂 I wonder how long it took to build each ship and how much of that time was needed to carve out such intricate designs in the wood…
I’m sure it took them a lot of time and patience to do all of the carving, but at least they didn’t have the same distractions back in those days as we do now! 🙂
That’s very true – people used to have many hours after the daily chores were done for creative pursuits like wood-carving, sewing, weaving, story-telling…