Viking Age Silver Shield-Maiden Pendant

Viking Age Silver Shield-Maiden Pendant
Circa 9th-10th century A.D.. A female in floor-length robe holding a shield in her right hand and drawn knife in her left, stylised headdress and long plaited band of hair to the rear; pierced lug to the reverse. See Vang Petersen, P., Valkyrier og Bers?rker. Mytologien i Smykkekunsten, in Madsen, P.K. (ed.), Danef?. Skatte fra den Danske Muld, Copenhagen, 2010; Garde?a, L., ?Warrior-women? in Viking Age Scandinavia, A preliminary archaeological study in Analecta Archaeologica Ressoviensia, vol.8, Rzesz?w, 2013. 8.08 grams, 40.68 mm (1 1/2 in.).

Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s.Ex property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.

This pendant resembles a find from Galgebakke, Denmark, a silver figure holding a short sword and clutching a shield by the boss (Vang Petersen, item 4). The Galgebakke figure is identified as female on the basis of the elaborate crested hairstyle, and an ankle-length dress with tiny feet beneath. The interpretation usually offered for this figure is that of a skjoldm? or 'shield-maiden', a female who takes up arms in pursuit of vengeance such as the legendary Hervor in Hervarar saga ok Hei?reks. Scholars used to interpret these armed females as valkyries - hand maidens of the god O?inn - but the idea has been challenged recently (Garde?a, 2013).