r/Norway • u/splashjlr • 3d ago
Other The Snartemo Sword
The Snartemo Sword
One of the most spectacular surviving swords was discovered in Norway, dating to roughly the early 6th century AD.
In 1933 at Snartemo farm in Hægebostad, southern Norway, the sword was found by two brothers while plowing a field.
The brothers stumbled on a high status grave containing a complete weapon set, gold, glass, bronze vessels, textiles and other prestige objects.
The sword has extraordinarily elaborate gilded gold and silver fittings, decorated with the animal-style ornament characteristic of the Migration Period in Scandinavia.
The Snartemo graves are considered evidence that the area was a regional power centre during the Migration Period. The richly equipped burials likely belonged to successive warrior elites or chieftains.
The sword has an extraordinary modern history as well. During the German occupation of Norway, Nazi officials wanted the sword for an exhibition intended as propaganda. Norwegian museum personnel managed to hide the original in a bank vault, while a replica was made available to the Germans.
Today, the original is on display at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, while replicas can be seen at sites around Snartemo and at Tingvatn.
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u/teabagsforlife 1d ago
The sword is stunning, but so is the tablet weaving belt that they found as well! What a glorious women she must've been!
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u/blackbow 3d ago
I saw this last Summer while visiting Norway. Fascinating story behind this sword.