Bar Drinkstuff Viking Beer Horn Glass with Stand 17oz / 480ml - Viking Horn Glass, Novelty Beer Glass, Drinking Horn

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Horns fashioned for drinking were mainly made from cow and auroch, a type of cattle that went extinct in 17th century Europe The popularity of drinking horns One aurochs drinking horn still preserved in Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It was only produced before guests, and the drinker in using it, twisted his arms round its spines, and turning his mouth towards the right shoulder, was expected to drain it off. [28]

Horn, From Ancient Greeks To Vikings The History Of The Drinking Horn, From Ancient Greeks To Vikings

Drinking horns remained in use for ceremonial purposes throughout the Early Modern period. A magnificent drinking horn was made for the showpiece of the Amsterdam Guild of Arquebusiers by Amsterdam jeweller Arent Coster in 1547, now kept in the Rijksmuseum. Along with their other trade skills and traditions, families would pass down drinking horns from one generation to the next.Each generation would sometimes add their own decorations and carvings as the horns were passed on, further enriching the mystique and value of the horn itself. But while this was the tradition for the living, for the dead the drinking horn was altogether different. At this point, you might be asking yourself “Why..?” “Why a horn?” Sure, it sounds fun for parties, and you had better know that even a thousand years before proper table etiquette was invented, people were certainly having drinking contests, so draining your glass in one go was a pretty common occurrence, especially among the worshipers of Dionysus. But, really… why a baseless horn of all things? Well, the history of the topic in general is actually pretty interesting if you really settle in and do your research. But don’t worry, I got the curiosity bug and went ahead and did that for you.

Also in the 19th century, drinking horns inspired by the Romantic Viking revival were made for German student corps for ritual drinking. Let’s be honest, alcohol has been no stranger to any people of any age. At some point everyone either discovered fermentation by accident, maybe by letting their gain barrels get filled with rainwater, or alcohol was introduced to them by an outside culture. Either way, we have been finding unique ways to brew alcohol since long before anyone can even remember. The earliest written recipe for beer has been credited to the Sumerians. It was found embedded in a poem written nearly 3,900 years ago. But while countries like China may have archeological evidence to prove that they had been brewing beer for at least the last 5,000 years, it is the Norse who are credited with one of the most innovative methods of fermentation; the fermentation of honey. The Vikings have gone into the annals of history as a society that significantly shaped the Middle Ages. They could be crude at times, yet they were also a creative and innovative people. Guðrúnarkviða II in Old Norse from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway. The Second Lay of Guðrun, in the Elder Edda (Morris and Magnusson translation)

Bar Drinkstuff Viking Beer Horn Glass with Stand 17oz / 480ml

R. Rolle in: Festschrift K. Raddatz. Beiträge zur Archäologie Nordwestdeutschlands und Mitteleuropas. Materialhefte zur Ur-und Frühgeschichte 16 (1980), 290f. Some drinking horns were routinely used as normal drinking vessels, yet others were used only during important ceremonies such as weddings, festivities, and religious rituals. Vikings often drank out of cattle horns that were fashioned for holding their favorite drinks such as mead and beer.

Bottoms Up! The Norse Way

And though the earliest specimens were indeed crafted from actual horns of bulls or rams, the materials used to make them varied greatly as well. Even the type of container ranged from those designed for daily use to decorative or ceremonial vessels. So while the Viking drinking horn may be the first to come to mind, the actual history of the accessory is far more diverse. The History Of The Drinking Horn, From The Scythians To The Greeks The Vikings’ way of life fascinates many people. Not only are people interested in the major events, like raids, and in famous warriors, like Ragnar Lodbrok, but a lot of people want to know about the day-to-day life of average Vikings, including household items, like drink ware.