Medieval Viking Drakkars are one of the most recognizable symbols of the famous warlike people. The appearance of these ships on the horizon terrified the Christians of Europe for several centuries. The design of the drakkars included a generalization of the rich experience of Scandinavian craftsmen. They were the most practical and fastest ships of their time.
"Dragon" ship
The Viking Drakkars got their name in honor of the mythical dragons. Their heads were carved into figures attached to the bows of these ships. Due to the recognizable appearance, the Scandinavian ships could be easily distinguished from the ships of other Europeans. Dragons were installed on the bow only when approaching an enemy settlement, and if the Vikings sailed to their own harbor, they removed the frightening monsters. Like all pagans, these sailors were extremely religious and superstitious. They believed that in a friendly port, the dragon angered good spirits.
Another characteristic attribute of the drakkar was numerous shields. The crew hung them on the sides of their transport. Viking Drakkars were surrounded by white shields if the team wanted to demonstrate their peacefulness. In this case, the sailors laid down their arms. This gesture was a precursor to the use of the white flag in later times.
Versatility
In the IX-XII centuries. Viking ships (drakkars) were the most versatile in all of Europe. They could be used as a transport, a warship and a means for exploring distant maritime frontiers. It was on drakkars that the Scandinavians were the first to reach Iceland and Greenland. In addition, they discovered Vinland - North America.
As multifunctional ships, drakkars appeared as a result of the evolution of their predecessors - snackers. They differed in smaller size and carrying capacity. At the same time, there were exclusively merchant ships - knorrs. They had more capacity, but were inefficient in the riverbed. All these shortcomings were left in the past when drakkars appeared. The wooden Viking ships of the new type were great for traveling through the fjords and rivers. That is why they were so fond of the Vikings during the war. On such transport it was possible to suddenly penetrate deep into the territory of the devastated mainland country.
Creation of Drakkar
Medieval Viking ships (rooks and dracars) were built from different types of wood. As a rule, pine, ash and oak were used, which are widespread in Scandinavian forests. Particularly carefully selected materials intended for the collection of frames and keel. In total, the creation of an average drakkar could take about 300 oak trunks and several thousand nails.
The wood processing process included several stages. Immediately after felling, it was split in half several times with the help of special wedges. The cutting was done with filigree precision. The master had to split the trunk exclusively along the natural fibers. Next, the boards were moistened with water and kept on fire. The resulting materials were particularly flexible. They could be given different forms. With all this, the tools of the masters have never been excessively broad. It included an axe, drills, chisels and other small accessories. The Scandinavians were also distinguished by the fact that they did not recognize the saw and did not use it in the construction of ships.
Dimensions and trim
The sizes of the Drakkars were different. The largest models could reach 18 meters in length. The size of the team also depended on the size. Each crew member was assigned his own place. Sailors slept on benches, under which their personal belongings were stored. The largest ships could carry up to 150 warriors.
Drakkar is a technical miracle of the Vikings. His uniqueness shines through in everything. So, for the plating of their ships, the Scandinavians used a technique that was unique for their time. The boards were overlapped. They were fastened with rivets or nails. At the final stage of the construction of the ship, its frame was caulked and pitched. After this procedure, the design received additional stability, stability and speed of movement. Due to their outstanding qualities, drakkars could continue their journey even in the most terrible storms.
Management
The maneuverable Viking longships were propelled by oars (on especially large ships there could be up to 35 pairs). Each member of the crew had to row. The teams changed by shifts, thanks to which the ship did not stop even on the longest journey. In addition, a reliable sail was used. He helped to accelerate and take advantage of the sea wind.
The Vikings, like no one else, once knew how to determine the weather that was favorable for traveling. They also had ways to determine the approach of the earth. For this, cages with birds were kept on the ships. Periodically, the winged were released into the wild. If there was no land nearby, then they returned to the cages, not finding a place for another landing. If the crew realized that she had lost her way, the ship could quickly change course. To do this, the longships were equipped with the most modern tiller at that time.
Evolution of Viking ships
The development of Scandinavian shipbuilding took place according to generally accepted laws: complex forms gradually replaced archaic ones. The first Viking ships did not have sails and were driven exclusively by rowing. Such vessels did not require special design tricks. The freeboard of such models was distinguished by a low height. She was limited to the length of the stroke.
Early drakkars were distinguished by their small size, which is why the steering wheel of such vehicles was also small. One person could handle it. However, as ships grew larger and their designs became more complex, the rudder became larger and heavier. To adjust itbegan to use a cable that was thrown over the gunwale. Steering wheel support gradually appeared and became universal. By the end of the Viking Age (in the 12th century), ships had become exclusively sailing. The method of attaching the mast has also changed: it has received lifting modifications. It was lowered during the passage of the surf.
Discoveries of sunken longships
In the 20th century, local fishermen of the Scandinavian coast several times accidentally stumbled upon sunken longships. Such finds are not only an amazing coincidence, but also a great success for archaeologists and historians. Some of the remains were raised to the surface and sent to museums in preserved form.
One of the most high-profile finds of this kind was an incident in 1920. Danish fishermen near the town of Skulleva found the remains of six longships at once. It was possible to raise them to the surface only 40 years later. Using the radiocarbon method, experts determined the age of the ships: they were laid down around 1000 years. Despite the huge number of years under water and numerous destructions, these artifacts made it possible to get the most complete picture of the features of medieval Scandinavian shipbuilding.
Interesting facts
Scandinavian drakkars were wooden ships equipped with sails made from long sheep's hair. In this case, only wool of a rare northern European breed was used. The natural layer of fat helped the sail to keep dry even in the most unpleasantweather.
In order for the ship to gain speed better with a fair wind, the fabric was sewn exclusively in a square or rectangular shape. A large sail for a drakkar could reach an area of 90 square meters. It took about two tons of wool to produce it (despite the fact that one sheep produced an average of one and a half kilograms of this valuable material per year).
