The axe was an integral part of the Viking lifestyle and a potent weapon in battle. It was also a practical tool for chopping wood, hunting game, and construction, and even found its way into mythology. The skeggox or bearded axe featured a square-shaped projection on the lower edge of the blade that could be hooked onto an enemy’s shield or weapon, making it especially effective in combat.

Axes For Combat

The Viking axe was an important weapon for them in combat, though they often preferred swords and spears. The two handed battle axe was large and heavy, needing both hands to be used effectively. Its forbidding blade ranged from 22 to 45cm (9-18 in) and was mounted on a long wooden haft. The hafts were often reinforced with iron strips to reduce the chance of them breaking when they were used to parry edged weapons. Axes could also be thrown as a weapon. One example is told in chapter 38 of Egils saga rauda. In desperation in a fight Sigurd pulled an axe from under his cloak and hit Lodinn in the head with it, killing him.

Smaller, knife-like axes called seaxes were also a common tool for many tasks. They were relatively simple to produce, requiring less iron than a sword. This would have made them more accessible to a larger number of warriors.

Axes For Chopping Wood

The axe was essential to Viking life because it could be used for both practical tasks and deadly combat. Its multifunctionality was a key element in the way that the Vikings lived and their philosophy of life. Axes for chopping wood needed to be strong and heavy in order to chop through large logs of wood with ease. However, they also had to be light enough for a Viking to carry around during combat. This was because they often had shields on their backs, which made it hard to swing a large axe head in the same direction that the shield was facing.

There was a wide variety in axes for battle, but generally one handed axes had narrow blades with a sharp edge that could pierce as well as chop. The sagas mention that Vikings could hook axe heads over other body parts, such as the neck (pictured above), in order to compel an opponent to move in a certain direction, or even disarm them.

Axes For Construction

The axe was a versatile tool that served as both a utility weapon for tasks such as chopping wood and a deadly combat weapon. It was also relatively easy to produce, requiring less iron than a sword, and therefore more accessible to a broader range of people. The pointed “horns” on the end of an axe head (oxarhyrna) can be sharpened to create vicious wounds. These axes were often kept sharp and ready for use as weapons in combat.

Axes found in Viking graves often have decorative inlays that imply either pagan symbolism or Christian symbols, such as the tree motif from Yggdrasil. The axes also feature designs that are both practical and ceremonial, such as the ringed handle used for chopping wood. The size of axe hafts and cutting edges varied throughout the period of the Vikings. For example, the axe pictured above dates from after the end of the Viking age and is not an accurate representation of what a Viking axes looked like.

Axes For Throwing

In the hands of a warrior, an axe could be used as both a deadly weapon and a versatile tool in battle. Its broad blade could cleave through shields and armor. It was also easy to manufacture, requiring less iron than a sword and making it accessible to a wider range of people. Axes were also often used as throwing objects. They were sometimes designed with a pointed "horn" at each end that could be used for stab attacks. This was the case in chapter 36 of Hardar saga, where Thorsteinn gullknappr threw his axe and killed Hordur.

The axe was also a symbol of status in Viking times. The quality of an ax's head and handle indicated one's clan and family lineage. It was also a common item to put in the graves of deceased Vikings. Grave finds, like the ax of a magnate from Mammen, have silver inlays that can be interpreted as Christian and pagan motifs.

Conclusion

The axe was the most common weapon and tool in Viking society. It was used in everyday tasks such as chopping wood and hunting game but also in combat. One side of the axe from Mammen shows a bird motif, which can be either the rooster Gullinkambi or the Phoenix (a symbol of rebirth belonging to Christian and pagan mythology). The other side of the axe has an inscription.