Drinking is an integral part of humanity’s existence. Even before glasses were made from the materials widely used now, people were already drinking wine, ale, and other beverages during important celebrations and festivities. Among the early drinking vessels are Viking horn cups, the early origins of which can be traced back to Thracians and Scythians. It is to be noted that the word “Viking” wasn’t introduced to the English language until the 18th century.
Many ancient cultures have adopted the use of drinking horns. The most notable ones were the Scandinavians, Romans, and Greeks. The Greeks even considered drinking from a horn as drinking “after the Thracian fashion.” The use of horn cups was mentioned in different pieces of literature like “Prose Edda” and the oldest Anglo-Saxon poem about Sigurd known as “Guðrúnarkviða II.”
The popularity of the use of a Viking horn cup has declined, though it has seen its rebirth. Over the years, it’s gaining popularity again as drinking cups, apart from having ornamental value. Here are some of the reasons that may have contributed to the rise in patronage of Viking horn cups today:
The Desire to Relive the Past
Horn cups were used in important festivities and were essential pieces during some ceremonies. The rise of Norway’s nationalism in the 19th century has awakened the world’s curiosity when it came to details about the old Norse culture.
The following are some of the symbols represented by horn cups:
- Symbol of Power
The Thracians, in Greek mythology, descended from Thrax, who is the son of Ares, the Greek god of war. This group of people were the first ones known to have challenged each other into drinking matches. They would empty their horns in one go.
The Scythians, on the other hand, made their drinking horns out of metal or horns decorated with fittings out of metal. They’ve designated that the horns be only used as drinking cups by warriors and kings for they believed that a god originally gave the horn to a Scythian ruler.
In ancient Greece, drinking horns were often used during celebrations dedicated to the god of wine, Dionysus. Many pieces of Greek art depict Dionysus holding a horn and drinking from it.
The ancient Romans also treated drinking from a horn as a show of power and wealth. The popularity of the use of a drinking horn has spread throughout the Roman Empire, and it eventually reached the Celts and Scandinavians.
- Symbol of Abundance
The Iron Age of the Celts was known for its feasts. The Celts would prepare cauldrons of beer, mead, or wine, and each one was free to fill a Viking horn cup.
- Symbol of Hospitality
Valkyries are the female warriors in Viking mythology who would choose the men who will die during a battle. They would extend drinking horns to the slain ones as a gesture that they are being welcomed into Valhalla. In real life, this is depicted by the woman of the host household extending a drinking horn to welcome honored guests.
Modern-Day Depictions
The Norse people, in some way or another, owes the re-emergence of their culture into the mainstream eye to the references made by famous authors and television series creators.
These are some of the works that mentioned or showed the use of horn cups:
- The recently concluded television series, The Game of Thrones, reminded the world of the medieval era.
- The modern depictions of J.R.R Tolkien’s books that have medieval fantasy as their genre inspired some people to use drinking horns. The horns were mentioned as being used for drinking and blowing to call anyone’s attention.
- The show of History Channel, Vikings, would every now and then show drinking horns since the Vikings were commonly known to have used them.
- The movie installments of How to Train Your Dragon, which is set in the mythical world of the Vikings, showed even younger audiences the use of drinking horns.
Conclusion
As the quest of humans for knowledge continues, there’s always hope for any long-forgotten culture to be remembered. The use of Viking horn cups as drinking vessels wasn’t in the mainstream until the current civilization has been made aware of its proper use, not only when it comes to its original purpose, but also about the symbolism they carry. There’s still a lot to learn from ancient cultures, and if you’re interested to learn more and would like to do further research, various materials are available online. In the meantime, enjoy your drinking horn if you’ve already purchased one.
