Ancient board game gives tiny glimpse into Viking grooming habits
Ancient board game gives tiny glimpse into Viking grooming habits
Ancient board game gives tiny glimpse into Viking grooming habits
Oliver Moody
August, 27, 2025
Summary
A rediscovered 10th-century Viking game piece carved from walrus tusk suggests that Viking elites took great pride in grooming. The small figurine, possibly depicting King Harald Bluetooth, shows a neatly braided goatee and waxed, upturned moustache—an unusually detailed portrayal of facial hair for the era. Found in 1796 and recently re-evaluated by Denmark’s National Museum, it offers a rare, lifelike glimpse of Viking appearance. Curator Peter Pentz calls it the closest thing to a true Viking portrait, supporting evidence from graves and writings that Vikings valued personal grooming, using combs, tweezers, and styled hair as symbols of status and kingship.
Reference
Moody, O. (2025, August 27). Ancient board game gives tiny glimpse into Viking grooming habits. The Times. https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/board-game-viking-grooming-habits-dtzrpqrcf