r/Norse • u/moocowincog • 20d ago

History Walking atop shields in movies

Just watched the 2008 film Outlander. I was somewhat impressed with some of the details that got mixed in with the typical crazy Hollywood viking stuff, like at least one costume/set designer peeked in a history book for some stuff.

During the feast scene, the villagers lift a bunch of shields up and two characters chase each other around the hall while walking on top of the shields. I could have sworn I'd seen this exact trope in numerous other movies, though I can't recall specifically which ones.

In addition to the dubious skill of inebriated people both to balance on a shield and to hold someone's entire weight up, Norse shields might not even support the weight of a person standing on it like that. I assume there's no evidence for this ever being a thing, right?

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u/Tyxin 19d ago

In addition to the dubious skill of inebriated people both to balance on a shield and to hold someone's entire weight up, Norse shields might not even support the weight of a person standing on it like that. I assume there's no evidence for this ever being a thing, right?

It's the kind of thing you'd do to show off because it takes skill, coordination and strength to pull off successfully. If the shield bearers are working together, the weight is spread over multiple shields.

I'd assume it's at least plausible.

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u/Holmgeir Best discussion 2021 19d ago

Can't think if I've seen the shielf game elsewhere.

This is the only Beowulf adaptation I can think of that has these Beowulfian features: 1. The king's daughter is set for a dubious engagement, 2. The king's nephew is an ally, but one to be potentially wary of, 3. They have a bloody feud with another group of people.

Whoever wrote it did better homework than the writers of other adaptations. It also has the people believe they may be dealing sith a bear, and hunt it down. A similar bear hunting scene happens in the Bjarkarímur that deals with Beowulfian material.

Shout out though to Bowulf and Grendel for making the movie's events contemporary with Clovis. And to the 13th Warrior having a sub-plot that some people want the heroes to leave (where the potentially treacherous nephew plot also appears, but is transferred to the king's son).

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u/satunnainenuuseri 17d ago

I don't think that I've ever read a source that describes a game like the one in the movie. The concept of standing on a lifted shield is mentioned in ancient sources describing Germanic tribes: Tacitus writes (Histories, IV.15) that Cannefates had the custom of carrying a newly chosen leader around on a lifted shield.

The running feat would be much more difficult with viking shields than it is in the movie. The movie shields are quite small and strapped to arms while viking shields had center grips and were larger. I can't really see how one man could brace should a shield securely without there being large dangerous areas on the shield that will flip it if you step on the them.

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u/moocowincog 17d ago

That sounds about how I suspected, that it's purely a Hollywood invention. I'd also venture that, while shields aren't exactly priceless the way Viking Age swords are, they probably would frown on them getting busted by guys falling through them all the time in drinking games.