An atgeir, sometimes called a "mail-piercer" or "hewing-spear", was a type of polearm in use in Viking AgeScandinavia and Norse colonies in the British Isles and Iceland. The word is related to the Old Norsegeirr, meaning spear.[1][2] It is usually translated in English as "halberd", but most likely more closely resembled a bill or glaive during the Viking age.[3] Another view is that the term had no association with a specific weapon until it is used as an anachronism in saga literature to lend weight to accounts of special weapons.[citation needed] Later the word was used for typical European halberds, and even later multipurpose staves with spearheads were called atgeirsstafir.
The term is first used as a term in Old Norse sources after the Viking Age. It is not used in any Viking Age source and there are no remains from archaeology which can be identified with the term. The references from saga literature are not relevant to the Viking Age but come from Iceland of the thirteenth century and later. Originally it meant 'most spear-like spear' i.e. best spear, and can refer to a light or a heavy weapon.[4]
Arguably the most famous atgeir was Gunnar Hámundarson's, as described in Njal's Saga. According to the saga, this weapon would make a ringing sound (or "sing") when it was taken down in anticipation of bloodshed.[5] However, Njal's saga is one of the latest and most obviously authored sagas, and details of clothing or weaponry are almost without doubt based on medieval models, not Viking ones.[6]
Cook, Robert (transl.) Njal's Saga. Penguin Classics, 2001.
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry. London: Lutterworth Press, 1960. pp. 119–120.
Keller,M.C., The Anglo-Saxon Weapon Names Treated Etymologically and Archæologically, Heidelberg 1906.
Sigurdsson,G., The Medieval Icelandic Saga and Oral Tradition, Harvard University 2004.
April 27, 2024
atgeir, atgeir, sometimes, called, mail, piercer, hewing, spear, type, polearm, viking, scandinavia, norse, colonies, british, isles, iceland, word, related, norse, geirr, meaning, spear, usually, translated, english, halberd, most, likely, more, closely, rese. An atgeir sometimes called a mail piercer or hewing spear was a type of polearm in use in Viking Age Scandinavia and Norse colonies in the British Isles and Iceland The word is related to the Old Norse geirr meaning spear 1 2 It is usually translated in English as halberd but most likely more closely resembled a bill or glaive during the Viking age 3 Another view is that the term had no association with a specific weapon until it is used as an anachronism in saga literature to lend weight to accounts of special weapons citation needed Later the word was used for typical European halberds and even later multipurpose staves with spearheads were called atgeirsstafir Gunnar Hamundarson defends his house with an atgeir in Njals saga The term is first used as a term in Old Norse sources after the Viking Age It is not used in any Viking Age source and there are no remains from archaeology which can be identified with the term The references from saga literature are not relevant to the Viking Age but come from Iceland of the thirteenth century and later Originally it meant most spear like spear i e best spear and can refer to a light or a heavy weapon 4 Arguably the most famous atgeir was Gunnar Hamundarson s as described in Njal s Saga According to the saga this weapon would make a ringing sound or sing when it was taken down in anticipation of bloodshed 5 However Njal s saga is one of the latest and most obviously authored sagas and details of clothing or weaponry are almost without doubt based on medieval models not Viking ones 6 See also editViking Age arms and armourNotes edit Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Old Norse Vocabulary Basic Weapons YouTube Geirr Wiktionary Less Commonly Known Viking Weapons The Atgeir Keller 1906 Njal s Saga 78 Sigurdsson 2004References editCook Robert transl Njal s Saga Penguin Classics 2001 Oakeshott R Ewart The Archaeology of Weapons Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry London Lutterworth Press 1960 pp 119 120 Keller M C The Anglo Saxon Weapon Names Treated Etymologically and Archaeologically Heidelberg 1906 Sigurdsson G The Medieval Icelandic Saga and Oral Tradition Harvard University 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atgeir amp oldid 1215122231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
