TY - BOOK AU - Allan,Tony TI - The Vikings: life, myth, and art SN - 0760753695 PY - 2004/// CY - New York PB - Barnes & Noble Books KW - Civilization, Viking KW - Viking antiquities KW - Vikings N1 - Image and imagination -- Sagas of gods and giants -- Restless spirit -- Belief and ritual -- Sword and the helm -- Viking rulers/Norse gods -- Further reading -- Index -- Picture credits N2 - The Vikings is a richly illustrated introduction to this extraordinary culture, presenting an art of immense sophistication, with artifacts ranging from exquisite gold jewelry to superbly decorated weapons, and vividly incised and painted runestones. This book covers themes that have long preoccupied the popular imagination, including: the restless spirit of the Norsemen and their extraordinary voyages in quest of adventure, booty, conquest, glory--and simply trade; the mighty gods and goddesses such as Odin, Freyja, Thor, and the mischief maker Loki; the mysteries of the afterlife; and the ceremonies and sacrifices that accompanied the burials of the Viking rulers and aristocracy in their magnificent longships ER -