The image used for this design is a piece of rock art (petroglyph) dating from the Nordic Bronze Age (1700-500 BC) to be found in the Tanum area of western Sweden. The location of the site is part of the former coastline of a fjord, hence of frequency of maritime images on over 600 panels to be found there.
The carvings in the granite were most likely created with stone tools, and are regarded as having religious and cosmological significance and were used as part of ceremonial occasions. The proximity often of burial sites and other archaeological remains support this interpretation.
The carvings in the granite were most likely created with stone tools, and are regarded as having religious and cosmological significance and were used as part of ceremonial occasions. The proximity often of burial sites and other archaeological remains support this interpretation.
This was a long time before the emergence of the Vikings, but the image already contains elements commonly associated with their ships such as the curved prow and elaborate decorative elements. There were, however, some important differences. All of the boats depicted were powered by rowing and did not have sails.
Other mysterious elements remain to be definitively decoded. Who or what is the strange figure with the pincer hand and holding the strange object overhead? What is the significance of the wolf like creature above the boat. We will probably never know the answer to some of these questions, which is surely part of the images beguiling attraction?
This was a long time before the emergence of the Vikings, but the image already contains elements commonly associated with their ships such as the curved prow and elaborate decorative elements. There were, however, some important differences. All of the boats depicted were powered by rowing and did not have sails.
Other mysterious elements remain to be definitively decoded. Who or what is the strange figure with the pincer hand and holding the strange object overhead? What is the significance of the wolf like creature above the boat. We will probably never know the answer to some of these questions, which is surely part of the images beguiling attraction?