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Understanding the Flygstad (Fløgstad) Figurine: Gaming Pieces, Kings, Gender and Fertility Rites.

The article examines a small, bearded figurine made from walrus tusk, discovered in 1796 in a burial mound at Flygstad, Norway, and discusses its potential role as a gaming piece, specifically a king from the board game hnefatafl. It explores a controversial group of similar early-medieval and Vikin...

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Published in:Medieval Archaeology Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 169 - 200
Main Author: Pentz, Peter
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2025
Subjects:
Gender
Masculinity
Medieval archaeology
Fertility
Figurines
Mounds (Archaeology)
Kings & rulers
Norway
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: Understanding the Flygstad (Fløgstad) Figurine: Gaming Pieces, Kings, Gender and Fertility Rites.
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        au: Pentz, Peter
        affil: The National Museum of Denmark
      su:
        Gender
        Masculinity
        Medieval archaeology
        Fertility
        Figurines
        Mounds (Archaeology)
        Kings & rulers
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          Norway
          Gender
          Masculinity
          Medieval archaeology
          Fertility
          Figurines
          Mounds (Archaeology)
          Kings & rulers
      ab:
        The article examines a small, bearded figurine made from walrus tusk, discovered in 1796 in a burial mound at Flygstad, Norway, and discusses its potential role as a gaming piece, specifically a king from the board game hnefatafl. It explores a controversial group of similar early-medieval and Viking-Age figurines that depict men stroking or pulling their beards, suggesting that this gesture is closely linked to themes of masculinity, kingship, and fertility. The article posits that these figurines may symbolize not only gaming pieces but also reflect deeper cultural meanings related to male identity and social status in Viking society.
        Interprétation de la figurine de Flygstad (Fløgstad): pions de jeu, rois, genre et rites de féconditépar Peter Pentz Cet article se penche sur une petite figurine barbue passée inaperçue, qui est sculptée dans une défense de morse et a été découverte en 1796 dans un tumulus à Flygstad, dans le sud de la Norvège. Il procède à l'examen d'un groupe très controversé de figurines se caressant la barbe, ou tirant sur une barbe, remontant au début du Moyen-Âge et à la période viking. Il fait valoir que les figurines sont des pions, plus précisément des rois, pour jouer au jeu de « hnefatafl ». Il est suggéré que le symbolisme de la barbe, qu'elle soit caressée ou touchée, est étroitement lié au concept de masculinité, de royauté et de fécondité.
        Das Verständnis der Figurine von Fløgstad: Spielfiguren, Könige, Geschlecht und Fruchtbarkeitsriten.Von Peter Pentz Dieser artikel beschäftigt sich mit einer bisher übersehenen kleinen, bärtigen Figurine aus Walrossstoßzahn, die 1796 in einem Grabhügel in Fløgstad in Südnorwegen gefunden wurde, sowie mit einer viel diskutierten Gruppe frühmittelalterlicher und wikingerzeitlicher Figurinen, die ihren Bart streicheln bzw. daran ziehen. Es wird argumentiert, dass es sich bei den Figurinen um Spielfiguren, genauer gesagt um Könige, aus dem Brettspiel hnefatafl handelt. Die Vermutung liegt nahe, dass die Symbolik des Bartes und die Geste des Streichelns oder Hätschelns eng mit Männlichkeit, Königtum und Fruchtbarkeit verbunden ist.
        Capire la figurina di Flygstad (Fløgstad): i pezzi di un gioco da tavolo, i re, le questioni di genere e i riti della fertilitàdi Peter Pentz In questo articolo si esamina una piccola figurina barbuta intagliata in una zanna di tricheco di cui finora non si è tenuto conto, trovata in una sepoltura a tumulo nel 1796 a Flygstad nella Norvegia meridionale. Si passa poi alla discussione relativa a un controverso gruppo di figurine altomedievali e di Epoca vichinga raffigurate nell'atto di accarezzarsi o tirarsi la barba. Si afferma che le figurine sono pezzi di un gioco e più precisamente dei re, che fanno parte del gioco da tavolo hnefatafl. Si sostiene che il simbolismo della barba e il gesto di accarezzarla o di lisciarla sono strettamente legati alla mascolinità, alla regalità e alla fertilità.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
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    language: English
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      custom: Copyright of Medieval Archaeology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
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