Interesting! In a search for more about it, I found a FSM thread generally on the subject which is called “building a wood ship” and I have bumped it.
Bill
One thing is certain- it’s not a viking ship. The box cover identifies it as a Norman Drakkar, and the name "Mora’ is generally associated with William the Conqueror, although a read through of the other post I bumped will certainly offer a LOT more about that. And the date of the original is supposed to be “1066”.
While I was a student in Denmark in 1978- 1979 I went to Bayeux to see the tapestry for myself. It is at the top of my list of manuscripts, or “pictoscripts” I suppose, about ships and medeival warfare.
If you ever see the old Nat Geo book about the Middle Ages, with the fold-out of the taspestry; either buy it or let me know. Truly remarkable.
The Norman ships are now understood to have no real relation to the Celtic ones. They were longer and much 'beamier", as they could transport some number of horses.
Look at how the shields in the tapestry so closely match those of the model. That’s a kit I would very much like to have.
Bill (“William”)
Weren’t the Normans descendents of the vikings?
Yes, and also the Franks and the Franko-Romans. The Norse gave their name to Normandy, but had largely been fought off by the late 9th Century.
In the early 11th Century, at the time of the Norman conquest of England; the Normans had converted from the Norse religions to Catholicism.
The Normans had spread their sphere of influence south to the Mediterranean area by 1017. They were a main force in the Crusades in the 11th Century.
Compared to the Norse raiders of two centuries before, the Normans were a culture that gave birth to Gothic era architecture, city development and commerce by sea in northern Europe.
Santa presents a fine model in the making of a subject we see very little of. if you look carefully at the panels of the tapestry with the sea invasion of England; little horse heads appear over the sides of the ships.
I won’t hijack this great thread, but I’m tempted to start a thread about the Bayeux Tapestry and the ships depicted.
Look forward to progress, Santa.
bill