Wodan (as a young God) riding Sleipnir. New Illustration for "Sonah Magazin", winter 2024.

 

Wodan (here represented as a still young God riding his eight-legged steed) is the name that the populations of Central Europe gave in the Middle Ages to the Scandinavian and Norse God Odin

(Old German: Wodan, Wuotan, Woden; Old Dutch: Wuodan; Old Saxon: Uuoden; Old English: Woden; Old Norse: Odinn). 

Even in Southern Germany he is a figure at the center of many legends, such as that, among others, linked to the horseshoe. Beautiful and in-depth article by Anika Meyer (Editor and Art Director I thank very much for allowing me to illustrate such a beautiful subject!) on the topic.

sonah-verlag.de

The God Wodan - Odin in his appearance as an old wanderer with a blue cloak and gray robe

Even the Frau Holle of fairy tales is the derivation of Holda, an ancient mythological Goddess (Hertha - Jord) among the wives of Odin and mother of Thor

It is summer, the moment to escape into space and time, into the historical / mythological fantasy: here is the -republished- Lindwurm!

The Lindwurm, or lindworm, was a serpentine dragon (and man-eater) of Norse and Central European mythology (Fafnir was also a lindworm). It is at the origin of the legendary foundation of the city of Klagenfurt (among others), of which it is the symbol. 

The preparatory sketch and the pencil drawing 

Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia (870 – 12 June 918 AD)

Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, was the eldest daughter of Alfred the Great.

Gotlander Warrior, Battle of Visby, 1361

The Battle of Visby was fought between the Danish army of King Valdemar Atterdag and the inhabitants of the island of Gotland. It was an extremely ferocious clash that saw the triumph of the best-armed Danes. A series of archaeological excavations on the site allowed to find the remains of 1185 individuals.
The remains of more than twenty armor were also found. These coat-of-plates are very interesting and extremely important because of their rarity, but also because they illustrate a moment of transition from the chainmail to the plate armor of the XV and XVI century.
These coat-of-plates (transitional armour) consist of overlapping and riveted metal strips on a support or covering of leather or canvas, with the rivets left clearly visible.

Viking houses

A small illustration with Viking houses (based mainly on the reconstructions of the Viking city of Hedeby, Haithabu in german). In the background, a large longhouse. 10th century AD.
This illustration was published in a Swiss school textbook published by Landverlag / Campus Natur

Anglo-Saxons

Anglian King, 7th century AD




Anglo-Saxon Woman, 7th century

Ceorl, 8th century AD

Anglo-Saxon Thegn, 8th-9th century AD

Roman Limes, Germany, 1st century AD

Medieval Archers (late 10th - 11th centuries) for Conquest Games

 

www.conquest-games.co.uk

Varangian Guardsmen

English Varangian Guardsman, 1204 AD

Varangian Officer, 1020-1050 AD