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All the United Kingdom England London The Lewis Chessmen

The Lewis Chessmen

These mysterious Viking chess pieces spent centuries hidden on a remote Scottish island.

London, England

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
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Some of the Lewis Chessmen.   Fernandopascullo/cc by 3.0
Some of the Lewis Chessmen.   Fernandopascullo/cc by 3.0
Chessmen   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The Lewis Chessmen   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
A “knight” piece portraying a Viking horseman.   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
The chessmen can be found in the British Museum.   Tamara Menzi itstamaramenzi/public domain
A rook chesspiece depicting a berserker.   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
A rook chess piece portraying a Viking berserker chewing his shield.   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
A stout Bishop chess piece.   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
A viking knight chesspiece.   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
A sword wielding king   Nachosan/cc by-sa 3.0
The Lewis Chessmen   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  loremipsum / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1831, a small wooden trove was discovered in a "kirst" (a stone tomb) on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Inside the trove were 78 figurines portraying warriors, kings, horsemen, queens, and bishops, which were later identified as chess pieces and attributed to Viking artisanry.

A 12th-century artisan carved these pieces from Walrus tusk ivory and whale teeth. They were then brought by raiders or merchants to Lewis. Where the Lewis chessmen were originally made remains an enduring mystery due to the fact that Viking settlements peppered much of Scandinavia and the British Isles at this point in history.

Some scholars have suggested the chess pieces were carved in Iceland, while others argue they likely came from Dublin, Ireland. However, the most widely accepted theory is that they were made in Trondheim, Norway.

The artisan who carved the chessmen was an exceptionally talented craftsperson with an eye for fine details. Every piece is unique in possessing singular features and expressions. Some portray berserkers gnawing on their shields in anticipation of battle while others show the likeness of warriors and horsemen. Here, too, are melancholy looking queens, stout bishops, and sword-wielding kings. Such iconic pieces stir the imagination, and it isn't hard to imagine Vikings occupying their time by playing endless games of chess, drinking tankards of ale in longhouses, and no doubt waiting out the worst of the winter before embarking on raids.

Chess was originally invented in ancient India, but had become a popular game in the Dark Ages and medieval Europe after the Moors introduced it to the continent. The Vikings were particularly fond of this game because of its focus on stratagems which was seen as a useful real-world skill to develop for battles where strategic thinking often made the difference between life and death.

However, the owner of this fantastic chess set who probably buried it to prevent theft and expected to dig it upon their return was sadly neither to unearth this priceless treasure nor to play another game in the longhouses of Lewis. The trove he left behind was never reclaimed and lay forgotten in the dunes under a layer of sand until its accidental discovery in the early 19th century.

Today, you can see the enigmatic Lewis Chessmen in the fantastic British Museum, the National Museum of Scotland, and in Lews Castle. Harry Potter fans will also spot a replica of this iconic set in the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

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Museums Collections Museums And Collections Vikings Objects Of Intrigue Chess Games

Know Before You Go

The chess pieces are on permanent display at the British Museum (unless they are on temporary loan for exhibitions in other museums, check the website for further information) and can be found in the "Medieval Europe 1050-1500" gallery. The British Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays. Entrance is free.

Community Contributors

Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Edited By

mjollnirblacksmith, Jaszmina Szendrey, Collector of Experiences, rbenn250...

  • mjollnirblacksmith
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Collector of Experiences
  • rbenn250
  • Xavixavir
  • loremipsum

Published

January 24, 2019

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Sources
  • http://mentalfloss.com/article/70597/12-berserk-facts-about-lewis-chessmen
  • https://www.history.com/news/the-enduring-mystery-of-the-lewis-chessmen
  • https://blog.britishmuseum.org/check-it-out-the-lewis-chessmen/
The Lewis Chessmen
Great Russell St
London, England
United Kingdom
51.519413, -0.126957
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