Hnefatafl Viking Game

Complete Hnefatafl Viking Game with Resin Replica Pieces.

The Viking Game ranks as one of history’s greatest board games. It was at its most popular during the Dark Ages in Northern Europe, a period of sparse records and shifting populations. Like so much of the history of the Dark Ages, our knowledge of this Viking game is patchy, but a mystery now solved as a result of archaeological research.

The game was popular in the Viking homelands of Scandinavia as early as AD400 and was carried by the Vikings to the lands they travelled to. Over the centuries the game developed and different versions of the board have been found by archaeologists in sites from Ireland to the Ukraine.

Occasionally referred to in manuscripts, the game was known as ‘Hnefatafl’, which literally means ‘Kings Table’. The study of these manuscripts and examinations of various types of boards and pieces has enabled researchers to work out how the game was most likely played. There is no doubt however that many versions of the rules existed at different places and different times.

Hnefatafl was last recorded as being played in Wales in 1587 and in Lapland in 1723. its decline began in the 11th century as chess grew in popularity and it soon lingered only in remote country districts.

Includes:

– 37 solid resin gaming pieces (24 attackers, 12 defenders and 1 king).
– Roll-up linen cloth gaming board, approx 29.5cm square (11.5 inches).
– Full game rules in English, Swedish, Norwegian, German, French and Japanese.
– Neatly boxed for easy packing & storage.