Beowulf, The Danish King Roar and the Heorot

Posted on by Hanna

There are moments in my life that has established themselves as Oscar-winning films. Oscars for best scenario and best plots.
There is the story of Beowulf who hears about friends who are in need in Denmark. He comes to help and defeats monsters, goblins and dragons.
There are stories of bog holes so creepy that deer choose the death by biting dogs, rather than the flight into the bog.
There is a story about a mighty meat hall in Lejre where King Roar generously shares his possessions between the men who honour him while quoting verses and letting themselves entertain by women.
Some of the best scenarios are from the fjord country; Landscapes with undulating wheat fields, where narrow picturesque roads winding between mounds and small village churches. Flashing fjords and lakes, promontories and inlets, hills and beautiful forests.
Does that sound like a fairy tale? It’s true because when I walk in the fjord country on a beautiful summer day, the adventure feels for real.

I have walk and cycled on countless trails in the fjord country.
Now I have found some new information’s, which many of you probably are familiar with.
The new data adds a new dimension to the landscape I know so well.
It was during a cross-search of Danish Vikings and Iceland, that I came across the Beowulf Poem.
The story of Beowulf is a unique plot written by English monks in the 8th century. A heroic poem. The poem begins with a celebration of Danish kings and King Skjold and his family.

It is the hero Beowulf who tells of King Skjold that he as a little child came to the royal solve Denmark, sailing alone on a ship.
The Danes saw a ship steer towards the shore; it had no oars outside, and there were no men to see at deck. As the ship slid in and lay down on the shore, people found a small boy lying alone on the deck. His head rested on a sheaf, and around him weapons were stacked.
The Danes carried the boy ashore, brought him to town; and proclaimed him as a king on a sacred stone, King Skjold.

Beowulf belonged to the Goths in Sweden, but he also had close ties to the Danish court, where he had stayed for a while when he was a child. When he learned that the ageing King Roar was in deep distress, he gathered a dozen of the best fighters and came to Roar’s rescue.

_________

A few year back archaeologists uncovered post holes after a mighty meat hall uncovered from 500 years A.D. in Lejre. The hall is from the same period as the legend of the royal family Skoldungerne with Roar, Helge and Rolf Krake and the famous ‘Hjorthal’ or known in England as Heorot. There are plans for a reconstruction of Heorot in Lejre.

You can read much more about these important finds in the notes.

__________________________________________________________

Secrets of Beowulf revealed Relics discovered Danish feasting hall featured Britains oldest epic poem.
Visit Lejre

10 thoughts on “Beowulf, The Danish King Roar and the Heorot”

  1. What an exciting story! The reconstruction project sounds like a great idea. Hanna, you live in a very beautiful country! ❤

    • Thank you, Resa. I’m happy to live in a time where people find the history worth to preserve in the most spectacular way. I’m looking forward to experience the final result of the reconstruction ❤
      'Opførelse af træhal fra Vikingetiden‘ Sorry this site is in Danish.
      By the way there are amazing history about the Vikings on the little island where Le Drake is born 🙂 🙂

  2. Es interesante conocer la historia de tu pais, tan rica y llena de vestigios. El paisaje es espléndido y lleno de colorido y luz. Un pais maravilloso el tuyo, Hanna. Me quedo con la primera foto! da miedo! 😉

    • I never get tired of the Viking Age, and the events that took place back then. It is exciting because the entire Europe were involved in alliances, friendships, intrigues and wars. Very interesting and colourful too 🙂 🙂
      Thank you so much, Jacint.

    • El clima es agradable a veces, magnoliae 🙂 Las fotografías son de una parte de Dinamarca que representa la historia muy interesante e importante de algunos de los primeros reyes de Dinamarca. Ese campo particular, siempre tendrá un lugar en mi corazón.
      Un gran abrazo de Dinamarca,
      Hanna

  4. Skønne billeder og teksten ligeså – jeg har altid været fascineret af specielt to ting – de nordamerikanske indianere og de nordiske vikinger, har måtte høre på mange drillerier gennem årene om at jeg i tidligere liv har været begge dele – konspirationsteorier som jeg aldig har taget til mig – da jeg boede ikke syd for Køge men syd for Roskilde, da var det kun en let cykeltur til Lejre som blev gjort mange gange – fascinerede historedel… 🙂

    • Jeg forstår din interesse. Med hensyn til konspirationsteorierne vil jeg absolut betragte dem som komplimenter 🙂 🙂
      Skjoldungelandet, og omegn er enestående, hvad historie angår. Jeg har aldrig set så mange store og velbevarede gravhøje. Især hvis man kører i retning af Osted. Måske er du kørt forbi mange af dem på cykel.
      Bygningen af Festhallen i Lejre er jeg meget spændt på.
      Vikingetiden er spændende, og amatørarkæologerne forøger kendskabet til vores fortid. Det er et godt arrangement, og dejligt med tilliden til amatørerne ❤
      Mange gode hilsner og tak 🙂
      Hanna

Comments are closed.