The mystery of the Lewis chess men has deepened. According to the latest research by medieval scholars, the pieces may be for playing another game: hnefatafl. This is a game played by the Vikings as they traded their way across Europe. Cast aside any preconceptions that the Vikings spent their time raping and pillaging. They only picked up the violent image after the unfortunate raid on Lindisfarne, bastion of the purveyors of medieval history – the monks. In truth, after rowing across from Scandinavia they rented a seaside cottage and settled down to a strategic board game in front of a log fire.

The researchers accept that the pieces are of Viking origin but posit that they belonged to a local nobleman. Ability to play board games was regarded as socially important and was noted in praise poems.

Sources
BBC Scotland
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