A Viking Kilt!

[James]

On another thread there was some mention of a Viking Kilt, whilst I have never encountered any suggestion that they wore such a garment, there is good evidence that some would wear a long-knee length tunic, without trousers.

To support this, some years ago in the Haithabu musem [Northern Germany-on the Baltic Coast], one of the clothing models wore a knee length belted tunic rather than trousers.

There again such a tunic was reasonably common male wear in Europe at that time.

So my guess, and it can only be a guess is that our ancestors wore the tunic-which in time evolved into the long shirt, and their cloak or wrap for bad weather in turn evolved into first the belted plaid and then the kilt as we know it today.

James

[Kilts_Knave]

(Please, Lord, spare us this yet again...)

I'm sorry, I was praying.

This is a very interesting thread that argues the origins of the kilt as Celtic:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=12845
I believe it eventually makes very clear the kilt is a Scottish garment.

[Archangel]

My references make it clear that the vikings wore the tunic, as you stated, with trousers. They seem to have preferred trousers, sissies, adapting several comtemporary Eurasian styles. This, I surmise, evolved into ABBA.

[An t-Ileach]

My references make it clear that the vikings wore the tunic, as you stated, with trousers. They seem to have preferred trousers, sissies, adapting several comtemporary Eurasian styles. This, I surmise, evolved into ABBA.

Or, possibly A-Ha!

It may well be, to pick up on what someone else wrote, that the word "kilt" is from the Old Norse. It certainly isn't Gaelic, whether modern or Old Irish.

But let's not forget that the Lachlannaich established themselves in the Western Isles (in the old Kingdom of Dal Riada, centred on Islay) as the "Lordship of the Isles and the Kingodm of Man", and in Galloway and Man. A lot of Norse words found their way into Gaelic (actually fewer in Islay and Argyll than in Lewis).

But these Lachlannaich acculturated into Scots (Gaels). And so the clans of the Isles are a mixture of (largely) Norwegian Vikings and Dal Riadans, and residual Pictish elements (and some Strathclyde Welsh)... and who knows what else besides?

I am still convinced that the kilt is a Scots garb: not been dented yet.

[arrogcow]

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[Dreadbelly]

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Spamalot?

Dat dat doodley dat dat doo.

[Archangel]

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Goon show, right?

or social commentary?

[Ranald]

On another thread there was some mention of a Viking Kilt, whilst I have never encountered any suggestion that they wore such a garment, there is good evidence that some would wear a long-knee length tunic, without trousers.

To support this, some years ago in the Haithabu musem [Northern Germany-on the Baltic Coast], one of the clothing models wore a knee length belted tunic rather than trousers.

There again such a tunic was reasonably common male wear in Europe at that time.

So my guess, and it can only be a guess is that our ancestors wore the tunic-which in time evolved into the long shirt, and their cloak or wrap for bad weather in turn evolved into first the belted plaid and then the kilt as we know it today.

James

James , yes you are correct, tunics though were anything from waist to knees.
For the bare legged idea look at the bayeaux tapestry, I think there is at least one male who is working bare legged.Beside which this is the nearest thing to a photo of the time we're going to get, and yes there is reference to some individual ( magnus barefoot ) in the viking sagas, but he was wearing a pleated coat.
Trousers ,yes, but there also was this form of legwear that resembled hose and tied up onto a belt that was then covered by a tunic.
But why has the cloak then only in scotland managed to transform into a great kilt when the vikings manged to travel to some far off lands.

[arrogcow]

I don't know, several of the Viking raders in the Capitol One comercials look like they're wearing a kilt like garmet. Surely a credit card company wouldn't portray history inaccurately.

Adam

[Ranald]

Find me from a dig or a bog a warrior in a kilt and I may believe it.
As I said all manner of people would love to find evidence to support that vikings wore kilts ( I would too for obvious reasons) but the kirtle as it's correctly called looks skirt like and the more fabric you wore/had the better off you abviously was.This does not prove vikings wore kilts.
As I also said recently is there a picture of a kilt wearer in the bayeaux tapestry which shows the battle of Hastings (which is in fact saxons verses normans) NO.