Photo gallery on the Viking board game Hnefatafl. |
Photographer: Dmitrij Tsvilenev ("Dimetr"), Russia. 17/1/2023. Dmitrij Tsvilenev made this photo series and writes: My friends organised Tafl tournament for child last holidays, at the one of Moscow chess school. 12 players. I decided to send you some photo to publish in gallery. Mayby it is first child Tafl tournament? Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 15/10/2022. Here are some photos from Saturday's Classical Board Games Day held in Zealand, Denmark.
Photo 2, 3: Hnefatafl, the games and variant introduced at the recent Medieval Festival in Ringsted, Denmark, was used ("Market Hnefatafl"). Photo 4, 5: Marten Walinga brought 13 Ipads with an app which made it simple to play the Frisian Frysk game. Photo 6: Japanese Animal Chess. Photo 7: Trax. Photo 8, 9, 10: Chinese Chess. Photo 13: Draughts. Photo 17: Go. Photo 19: Othello. The instructor is the reigning Danish Junior Champion of Othello, who will be representing Denmark in the forthcoming World Championship tournament in Paris. Photo 30-35: Simultaneous games of Frisian Frysk against World Champion Marten Walinga. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographers: Aage Nielsen and Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 26-28/8/2022. Ringsted Medieval Festival 2022, Denmark. We brought the board games Hare and Hounds, Fox Tafl, Jump Tafl, Nine Men's Morris, Hnefatafl, Daldos and a couple more. The Simple Tafl-w 9x9 (Simple Tafl rhombus-w 9x9) was out in the open for the first time and did the job !! Still real hnefatafl with all the essentials but very easy to enter for total beginners; and a short game too, since festival guests have not much time. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 5/8/2022. Three game sets ready for the Medieval Festival. Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Photographer: Dmitrij Tsvilenev ("Dimetr"), Russia. 26/7/2022. Dmitrij Tsvilenev made this photo series and writes: "This is some photo from the big historical festival "Bylinnyj Bereg" ("Epic Coast") 170 km north of Moscow), last holiday. We continue to popularize Tafl. This time we made a big Tafl and Daldos, on the grass." The living history festival "Bylinnyj Bereg" ("the legendary river bank") July 22nd-24th 2022 on the banks of the river Volga near the village Toporok, Russia. 2.5 hours drive from Moscow, on the banks of the river Volga, a camp of Vikings and Slavs takes place on the ancient trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This is a very big festival which has been held since 2011, participants come from all over Russia and neighbouring countries. The festival includes a large combat program, tournaments, competitions and other demonstrations of skills. And a big market with all sorts of ancient crafts, which you can also try yourself. Clips from the festival: Bylinnyj Bereg 2022. Bylinnyj Bereg 2022. Nejromonakh Feofan. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 2/7/2022. Tour de France 2022 in Denmark. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographers: Aage Nielsen and Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 23/6/2022. Midsummer Eve in the "Land of Legends" in Lejre, Denmark. Last photos show the midsummer sky directly north at midnight 24 o'clock Midsummer Eve. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographers: Aage Nielsen and Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 16/6/2022. We revisited the Royal Hall in Lejre, Denmark, a beautiful summer day, this time with Alexander Steiger Dis' Hnefatafl game. First photos: Steiger's game set up in the Royal Hall. Last two photos: Reconstructed Iron Age village, and reconstructed Stone Age long barrow. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographers: Dmitry Pashkov and Dmitrij Tsvilenev ("Dimetr"). 2/4/2022. Alexander Steiger Dis sent these photos and writes: Photos from Daldos tournament last Sunday in Moscow (i.e. March 27th). Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 19/2/2022. Here are some photos from Saturday's Classical Board Games Day held in Zealand, Denmark. Photo 2: Welcome. Photo 13: Our instructors of Chinese Chess are from China. Photos 17-21: One of the instructors is a keen collector of antique games. The Chinese puzzle "Tangram" produced in China about 1850. And the Mona birds game produced 1890. Photo 22: Instructors relaxing after the event. The girl is the reigning Danish Junior Champion of Othello (juniors up to 15 years old), and she is beating her mother in Saami Tablut 9x9 using the game set produced by Mikkel Berg-Nordlie ("mihkkal"). They both try the game for the first time. Photo 23: Our set of Trax. Produced by one of the instructors in very good quality, and he still has a lot of sets for sale. Photo 24: Our Hnefatafl game set produced by Alexander Steiger Dis ("Steiger"). Photo 25: Our set of Menara produced by an instructor from Germany.
Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Artist: Copyright © Luk Martens, Belgium. 11/2/2022. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these pictures and writes: It's the process of 'serial' production of my Tyr (or Tafl) pieces. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
31/1/2022. Alexander Steiger Dis sent these photos and writes: Here are some shots for the gallery from yesterday's Board Games Festival "Larix" in Moscow, where the players of the "Ethnic Board Games" held the Copenhagen Hnefatafl tournament. Photos by Denis Tarkov and Dmitriy Tsvilenev.
Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Artist: Copyright © Luk Martens, Belgium. 8/9/2021. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these pictures and writes: After the design phase, I finally took the first step towards 'production': the pawns of my self-designed Tafl / Tyr viking game. The first pic shows the 3 steps: the design file on the left, the stl.-file in the middle (for 3D printing), the result on the right. In the second photo you see 2 different warriors (5 cm height) and the king (6 cm). These will be used to make the casting molds. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Vittorio Vuyet, Italy. 30/7/2021. Vittorio Vuyet, Italy, sent these photos of his series of Hnefatafl game sets. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Artist: Copyright © Luk Martens, Belgium. 18/5/2021. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these pictures and writes: In the ever evolving process of designing (and redesigning) the fysical pieces for my Tyr board game, here is the latest version in 3D, including the horse seated commanders. Compared to previous designs, these feature more detail (rivets on helmets, shields). Also, I created a special 'Sutton Hoo' king, wearing the famous helmet. Click on the drawings for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 13/5/2021. Alexander Steiger Dis sent these photos and writes: Universal Hnefatafl set FLT XII for playing Brandubh, Tablut, Tawlbwrdd and Berserk Hnefatafl. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Paul A. Anokhin, Russia. 9/3/2021. Paul A. Anokhin ("paul7"), Russia, sent these photos and writes: The wooden Brandubh set inspired by the famous Ballinderry board and the Tablut set were made by the Drevodeli artisan group in Pskov, Russia. The smaller Brandubh set was made by Les 7 Cailloux in France. Their website is dead, I guess they're probably out of business. And the ubiquitous "Viking game" set probably doesn't need an introduction. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Thomas, USA. 17/1/2021. Thomas, USA, sent these photos and writes: Photos from Viking Ship Museum near Oslo for your photo page on your website. - The Oseberg Ship! Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 10/1/2021. Alexander Steiger Dis sent this photo and writes: Berserk hnefatafl set made by Dmitry Pashkov from Ethnic Board Games, for the gallery. Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Photographer: "Hevux". 15/12/2020. "Hevux" sent this photo of his Berserk Hnefatafl game. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
13/11/2020. Alexander V. Fomichëv ("Ded Fomich") sent these photos and writes: I have two photos I made before sending Steiger's boards to Mario (Casshern) and Marco (Mmagari). For Marco it was a magnetic Brandubh board, for Mario - a Tablut set with very nice carved pieces. Keep it on, Herr Steiger! 
Photographer: Alexander V. Fomichëv, Moscow, Russia. 12/11/2020. Alexander V. Fomichëv ("Ded Fomich") sent these photos and writes: I've just made a series of photos in praise of Steiger's 'Frontlinetafl' project. I'm a proud owner of three boards made by his marvellous pair of hands. All of them are presented on the photos. Glück auf! Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 10/11/2020. Jigsaw puzzle from Roskilde Museum shop, made in Norway. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 8/11/2020. My new tafl game set from Ukraine created by Aleksander Steiger Dis. The board is made out of a single piece of oak wood, a cross section all the way through wood, growth layer and bark still on both sides. Game pieces are turned from oak and elm and mounted on leather. The king is Odhinn carved from ash and mounted on a brazen foot. Oak (board and attackers) symbolizes the strength, endurance and nobility. Elm (defenders) personifies the struggle, justice and dignity. Ash (Odhinn) embodies the connection between the heaven and the earth. The carved inscription on the edges is verse #60 from Völuspá in Old Norse and in runes: Then again wonderful golden boards shall be found in the grass, the ones they owned in ancient times. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 16/9/2020. The Saami game set prize from the Norden Tournament 2020 and yet another beautiful late summer day. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographers: Aage Nielsen and Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 15/9/2020. Visiting the Royal Hall in Lejre, Denmark, a beautiful late summer day. Full scale reconstruction. The original hall from about 700 is located on a Lejre site with a series of halls. The halls older than this one are connected with stables and farm animals and therefore belonged to large farmers and chieftains. The reconstructed hall is the first in the series which is not connected to any stables and farm animals, which means that this one belonged not to a chieftain any more but to the first king, receiving taxes from his fellow men. The legends about this site and the kings there have been alive in Denmark from Iron Age till this day. The Royal Hall Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 25/8/2020. Alexander Steiger Dis made this photo series of new tafl boards. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Mikkel Berg-Nordlie, Sápmi (Norway). 21/8/2020. Mikkel Berg-Nordlie ("mihkkal") sent this photo and writes: Er på skip fra Tromsø til Bjarkøy. Med reinskinn, mjød og spill. Skal være seminar om håløghøvdingen Tore Hund. Jeg skal holde foredrag om de norrønt-samiske forhold i vikingtid. Passer da selvfølgelig å ta med tablut, et levende eksempel på samisk-norrøn forbrødring. Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Photographer: Luk Martens, Belgium. 13/8/2020. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these photos and writes: These sunny days are ideal to take pictures... Here are some photos of the finished Tyr game. Actually it's Simple Tyr, without special pieces. I placed the pieces in either 15x15 historical Tafl and 15x15 Tyr set-up. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 23/6/2020. Midsummer Eve in the "Land of Legends" in Lejre, Denmark. The Royal Hall is now finished, a full scale reconstruction of the royal hall from about 700 which was found a couple of kilometers from here. This was the hall of Rolf Krake and the Scyldingas, and is the scenery of the events in the Beowulf epic poem. Tonight we did not see monsters from the marsh, though. Then the reconstruction of an Iron Age village. Last photo shows the midsummer sky directly north at midnight 24 o'clock June 21st. Here are photos from the inauguration of the hall June 17th. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 17/6/2020. Alexander Steiger Dis made this photo series of new tafl boards. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Artist: Copyright © Luk Martens, Belgium. 20/5/2020. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent this picture and writes: In the ongoing process to realise my Tyr board game, I designed the pieces and have them 3D-printed (yet to be painted). Click on the drawing for enlargement. |
Photographer: Roberto Gallotta, Italy. 27/3/2020. Roberto Gallotta ("187Gallo") sent these photos and writes: Hi, I wanted to share my custom board and pieces I made during the (ongoing) quarantine here in Italy. I decided to make a 4-in-1 board so I can play most variants, marking the corners with different etchings. I marked the pieces with their initials (in the picture you can see, from left to right, King, Knight, Defender, Commander and Attacker). It's my first project using the pyrograph and I think it turned out well. I'm really happy that I can play now both irl with this board and online thanks to your website. I'm nowhere near good enough to compete in a tournament, but maybe one day :) Take care, Roberto (187Gallo) Click on the drawing for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 1/3/2020. Alexander Steiger Dis sent this photo and writes: I found a maple board in the coal mine and made a tablut. 73' stanza of Havamal is carved around the edges. Anyone who wants to become the owner of this piece of history, contact me. Click on the drawing for enlargement. |
Artist: Copyright © Luk Martens, Belgium. 3/2/2020. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent this drawing and writes: Herewith the finished drawing, intended for the box of my tafl game. Click on the drawing for enlargement. |
Photographer: Luk Martens, Belgium. 25/12/2019. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent this photo and writes: Merry Christmas to you and all the players on this site! I designed 3D-pieces for the 'Alea Berserk'-tafl variant according to the rules set up by mr Bartley. Luk Martens (aka Masterluke) Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Photographer: David Zolli, France. 30/9/2019. David Zolli ("branan") sent these photos and writes: I just finished my custom Brandubh set and wanted to share it on the site gallery. It began this summer with these funny little guys I purchased when visiting Maillezais Abbey and Cathedral (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillezais_Cathedral). From left to right, the king, a defender and an attacker. These pieces are pretty big (8x8 cm) so I had to find a suitable board. I finally chose a 60x60 cm coffee table made of solid mango wood. I carved the checkerboard by hand and then tinted the 5 dark boxes with walnut stain (cause I wanted the table to keep its raw appearance). And here's the final result, I'm pretty proud of it. David Zolli Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Luk Martens, Belgium. 5/9/2019. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these photos and writes: I am developing a strategy game which is related to tafl-games, although it isn't one. But it does have similar characteristics... In fact, it is an attempt to combine the historic battle of Hastings in 1066 with a tafl-like game. Some basic movements are the same, as are some ways of capturing. Like tafl, it is played on a square game board divided by an uneven number of rows (in this case 17 x 17) and there is a certain unbalance, since the armies are unequal (they are based on the supposed real numbers of the battle in Hastings). But then the biggest difference is that both parties must try to catch the opponents's king, as well as some extra special pieces, specific to each army. So far I designed a board and all the pieces, and written down the rules. In the future, I will look for a game manufacturer who is interested in cooperating or making the game. But for now, it's just testing, trial and error... That's why I wanted to post this in your forum (or gallery). Maybe some of the members may have a look at it to react, giving feedback, opinions and critical advise as much as possible. Is it playable, is it enjoyable in the first place? Included here are 3 jpg-files, numbered consecutively (printable on A4-format). I would be very grateful if you could make this visible on your website, be it in the forum or the gallery. Luk Martens (aka Masterluke) Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Adam Bartley, Norway. 11/7/2019. Adam Bartley's game set for Alea Berserk 19x19. Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, Denmark, 50 years anniversary August 17th 2019.
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 17/8/2019. Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, Denmark, 50 years anniversary. In the photos from inside the museum you will among the ships recognize the remnants of the large war ship. The photos from outside the museum show in the harbour the full scale reconstruction of the war ship, named the Sea Stallion.This reconstruction sailed easily from Roskilde, Denmark, to Dublin, Ireland. Also two photos of hnefatafl games in the museum shop. Earlier photo series from the museum: July 2015, Dec. 8th 2012 and Sep. 14th 2012. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Luk Martens, Belgium. 16/8/2019. Luk Martens ("Masterluke") sent these photos and writes: Hello My name is Luk Martens. Earlier this year, I became an active online Tafl-player on your website (where I am called Masterluke). I'm not that good at it (my ranking is currently less then 1200, once I was listed at the very bottom with only 985 points;)), but nevertheless I like playing it very much. I am intrigued by medieval history, the Tafl-game and the many variations. I make a living illustrating history school books (age 12-18 years) and occasionally I make a comic, always history related. I came to know about Tafl games through the excellent BBC TV-series 'The last kingdom'. I have made several versions of my own. Included are some pictures. I designed and made thus far 3 different type of pawns and game boards. The two largest of them being a 9x9 tablut (pictures Nos 13 - 17) and 11x11 Hnefatafl game (Nos. 01-06) made by the casting/molding technique, using a mixture of plaster and epoxy. The smallest one (Nos. 07-10) is designed digitally with an online app called 'Tinkercad' (by Autodesk) and the game you see is 3D-printed. Pics 11 and 12 show the design. Of course, these can be applied to any Tafl-game. Pic 13 shows yet antother digital 3D-design in 3 different sizes which has yet to be printed. I'm looking for funds/partners to produce these and to sell. But that's not the reason I contact you. I just want to share these pictures with you and you're free to show them in your 'gallery' section of your website. Best regards Luk Martens (Masterluke) Click on the photos for enlargement. |
The living history festival "Bylinnyj Bereg" 2019, Russia.
Photographers: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine, Lucho Panchev, Bulgaria, Dmitry Pashkov, Russia, Alexander V. Fomichëv, Russia, and others. 3/8/2019. Alexander Steiger Dis made this photo series and writes: "Some photos from the festival 'Bylinnyj bereg 2019'" The living history festival "Bylinnyj Bereg" ("the legendary river bank") July 26th-28th 2019 at the banks of the river Volga near the village Toporok, Russia. The text tells that 2.5 hours drive from Moscow, on the banks of the river Volga, a camp of Vikings and Slavs takes place on the ancient trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This is a very big festival which has been held since 2011, participants come from all over Russia and neighbouring countries. The festival includes a large combat program, tournaments, competitions and other demonstrations of skills. And a big market with all sorts of ancient crafts, which you can also try yourself. Also many of the best folk bands of ancient music perform at the festival. Here are examples from the festival, some perhaps not so ancient but well performed: Arkaim video ("storm") Skolot video ("the legend of the war ships") Skolot video ("Herr Mannelig") Olya and the acustics from home, video Street musician on hurdy-gurdy, video Clips from the festival: Ship landing video Friendly combat. Duel video Demonstration of skills video Late night chain dance video Herr Mannelig is a Swedish folk song, Swedish version: Herr Mannelig video Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Alexander Steiger Dis, Ukraine. 24/7/2019. Alexander Steiger Dis sent this photo: "Here is a photo for the gallery: One oak - five countries. Frontlinetafl." The Norse text is a verse from the Völuspá (Prophecy of the Völva): Then again wonderful golden boards shall be found in the grass, the ones they owned in ancient times. (Thøger Larsen translated from Old Norse into Danish and Aage Nielsen from Danish into English.) Click on the photo for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 23/6/2019. Midsummer Eve in the "Land of Legends" area in Lejre, Denmark. Figures from four historical eras of history (stone age, bronze age, viking age, 1800's) compete to be first to lit the bonfire. The viking and the bronze age woman won. Photos of the Royal Long Hall, building in progress. It's a full scale reconstruction of the royal long hall from about 800 which was found a couple of kilometers from here. The village is Iron Age. The last two photos show the sky directly north at midnight 24 o'clock. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Aage Nielsen, Denmark. 16/6/2019. Excursion to Lejre Museum, Denmark. Last photos, notice the burial mounds in the horizon. (More photos from Lejre Museum 3/6/2018 below). Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Lucho Panchev, Bulgaria. 10/4/2019. Lucho Panchev ("OdinHimself") writes: I'm sending you photos I made today. Of me and the board I received from Russia as a prize. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Elisabeth Andersen, Denmark. 9/2/2019. Classical Board Game cafe, Denmark. Checkers, Frisian Checkers, Nine Men's Morris, Othello (Reversi), Go (9x9), Trax, Hnefatafl (Tablut), Daldøs and Sáhkku, Shogi and the simpler version Catch The Lion, Quoridor, Pentomino, Hex, Havannah, Twixt, Lines of Action, Atoll, Wings, Gonnect, Menara and dice building games, Pentalath and Yavalath, Kalaha and Wari/Awalé/Oware. Forum note. Click on the photos for enlargement. |
Photographer: Charles Ward, USA. 11/2/2019. Charles Ward ("chuck ward") writes: I have a few photos of a board I made with some playing pieces I cannibalized from another game.. Click on the photo for enlargement. |