Norway Stave Church
The timber for the Stave Church of Borgund was felled in 1180, with some outer beams and ornamentation during the following half-century. More than 1,000 such structures were built in Scandinavia, northern Germany and northern Poland, but Borgund remains today among a mere 28 surviving structures; also, Borgund contains the least number of subsequent architectural alterations of any of the 28 churches.
The name "stave" refers to the construction system (post and beam). The pieces are interlocking. Originally, no metal was used to secure the parts together (some metal pieces were added over the centuries, but they are being removed as restoration work continues).
Notice the "dragons" on the points of the dormers. The early churches were built within decades of Christianity's infiltration into Scandinavia. Thus, the symbolism is highly syncretistic, as are the decorative components (e.g., carved door posts) that share much in common with runic inscriptions and other Viking/Norsemen designs.
Read MoreThe name "stave" refers to the construction system (post and beam). The pieces are interlocking. Originally, no metal was used to secure the parts together (some metal pieces were added over the centuries, but they are being removed as restoration work continues).
Notice the "dragons" on the points of the dormers. The early churches were built within decades of Christianity's infiltration into Scandinavia. Thus, the symbolism is highly syncretistic, as are the decorative components (e.g., carved door posts) that share much in common with runic inscriptions and other Viking/Norsemen designs.
