Hnefatafl is an ancient Viking board game. The game was popular between 700 and 1000 AD. but after that it was replaced by chess. The Vikings brought the game with them, e.g. from England. Hnefatafl is on display at the museum's permanent exhibition.
Hnefatafl means 'the king's table' or 'table' and is a military technique game for two players. Each player has a role: One aims to defeat the king, the other does everything he can to lead the king to a safe haven in one of the four corners of the table.
The hnefatafl is composed of a tablecloth which is the game, 12 white vikings, one white king, and 24 brown Vikings. Each Viking is approx. three cm in height but the king 4.5 cm. The game comes with rules in Icelandic, English, German, French and Japanese. The game is in a beautiful, burgundy box with gilding.
The game is intended for adults and children over the age of ten.
