Denmark's National Museum has unveiled what it described as the first "portrait" of a Viking: a miniature 10th-century figurine depicting a man with an imperial moustache, braided beard and neatly-groomed hairstyle.

Carved out of ivory walrus tusk, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures just 1.2 inches).

"If you think of Vikings as savage or wild, this figure is proving the opposite, actually. He is very well-groomed," curator Peter Pentz told AFP Wednesday, holding up the piece with white-gloved hands.

Denmark's national museum curator Peter Pentz shows a gaming piece believed to be the first "portrait" of a Viking, on August 26, 2025 in Copenhagen. CAMILLE BAS-WOHLERT / AFP via Getty Images

"He has a center parting up to the top of his head, and then in t

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