THE MELHUS RELIQUARY.

The article focuses on the Melhus Reliquary, a house-shaped shrine of Irish origin displayed at the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim, Norway. The reliquary, dating from the early 800s AD, was found in a Viking Age female burial in central Norway and is part of a new permanent Viking exhibition that opened in June 2024. The exhibition features local and foreign Viking artifacts, exploring themes such as raids, trade, and silver hoards. Recent research suggests the reliquary may have been re-ritualized in Norway, integrating into pagan practices rather than solely representing Christian missionary influence or exotic gifts. This object exemplifies the complex cultural interactions during the Viking Age and challenges simplistic views of Viking society.