Outrage over city’s plans to alter iconic Viking statue after fact-checking busybodies demanded makeover: ‘He’d feel naked’

In the Canadian town of Gimli, the controversy over a 4.5-metre-high Viking statue has grown. The horns on the helmet are the subject of particular discussion, as some say they are not realistic.

With a battle axe in one hand, a horn in the other, and a cape on his back, the Viking statue is almost entirely realistic, save for one recognizable detail: the horns protruding from the side of the warrior’s helmet.

“A Viking helmet with horns has never been found before,” said Julianna Roberts, director of the New Iceland Heritage Museum. CTV News.

The historical accuracy of the horns was questioned and sparked a debate on social media after a Gimli resident asked if there had ever been a discussion about removing them.

The statue overlooks the water of Gimli, a town on the shore of Lake Winnipeg

“It’s a bit embarrassing,” the resident wrote, according to CTV News.

Another resident agreed, writing that they hoped the statues would be removed when it underwent a two-week renovation in 2015 that cost a total of $60,000.

Others, however, found the debate ridiculous. According to them, the statue would “feel naked” without the horns, and whether it had horns or not did not detract from the impression it made.

The 57-year-old statue was designed by Gissur Eliasson, a respected Canadian painting teacher. In his original sketch, he omitted the horns.

But the Gimli Chamber of Commerce intervened: they had already ordered a significant quantity of plastic helmets with horns and urged the artist to use them, according to Public delivery.

Julianna Roberts, the director of the New Iceland Heritage Museum, noted that the horns are not historically accurate

The Viking, built in 1967, was intended to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary and the community’s strong ties with Iceland

There is no evidence that horned helmets were worn during armed conflict, contrary to what the Viking toys in the museum shop look like.

“There is no doubt that the horned ones sell much faster than the hornless ones,” Roberts added.

The Viking statue that towers over the shores of Lake Winnipeg is comparable to the Statue of Liberty in New York. It is a real attraction for anyone visiting the ‘Heart of New Iceland’.

“It’s awesome! It draws a lot of people and it’s been there forever!” added another resident, Mark Quberko.

The attraction was founded in 1967 to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary and the community’s strong ties to Iceland. It attracts around 200,000 visitors each year.

An annual festival in the heart of Gimli, the Manitoba Icelandic Festival attracts people from all over the world for a chance to experience Icelandic culture and heritage

It wouldn’t be a festival without a reenactment of a Viking battle, which can be seen at the festival in August – but without the horns, of course

The Viking stands proudly high above the water in its home base of Viking Park. Everyone is welcome to view it at any time of day, all year round.

There is even an annual festival surrounding the statue, the Manitoba Icelandic Festival, which draws people from all over the world to experience Icelandic culture and heritage in the heart of Gimli.

It is one of the longest running Icelandic festivals in the world.

Food stalls, crafts, treasure hunts, live music, rides, fireworks, drink gardens, sandcastle competitions and sports tournaments are just some of the activities on offer to festival-goers each long weekend in August.

But it wouldn’t be a real Viking festival without reenacted battles – and of course, without the horns.