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Filipino Warriors Drank From their Enemies’ Skulls a la Vikings
Although it’s not historically accurate, we often imagine Vikings as those European seafarers who wore horn helmets and drank from skull cups (i.e. drinking vessels made by cutting away the lower half of an inverted human skull).
ontrary to popular belief, however, the Europeans were not the only ones who enjoyed this disgusting practice. No less than our own ancestors also thought it was a cool thing to do. For instance, Frederic H. Sawyer, an English engineer who lived in Luzon for many years, described in his book “The Inhabitants of the Philippines” (1900) the Negrito culture in Zambales:
“It was customary amongst them to take with them to their feasts the heads or skulls they possessed. The heads were placed on poles and ceremonial dances were performed around them. They also emulated the Vikings by making drinking cups out of their enemies’ skulls .”
Some of those who joined the Ilocos Revolt of 1660-1661 also resorted to this morbid ritual to celebrate the victory. One of the key players of the said revolt, Don Juan Magsanop of Bangi (Bangui), led his men including the Calanasa (Isneg) of eastern Ilocos Norte in celebrating the death of a Spanish friar.
And guess what was the highlight of the event? The drinking of alcoholic beverage straight from the friar’s skull.
Although it’s not historically accurate, we often imagine Vikings as those European seafarers who wore horn helmets and drank from skull cups (i.e. drinking vessels made by cutting away the lower half of an inverted human skull).
ontrary to popular belief, however, the Europeans were not the only ones who enjoyed this disgusting practice. No less than our own ancestors also thought it was a cool thing to do. For instance, Frederic H. Sawyer, an English engineer who lived in Luzon for many years, described in his book “The Inhabitants of the Philippines” (1900) the Negrito culture in Zambales:
“It was customary amongst them to take with them to their feasts the heads or skulls they possessed. The heads were placed on poles and ceremonial dances were performed around them. They also emulated the Vikings by making drinking cups out of their enemies’ skulls .”
Some of those who joined the Ilocos Revolt of 1660-1661 also resorted to this morbid ritual to celebrate the victory. One of the key players of the said revolt, Don Juan Magsanop of Bangi (Bangui), led his men including the Calanasa (Isneg) of eastern Ilocos Norte in celebrating the death of a Spanish friar.
And guess what was the highlight of the event? The drinking of alcoholic beverage straight from the friar’s skull.
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