Medieval History
Several articles have recently appeared online that talk about the Vikings:
Jane Kershaw from University College London has recently published her book on Viking Identities: Scandinavian Jewellery in England. In a post on the Oxford University Press blog, she writes about how over 500 examples of Viking jewellery have been discovered in England. These brooches and pendants worn by women are contributing much to our understanding of the Norse presence in Anglo-Saxon England.
Kershaw writes, "Although Anglo-Saxon women also wore brooches, they were of a very different style to those favoured by Scandinavian women, so it?s clear that the new jewellery finds represent a distinctly ?foreign? dress element. The jewellery being unearthed in England is strikingly similar to that found in Scandinavia, particularly its southern regions: there are disc, trefoil, lozenge, oval, and bird shaped brooches decorated with animals and plants from the Scandinavian art styles of Borre, Jellinge, Mammen and Urnes. Encountering women on a walk around tenth-century Norfolk, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were in Denmark."
Click here to read her blog post
Karen Schousboe details in Medieval Histories how 162 coins dating from the late tenth century have been discovered in northern Denmark. One of the most interesting finds in this hoard is over fifty coins minted by King Harold Bluetooth (958 ? 987).
Schousboe writes, "The coins are believed to reflect the conversion of the king in 963 as it is witnessed on the Great Jelling Stone, according to which the king claims to have ?ordered this monument made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian.? Obviously the coins were meant as part of the king?s effort to market his new religion."
Click here to read the full article from Medieval Histories
First the intended victim would be restrained, face down; next, the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings would be cut into his back. After that, his ribs would be hacked from his spine with an ax, one by one, and the bones and skin on both sides pulled outward to create a pair of ?wings? from the man?s back. The victim, it is said, would still be alive at this point to experience the agony of what Turner terms ?saline stimulant? ? having salt rubbed, quite literally, into his vast wound. After that, his exposed lungs would be pulled out of his body and spread over his ?wings,? offering witnesses the sight of a final bird-like ?fluttering? as he died.
Click here to read the full article from the Smithsonian
Meanwhile, author Marcus Sedgwick believes that school children don't get to learn enough about the Vikings and Norse mythology. He tells The Big Issue, "?As alluring at the Greek Myths are, I?ve always argued that we ought to pay as much if not more attention to another set of myths, those of the Vikings, since they are much more directly our heritage. Yes, we take the names of our days from the Norse Gods, and most people can tell you a little about Thor, but that?s probably about it.?
Click here to read the full article from The Big Issue
Finally, check out Searching for the Vikings on the Isle of Man on Medievalists.net
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- Historian Uncovers Cases Of Ransoms Paid To Vikings In The 11th Century
How much were two women worth in 11th century Iberia? For the Vikings the price was a blanket of wolf skin, a sword, a shirt, three scarves, a cow and some salt. This fascinating story is part of research done by Helio Pires from the New University of...
- Viking Hoard Discovered In England
In what is being described as a ?very exciting find? over 200 items dating back to around the year 900 have been discovered near Silverdale, in north Lancashire. Now known as the Silverdale Viking Hoard, the collection cotnains a total of 201 silver objects...
- Viking Treasure Discovered In England
A metal detector enthusiast has found a major hoard of Viking silver in a field on the Cumbria-Lancashire border. Darren Webster, from Carnforth, uncovered more than 200 silver pieces including ornate bracelets, coins and ingots in a lead pot. He said...
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Medieval History
What's new about the Vikings
Several articles have recently appeared online that talk about the Vikings:
Unearthing Viking jewellery
Kershaw writes, "Although Anglo-Saxon women also wore brooches, they were of a very different style to those favoured by Scandinavian women, so it?s clear that the new jewellery finds represent a distinctly ?foreign? dress element. The jewellery being unearthed in England is strikingly similar to that found in Scandinavia, particularly its southern regions: there are disc, trefoil, lozenge, oval, and bird shaped brooches decorated with animals and plants from the Scandinavian art styles of Borre, Jellinge, Mammen and Urnes. Encountering women on a walk around tenth-century Norfolk, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were in Denmark."
Click here to read her blog post
Viking hoard discovered in Denmark
Schousboe writes, "The coins are believed to reflect the conversion of the king in 963 as it is witnessed on the Great Jelling Stone, according to which the king claims to have ?ordered this monument made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian.? Obviously the coins were meant as part of the king?s effort to market his new religion."
Click here to read the full article from Medieval Histories
The Vengeance of Ivarr the Boneless
The Smithsonian blog Past Imperfect reminds us that besides being traders and settlers, the Vikings also enjoyed "gory ritual killings". They detail the several recorded instances of the blood eagle ritual, which is described this way:First the intended victim would be restrained, face down; next, the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings would be cut into his back. After that, his ribs would be hacked from his spine with an ax, one by one, and the bones and skin on both sides pulled outward to create a pair of ?wings? from the man?s back. The victim, it is said, would still be alive at this point to experience the agony of what Turner terms ?saline stimulant? ? having salt rubbed, quite literally, into his vast wound. After that, his exposed lungs would be pulled out of his body and spread over his ?wings,? offering witnesses the sight of a final bird-like ?fluttering? as he died.
Click here to read the full article from the Smithsonian
Meanwhile, author Marcus Sedgwick believes that school children don't get to learn enough about the Vikings and Norse mythology. He tells The Big Issue, "?As alluring at the Greek Myths are, I?ve always argued that we ought to pay as much if not more attention to another set of myths, those of the Vikings, since they are much more directly our heritage. Yes, we take the names of our days from the Norse Gods, and most people can tell you a little about Thor, but that?s probably about it.?
Click here to read the full article from The Big Issue
Finally, check out Searching for the Vikings on the Isle of Man on Medievalists.net
- Scotland Prepares To Show Off Its Medieval Heritage
As the movie Brave draws in big crowds around the world, Scotland is set to take advantage of this new attention to showcase its medieval heritage. Two important exhibits will be taking place next year at the National Museum of Scotland, while construction...
- Historian Uncovers Cases Of Ransoms Paid To Vikings In The 11th Century
How much were two women worth in 11th century Iberia? For the Vikings the price was a blanket of wolf skin, a sword, a shirt, three scarves, a cow and some salt. This fascinating story is part of research done by Helio Pires from the New University of...
- Viking Hoard Discovered In England
In what is being described as a ?very exciting find? over 200 items dating back to around the year 900 have been discovered near Silverdale, in north Lancashire. Now known as the Silverdale Viking Hoard, the collection cotnains a total of 201 silver objects...
- Viking Treasure Discovered In England
A metal detector enthusiast has found a major hoard of Viking silver in a field on the Cumbria-Lancashire border. Darren Webster, from Carnforth, uncovered more than 200 silver pieces including ornate bracelets, coins and ingots in a lead pot. He said...
- Medieval News
Medieval shipwreck found in Barcelona city centre Waterford Viking site has yet to be recorded as a national monument Ship sunk in 13th century uncovered at Spain construction site Car park dig for ancient settlement Silbury gives up its final secret...