Medieval History
The Lewis Chessmen are the most famous and important chess pieces in history. They have a long historical and scholarly record, part of which is that they were made in Norway roughly 800 years ago. But now two Icelandic men are challenging that belief and trying to prove that the pieces came from their country.
The pieces were discovered on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in 1831 ? hence their name. Carved mostly out of walrus tusk, they were found in a small carrying-case made of stone inside a sand dune. There are different theories about how they ended up there, including that they were left over from a shipwreck or that they were stolen and buried on the island and then forgotten.
Click here to read this article from the New York Times
- Historic Lewis Chessmen Returning To Western Isles
Six Lewis Chessmen are to be displayed long-term at a new museum on the Western Isles, where more than 90 of the historic pieces were found. An agreement has been reached between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the British...
- New Book Examines Vikings In The Outer Hebrides
A new book on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides has revealed some interesting about the Viking presence in Scotland. From Machair to Mountains shows how experts uncovered a series of virtual ?time capsules? on South Uist in the form of ancient...
- Icelandic Checkmate?
In 1831, an ancient set of chess pieces was found in the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland. The most amazing fact about these chessmen?made of walrus ivory and whale teeth?is that they were the oldest figures showing a clear resemblance to modern pieces. Since...
- Scottish Mp Demands Return Of The Lewis Chessmen
A Scottish Member of Parliament is demanding that the entire collection of Lewis Chessmen be permanently kept in Scotland. He is upset that the British Museum, which houses some of these medieval figures, is now saying that the chessmen were created...
- Lewis Chessmen Might Not Be Chessmen
Some of the Lewis Chessmen may not have been chessmen at all according to new research. The 12th and 13th century gaming pieces which were discovered in Uig on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 are considered to be Scotland?s most renowned archaeological find....
Medieval History
A New Theory on the Origin of the Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen are the most famous and important chess pieces in history. They have a long historical and scholarly record, part of which is that they were made in Norway roughly 800 years ago. But now two Icelandic men are challenging that belief and trying to prove that the pieces came from their country.
The pieces were discovered on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in 1831 ? hence their name. Carved mostly out of walrus tusk, they were found in a small carrying-case made of stone inside a sand dune. There are different theories about how they ended up there, including that they were left over from a shipwreck or that they were stolen and buried on the island and then forgotten.
Click here to read this article from the New York Times
- Historic Lewis Chessmen Returning To Western Isles
Six Lewis Chessmen are to be displayed long-term at a new museum on the Western Isles, where more than 90 of the historic pieces were found. An agreement has been reached between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the British...
- New Book Examines Vikings In The Outer Hebrides
A new book on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides has revealed some interesting about the Viking presence in Scotland. From Machair to Mountains shows how experts uncovered a series of virtual ?time capsules? on South Uist in the form of ancient...
- Icelandic Checkmate?
In 1831, an ancient set of chess pieces was found in the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland. The most amazing fact about these chessmen?made of walrus ivory and whale teeth?is that they were the oldest figures showing a clear resemblance to modern pieces. Since...
- Scottish Mp Demands Return Of The Lewis Chessmen
A Scottish Member of Parliament is demanding that the entire collection of Lewis Chessmen be permanently kept in Scotland. He is upset that the British Museum, which houses some of these medieval figures, is now saying that the chessmen were created...
- Lewis Chessmen Might Not Be Chessmen
Some of the Lewis Chessmen may not have been chessmen at all according to new research. The 12th and 13th century gaming pieces which were discovered in Uig on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 are considered to be Scotland?s most renowned archaeological find....