CiNii Books - The sword in Anglo-Saxon England : its archaeology and literature

The sword is closely associated with all that was most significant in a man's life in the Anglo-Saxon world: family ties, loyalty to the lord, the duties of a king, the excitement of battle, the attainment of manhood and the lastfuneral rites. Hilda Ellis Davidson explores the revelations of archaeology, methods of sword-making and references in Anglo-Saxon poetry and Old Norse sagas to reveal a past where the sword was of supreme importance, as a weaponand as a symbol. She restores a vital dimension to Old English literature, and supplies a vivid context for those few surviving swords in museums. The book is in two parts: the first, careful study of the disposition of swords found in peat bogs in Denmark, and in graves, lakes and rivers in the British Isles, yields information on religious and social practices. The second part is concerned with literary sources, especially Beowulf. Through this classic work, the real world of the Anglo-Saxons is brought into dramatic close-focus.HILDA ELLIS DAVIDSONwrites and lectures widely on the mythology and beliefs of the pagan middle ages in northern Europe. In the first millenium AD the sword was a vital weapon, its supreme importance was reflected in both its symbolic status and in the care and craftsmanship which went into its making. Knowledge of the sword is essential for a fuller understanding of Anglo-Saxon literature, yet information is scattered and often couched in specialist technical terms. Hilda Ellis Davidson offers a fascinating and accessible account of its practical and ceremonial significance. Archaeology offers swords from graves and, interestingly, from rivers and pools. These finds coincide with descriptions from the poets. The letter of Cassiodorus, secretary to Theodoric the Great, describes `swords capable even of cutting through armour'and more than one testimony speaks of the beauty of Anglo-Saxon swords. The superb pattern-welded blades appear to have been built up from layers of metal, and the fi

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The sword in Anglo-Saxon England : its archaeology and literature

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