My mother probably thought I was mad when I asked for it but I was delighted with a present my parents bought me this Xmas.  It is a replica of the Beagnoth Seax which is in the British Museum.

Here is a picture of it:

The Seax of Beagnoth was found in the river Thames in 1857 and dates to 9th century. Inscribed upon it is a complete 28 character set of the FUTHORC or old English runic alphabet. It also contains a name. This might either be the blades owner or its maker. This is an image of the original:

The Beagnoth Seax in the British Museum

I sometimes do talks at schools and Historical Societies on Life in AD 600 and use many such artefacts to illustrate points. In the case of the Beagnoth Seax  I can show my audience some of the evidence for how we know the Anglo-Saxons used the Germanic-Norse style runic alphabet.

Furthermore the  Beagnoth Seax is evidence that the Saxons were following traditions for inscribing blades to make them more powerful and invincible.  Such an activity is mentioned in the Beowulf Saga:

On its bright gold facings there were also runes 
set down in order, engraved, inlaid, 
which told for whom the sword was first worked, 
its hair-keen edges, twisted gold 
scrolled in the hilt, the woven snake-blade.
In pure gold inlay on the sword-guards
there were rune-markings correctly incised.

In Norse poetry of the Edda there are clear instructions about inscribing victory runes on a blade:

Winning-runes learn,if thou longest to win,And the runes on thy sword-hilt write;Some on the furrow,and some on the flat,And twice shalt thou call on Tyr.

What this is saying is to write the runes on the blade and in particular to use the Tyr rune. Tyr is the one handed god of Warriors and courage.

The great thing about being able to share with an audience a physical object like a blade is to show that our ancestors did this kind of thing in real life.

Who Beagnoth was we do not know (although  the name appears twice in documents from Kent in the 9th/10th centuries) but it is thanks to his seax being dropped in the river Thames that we have this evidence today,

I recently wrote an article about the Anglo-Saxon Gods of Old England – those that our ancestors worshipped before England became Christian. Just as Christianity is linked to the powerful symbol of the Cross and Judaism to that of the Star of David or the Menora, these gods had their own symbols that would be used on pottery, weapons and on pendants worn by the faithful. Here are some of the main Saxon gods and their symbols.

Woden (Odin)

Woden is the chief god of the Anglo-Norse Pantheon. He is seen as being often a grumpy old man, or a warrior and sometimes a shadowy cloaked figure sneaking around watching men. He was a god of life and death, of of war. In Saxon and in Norse mythology, Woden/Odin was the highest ranking god and the leader of the Wild Hunt. He was often imagined galloping across the sky  in a chariot pulled by white horses. It is thought that he is the original inspiration for Santa Claus. There are a  number of symbols associated with him. Both the Raven and the Wolf are animals linked to Woden. He is often depicted with a spear.

This is another symbol linked to Woden. It is not  a cross but is meant to be a wheel representing the circle of life and death over which woden held power. This symbol might well be on pendants, clothing and weapons.

Frige/Frigga

Frige was the wife of Woden and so queen of the gods. She was the goddess of Marriage, Child-birth, the Home and the Harvest. The stork is associated with her as is the spinning wheel. The constellation ‘Orion’s Belt’ was called ‘Frige’s Distaff’. Friday is named after her. Her Festival was harvest time.

Thunor (Thor)

Thunor (Thor) is famously see as a hammer-wielding god with power over thunder and lightning  as well as storms. He also has a role as the protector of mankind. Saxons also believed he had a gentler side involving healing, and fertility.

The most famous  symbol of Thunor ( often worn around the neck) is the hammer symbol.

Tiw (Tyr)

Tiw is the Anglo-Saxon god of War and Combat. His sacred animal was the wolf. He is often depicted as having only one hand as he lost one to the giant wolf Fenris. Our day Tuesday is named after Tiw. This rune is associated with him and may represent a spear:

Ingui-Freyr

Ingui- Freya (Norse Freya) was the male God of Fertility. His symbol was the boar.

Freya/Freo

Freo, brother of Ingui-Freya was the Saxon Love goddess. Her sacred animals are like her brother the boar but also  the cat. Cats pulled her chariot, and she sometimes rode a boar. She had a magic cloak of falcon feathers.

Eostre

Eostre  is a fairly obscure goddess of which we know far less than the others.  She seems to be a  goddess of purity, youth, beauty and of rebirth. Her festival became the later Christian Easter and the rabbit was the sacred animal to Eostre, and a  symbol of fertility. The egg also symbolised fertility and rebirth of spring. The whiteness of the egg and the rabbit also indicated purity. Cakes or buns (later the hot cross buns) may even date to her festival and indeed the Cross MIGHT be the sun wheel (which is the same as Woden’s symbol) representing the turning of the year and the coming of light.

Loki

Loki is a bit of a puzzle. He is strongly mentioned in Norse Mythology BUT not much in Anglo-Saxon literature. So was he part of Saxon mythology? Probably he was because he is mentioned in SOME stories for example Beowulf. Many other Saxon gods are NOT mentioned much but enough echoes in tradition and symbology are about to suggest they were worshipped. Loki is the God of Cunning and Deceit. Later, in the Christian era he became associated with the idea of  the Devil.

Loki is the trickster god. He manipulates and plots. BUT he is also the catalyst that makes things happen and moves things forward. It has been suggsted that the snake might be associated with him – interesting that it is also the form that Satan took in the Garden of Eden. Another example of how mythologies and religions borrow and share elements.

In my Dark Ages Historical fiction, The Amber Treasure and its sequel, Child of Loki these beliefs and the new Christian ones appear and have influences on the characters and their world.

The preparation for warfare, the rituals surrounding it and the actual conduct of battle were central to the world view of the Anglo-Saxons. Even if a man never fought a battle or the land was at peace it was expected that men would train to be ready. Just like today, reputation very important to men at this time. Reputation was gained by prowess in battle, by recalling the deeds of one’s ancestors and kin and by the creation of and the attitude of hereditary allies and enemies

Some concepts:
All warriors must be freemen. The right to bear arms was central to the status of a freeman in the way that one aspect of slavery was that they were banned from carrying weapons.

The Anglo-Saxons believed that a warrior or leader had secret knowledge he used to protect his men. The leader kept a band of men around him – his hearth company. They would eat with him, sleep in his halls, go where he went and fight for him. They were called thanes and they had a duty to protect and serve him

Some words:
Geoguo: a youth – the young warriors
Duguo: older veterans
In battle, older veterans stood at the rear – trying to bolster the men, the youths were in the middle whilst the seasoned warriors stood at the front.

Rituals

Gifts:
Another word: Gift stool (Grefstol) – Lord sat on it to dispense gifts
The kings gave out gifts to reward his followers and maintain their loyalty. Leaders might hold special gift days. Maybe these were celebrated on days linked to his to his predecessor’s triumphs to remind his followers of his inheritance.

Followers would promise duty and loyalty and leaders would give gifts: weapons, armour, rings, drinking vessels or land.

The value of an object was much more than just wealth: there would be sentimental value. The history of the object was critical i.e. who owned it before, when and for what was it used.

Ale Ritual
This was very symbolic and carried out in a defined manner.
The leader would hold feasts and provide ale and mead. The followers would drink from horns, goblets and beakers. Warriors would stand up individually and would be greeted by the leader. Then their valour and deeds would be celebrated.

The warriors would boast (Beot). This would involved committing themselves to perform a deed. This might be promising to serve their lord, never flinch in battle, slay a foe or die in attempt etc. They NEVER promised success – that was considered up to fate.

The Warrior and his king might embrace or kiss. The warrior might lay his head or hands on the lord’s knee

Ritual Combat
In the case of perceived insult or loss of honour, a challenge to single combat could be refused but would lead to loss of face and public ridicule. The Anglo – Saxons had a item called a scorn pole which could be put up outside their house.
They could expect to be shamed and excluded from society.
Some Words:
Einvigi: single combat – this was a less formal duel probably just outside a hall.
Holmgangi  “going to an island”. One method was to go to secluded spot. Often this was a ritual site used many times in the past.Often they would peg out area of ground to fight inside using hazel sticks. These duels would continue until the death of one or their incapacity. The combatants would take alternate strokes – which they could attempt to deflect with their sword or shield.

Sword Rituals
The sword was a potent symbol to the Anglo Saxons. A promise made on a sword was taken very seriously. Swearing of oaths was often done on a bare blade. The family sword was put in hands of new born sons to show their inheritance and by so doing, the luck of the family was passed on. The marriage oath might be made in front of naked sword.
Often a mother passed on the sword to a son: ie a father would give sword to a daughter to hand on to her son

Beasts of Battle/ Gods of war
Warriors would carry the motif of a god or an associated beast on their equipment. This is particularly so in the case of Kings and leaders and is mentioned in poems.
Here are some of the gods their symbols:
Raven: Cult of Woden (also sometimes a wolf)
Boars: Freyr
Spear: Odin – Tiw. He was the god worshipped by leaders.
Hammer: Thor. He was the god of the rank and file.

In researching the traditions and rituals of warfare for this blog as well as my novel  The Amber Treasure I consulted these books about Warfare:

The English Warrior: Stephen Pollington – Anglo Saxon Books
Warriors of the Dark Ages: Jenniffer Laing – Sutton
Anglo Saxon Weapons and Warfare: Richard Underwood – Tempus