advocate of archaeology

[Troll]

A spokeswoman for Channel four recently said "...hosted by Tony Robinson, TVs most ardent advocate of archaeology..." I`m saying nowt. Toes are curlin and bile risin.....[:0]

[deepdigger]

I think Tony must have some Viking blood in him, he's an advocate of "rape and pillage" from what I've seen!!

deep

[eggbasket]

quote:Originally posted by deepdigger

I think Tony must have some Viking blood in him, he's an advocate of "rape and pillage" from what I've seen!!

That's a vile calumny against Vikings; most of the stories about rape and pillage are a later invention to justify or create a history for monasteries that were founded or refounded after the Viking age. And anyway, in the early days Vikings only used to egg people's houses.

Cheers,
Eggbasket

Eggy by name, eggy by nature

[troll]

Aaaah, Eggy, have a look at Tim Taylors` "The Buried Soul:How Humans Invented Death". There`s a rather disturbing eye-witness account of a Viking burial........

[eggbasket]

If you mean the Ibn Fadlan account, then yes it is interesting and was disappointingly downplayed in the abysmal "13th Warrior". On the other hand, that burial ritual is not the same as the rape and pillage issue, which probably did happen occasionally, but the nuns, being predominantly from upper class families, would be worth more unraped, because they could be ransomed back to their families for gold, which was probably of more interest to the raiders than a quick fumble. My main point was that the majority of the stories about rape and pillage are aimed at creating histories for the monasteries. There is a grand tradition in medieval monasteries of inventing histories and forging charters that is well worth a look.

Cheers,
Eggbasket

Eggy by name, eggy by nature

[BAJR Host]

next you'll be saying that they did not wear horns on their hard hats



Another day another WSI?

[troll]

Thats the very account. Have`nt seen the 13th warrior jobbie-had some fairly sketchy reviews...just seen war of the worlds though. As a thoroughbred green-eyed git, wonderin` if my lot came over wiv the "fumblers" too. Can`t have done-my lot are from Kent. Does`nt have quite the same ring to it does it? Fumble and pillagin`. Also not entirely sure that christianity has ceased inventin histories quite yet! Off the subject a tad..just joined a Viking society and off to learn how to batter peeps wiv axe and shield! Huzzah...bitta fumblin may be in order...nun of that!

[eggbasket]

Well, there is only one depiction of a bona fide Viking with horns on their hard hat and that is on the Oseberg tapestry. It is generally agreed that this is a ceremonial head dress. On the other hand, I do have a theory about horns and helmets. Vikings drank from drinking horns. Vikings wore hard hats. Vikings liked their beer or mead. So, to make sure that they always had their favourite tipple to hand, they temporarily stuck full drinking horns to their helmets and discarded them when they had drunk them. Works for me.

As for Christianity inventing new stuff, don't even get me started. It's interesting when it happened 1000 years ago and the 10th century monastic reform is quite entertaining, as is the later 13th(?) century edict against married priests. But they latest stuff about making the church more up to date just seems daft. Not that it's much different to what went on before, but it's more interesting when you study the history of the church IMO rather than its current affairs.

Hope the reenactment goes well, Troll. It should be fun although I have never dabbled in it. I shall stick to hitting people with my hockey stick, head, skates and whatever else is nearest to them.

Spending most of this week at the IMC in Leeds in the name of CPD. Hooray!

Cheers
Eggbasket

Eggy by name, eggy by nature

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by eggbasket

Well, there is only one depiction of a bona fide Viking with horns on their hard hat and that is on the Oseberg tapestry

Only one? Try the following web page for plenty more Scandinavians with horns on their hats. http://www.tirbriste.org/dmir/ArmsArmor/.../0101.html

[troll]

Eggy-remind me never to upset you.