Post on 18-May-2020
Saxon England A.D. 600
A land of myths and legendsA land of myths and legends
I am Richard Denning and I wrote a book called Shield MaidenShield Maiden
Shield Maiden is about children growing up inchildren growing up in Saxon Times surrounded by the monsters and magicby the monsters and magic they believed in.
This is the world as it might have been hadmight have been had those stories been true…
Let’s find out what that worldLet s find out what that world would be like
What did they wear?What did they wear?
What did they sound like?What did they sound like?
Any idea what this means:
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonumþ þ
Father our thou that art in heavens
Our Father who art in heavenOur Father who art in heaven
Very different to today’s EnglishVery different to today s English
The Saxons used to write using runes – look strange don’t they?
SOME letters do look a bit like our modern letters – can you see which?.
Let’s find out:Let s find out: What battles were like
What weapons did they use?
What weapons did the Saxons use?What weapons did the Saxons use?
AxeSeaxSeax
Long sword Spear
But how do we know??
Bow and Arrow
How do we know? The EvidenceHow do we know? The Evidence Burials – weapons are often found in graves
There are many Poems about battleBurials weapons are often found in graves
Then hurled the sea-warrior a southern spearso that wounded was warrior's lord.He shoved then with shield so the shaft burst--the spear broke and sprang back.
Tapestries and Inscriptions
Let’s see what a shield wall was likeLet s see what a shield wall was like
Don’t worry – you wont actually fight a battle!!!
Lets get our war cry ready!Lets get our war cry ready!
'Ut ut ut'
(out out out)(out out out)
What did the Early Saxons believe in?The Anglo‐Saxons, Old Germans andVikings believed that there were NINEWORLDS in the universe in theWORLDS in the universe in thebranches of Yggdrasil a huge tree.
Asgard – Home of the godsthe gods
Aelfheimr – World of the Elves Vanaheimr – World of Magic
Midgard – Earth – our home
Nid lli W ld fJotunheimr – Land of Giants
Nidarvellir – World of Dwarves
Muspelheimr – Land of Fire
Nifelheimr – Land of IceSvartalfheimr – World of Dark Elves (Goblins)
They believed in many gods and goddesses – over 40!
We still name Six of our week days after them ‐ lets see which
Sunday and MondaySunday and Monday
Sunday – Sunna’s or Sun-day – she drove the sun through the sky in a chariot
Monday – Manni’s or Moon day – Sunna’s Brotherhe drove the Moon through the sky in a chariot
At the end of time they would be chased by wolves
Tuesday• Tiwesdæg or Tewesday,meaning "Tīw's Day", the day of Tiw the god of single combatthe day of Tiw the god of single combat, victory and heroes. He lost a hand to Fenir – a great wolf
WednesdayWednesdayThe name Wednesday comes from Wednesdei and wōdnesdæg the Day ofWednesdei and wōdnesdæg, the Day of Woden
Woden was the father of the gods, he only had one eyehad one eye.
He had two wolves.
He also had two ravens who would fly around our world telling him what was going on/going on/
ThursdayThursday
• "Thunor's Day – the day of yThunor god of lightninglightning.
• The Vikings ll hcalled him
Thor and they had Thorsday.
FridayFriday
• The idname Friday comes
from Frīġedæġ, meaning the "day of Frigga"the day of Frigga
Wife to woden – goddess of home
They also believed in many monsters and creatures
Evil goblin like Dark ElvesBeautiful Lights Elves
Ogres were thought to feast off of human beings!
Dragons huge fire breathingDragons – huge fire breathing
DwarvesShort with beards. Could make magical treasures for the gods.
Trolls and GiantsTrolls and GiantsTrolls were believed to be living in holes, mounds the wilderness or underground inmounds, the wilderness, or underground in hills.
Giants were much larger and usually livedG a ts e e uc a ge a d usua y edIn Mountains and their own world
The Anglo‐Saxons believed that Giants had built the Roman ruins th f d h th i dthey found when they arrived.
They also believed in magic spellsThey also believed in magic spells, potions, witches and charms to
curse and protect
Crushing herbs to make a potionCrushing herbs to make a potionThor’s hammer necklace
So now you know a bit about their world let’s have a reading