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