Special Collections
Saxons and Vikings
Description: Books and images for project and them based learning about Saxons and Vikings
- Table View
- List View
Viking armament (UEB Uncontracted)
byThis page shows four images, an axe on the left, a helmet in the top, a shield in the bottom and a sword on the right of the page. These pictures are not to scale. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the right way up.The axe blade is at the top and the handle to the bottom of the page. At the bottom of the handle there is a grip. The sharp edge of the blade faces to the right.The helmet protects the upper half of the face. There is a vertical and a horizontal strip on the upper part of the helmet to strengthen it. There are curved strips above the holes where the warrior would look out. These would strengthen this part and protect his eyes. The strips are held onto the main part of the helmet with rivets.The shield has a simple design of circles in its centre. Its main structure is composed of three vertical pieces of wood surrounded by a bronze strip of metal that runs all around the edge.The sword blade points down the page. At the upper end of the blade there is a wide thin piece of metal, this is the finger guard. Up the page from it is the handle grip.
Celtic horse and cart (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Celtic horse and cart. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The horse is on the left and the cart on the right of the page. It is a side view so only one of the two wheels and one of the horse's ears and eyes can be found. The horse is facing and walking to the left. It has a halter around its head. Its ear sticks up from the top of the head. To the right of this is its mane also sticking up and going down the top of the horse's neck. Around the horse's neck and chest is a broad belt which is a harness. This is attached to a pole which goes right to the cart. At the bottom left of the image are the horse's four legs. The front leg to the left is bent as it is about to take a step forward. The two legs in the middle are the legs on the other side of the horse. In the top right of the horse is its tail which sticks out to the right and then hangs down. Down from the tail is the other end of the pole which connects the cart to the horse. The cart is rectangular. There is a thick vertical piece of wood at the front and back ends of the cart. Between them are horizontal planks forming the wall of the cart. All this wood sits on a thick horizontal piece of wood which forms the floor of the cart. In the bottom centre of the cart is a solid wooden wheel. It is made of parallel pieces of wood rounded to make a circle. Two other pieces of wood at ninety degrees are fixed to hold the wheel together. The cart is a simple but strong structure.
Celtic horse and cart (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Celtic horse and cart. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The horse is on the left and the cart on the right of the page. It is a side view so only one of the two wheels and one of the horse's ears and eyes can be found. The horse is facing and walking to the left. It has a halter around its head. Its ear sticks up from the top of the head. To the right of this is its mane also sticking up and going down the top of the horse's neck. Around the horse's neck and chest is a broad belt which is a harness. This is attached to a pole which goes right to the cart. At the bottom left of the image are the horse's four legs. The front leg to the left is bent as it is about to take a step forward. The two legs in the middle are the legs on the other side of the horse. In the top right of the horse is its tail which sticks out to the right and then hangs down. Down from the tail is the other end of the pole which connects the cart to the horse. The cart is rectangular. There is a thick vertical piece of wood at the front and back ends of the cart. Between them are horizontal planks forming the wall of the cart. All this wood sits on a thick horizontal piece of wood which forms the floor of the cart. In the bottom centre of the cart is a solid wooden wheel. It is made of parallel pieces of wood rounded to make a circle. Two other pieces of wood at ninety degrees are fixed to hold the wheel together. The cart is a simple but strong structure.
Celtic horse and cart (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Celtic horse and cart. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The horse is on the left and the cart on the right of the page. It is a side view so only one of the two wheels and one of the horse's ears and eyes can be found. The horse is facing and walking to the left. It has a halter around its head. Its ear sticks up from the top of the head. To the right of this is its mane also sticking up and going down the top of the horse's neck. Around the horse's neck and chest is a broad belt which is a harness. This is attached to a pole which goes right to the cart. At the bottom left of the image are the horse's four legs. The front leg to the left is bent as it is about to take a step forward. The two legs in the middle are the legs on the other side of the horse. In the top right of the horse is its tail which sticks out to the right and then hangs down. Down from the tail is the other end of the pole which connects the cart to the horse. The cart is rectangular. There is a thick vertical piece of wood at the front and back ends of the cart. Between them are horizontal planks forming the wall of the cart. All this wood sits on a thick horizontal piece of wood which forms the floor of the cart. In the bottom centre of the cart is a solid wooden wheel. It is made of parallel pieces of wood rounded to make a circle. Two other pieces of wood at ninety degrees are fixed to hold the wheel together. The cart is a simple but strong structure.
Viking Longship 1 (tactile)
by Adrian FarnsworthThis is an image of a side view of a ship with the stern on the left of the page and the bow on the right of the page. There is a single mast in the centre of the image. Along the top edge of the hull are many round shields.
Viking Longship 2 (tactile)
by Adrian FarnsworthThis is an image of a side view of a ship with the stern on the left of the page and the bow on the right of the page. There is a thick single mast in the centre of the image with a sail to the right. Along the top edge of the hull are six round shields. On the left is a large paddle used to steer the ship. On the top right is a fierce looking dragon head facing to the right.
Viking longship, 900AD (Large Print)
byThis image shows a side view of a longship with the stern on the left and the bow on the right of the page. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the right way up.The longship is a long thin boat with a large single sail. The mast starts in the centre at the top of the page and runs down leading to the cross boom with a square sail hanging down to the deck. The mast is supported by two ropes attached to the stern and one attached forwards to the bow. At the stern of the ship there is a steering oar going down into the water. To the right of the mast is the bow or front of the ship. At the very front of the boat is the dragon's head.
Viking longship, 900AD (UEB Contracted)
byThis image shows a side view of a longship with the stern on the left and the bow on the right of the page. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the right way up.The longship is a long thin boat with a large single sail. The mast starts in the centre at the top of the page and runs down leading to the cross boom with a square sail hanging down to the deck. The mast is supported by two ropes attached to the stern and one attached forwards to the bow. At the stern of the ship there is a steering oar going down into the water. To the right of the mast is the bow or front of the ship. At the very front of the boat is the dragon's head.
Viking longship, 900AD (UEB Uncontracted)
byThis image shows a side view of a longship with the stern on the left and the bow on the right of the page. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the right way up.The longship is a long thin boat with a large single sail. The mast starts in the centre at the top of the page and runs down leading to the cross boom with a square sail hanging down to the deck. The mast is supported by two ropes attached to the stern and one attached forwards to the bow. At the stern of the ship there is a steering oar going down into the water. To the right of the mast is the bow or front of the ship. At the very front of the boat is the dragon's head.
Celtic knots (large print)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Celtic knots (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Celtic knots (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows three images of Celtic knots. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a knot in the top left and a knot in the top right of the page. There is a larger knot in the bottom half of the page. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front and behind the lines they cross. The knots at the top of the page are relatively simple. The knot at the bottom of the page is much more complex and uses a thinner line.
Celtic stone cross (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Celtic stone cross (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Celtic stone cross (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of Celtic Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. In the top half of the page the short arms of the cross go left, right and up the page. As they leave the centre of the cross they are narrow. They widen to form square ends. Behind them is a ring of stone. Going down the page is the longer shaft of the cross. The cross is decorated with typical Celtic patterns. The patterns are interlaced lines or paths which alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross. On the shaft there are three Celtic knots. The knots are interlaced lines or paths. Each knot has a shape or pattern repeated four times. Each repeat rotates ninety degrees and the shape's path flows into the next shape. The lines alternately pass in front of and behind the lines they cross.
Staffordshire hoard cross (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard cross (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard cross (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a Christian cross. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a front view of the cross in the centre of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page. The centre of the cross is set with a large garnet stone. The four arms of the cross have decorated arms. The ones to the left, right and up the page have a garnet stone set at the end. The rounded end has two small decorative œears. The arm going down the page is longer and has an oval garnet set in the middle. Three arms at the top each have one decorative panel. The long arm at the bottom has two panels. This arm widens at the end but does not have a garnet set in it. The detail to the right shows one of the decorative panels. There are two wide paths which intertwine twice. Two other thinner lines intertwine with the wide paths and each other. There is a decorative shape at the end of each wide path and four smaller shapes in the middle of the panel. There is a small piece of detailing at the bottom end of the panel. This is a reconstruction of the cross which was found folded up with two of the smaller garnets missing. The large stone was also missing so it is not certain it was a garnet, it may have been a rock crystal. The cross is 114 x 71 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard scabbard boss (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a scabbard boss. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a face-up view of the boss in the centre of the page and a profile shape in the bottom of the page. The scabbard boss is round, domed and made from gold. It has four pieces of garnet inset in the centre. They are two pairs of shapes, the opposites are nearly identical. The angular shapes neatly interlock. In a ring around them are ten rounded pieces of garnet. They are alternately an oval and a heart shaped piece. Around the garnet shapes is ring with a circular line of small gold bumps. The boss is a decorative button on a scabbard (sheath). The boss is 41 x 18.5 mm in size.
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard seahorse (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a gold seahorse. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of the seahorse facing to the right in the centre left of the page and a detail of the decoration in the bottom right of the page in an image border. The seahorse is flat with extremely fine filigree decorations made from very thin gold wire. The seahorse's head is in the top centre of the page. An ear sticks up with an eye down from it. The snout goes down and right. The body curves left, down and right to a point. It then goes down and left again. It curves to the right ending in a damaged edge where some part appears missing. A small section to the bottom left could perhaps be a fin which has a hole in it. Five wires run down the body, one along the left edge, one along the right edge and three spaced down the middle dividing the body into four strips. The strips are decorated with tiny wire circular spirals. The detail shows the spiral patterns. The spirals are in linked pairs so that one spiral flows into the other half. Most of the spirals run in a clockwise direction but one of the central strips has anti-clockwise spirals. The seahorse is quite small, only 41 x 18.5 mm in size. Three of the spirals together are the size of a grain of rice!
Staffordshire hoard sword hilt collar (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a hilt collar and a hilt. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There is a side view of a hilt collar in the top of the page and a sword hilt in an image border in the bottom of the page. The side view of a hilt collar shows decorations of garnet set in a ring of gold. There are three bands of decorations going horizontally across the image. The top band is made of two lines of shapes which interlock. The shapes in the top line are all very similar. The shapes in second line are also very similar to each other. The second middle band is much wider and is formed by several convoluted broken lines which interweave. The third band is like first band but mirrored so that the first line of shapes in the top band becomes the bottom line in the bottom band. The diagram at the bottom of the page shows a sword hilt and the very top part of the sword blade at the bottom of the image. An arrow points to the position of the collar in the sword handle. The collar is shown by a bolder line.