Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday, 8 March 2023

Evidence for Odin worship in fifth century Denmark


The NBC News website has a report about the analysis of a gold bracteate found in 2020 in a hoard at Vindelev in central Denmark. 

Not only is the hoard substantial and evidence for contact with the Roman Empire as it includes coins from there reworked as jewellery, but one of the bracteates by naming Odin as the patron of the ruler depicted on it in a sub-Roman style is the earliest tangible evidence for the cult of Odin in Scandinavia, and older than references on jewellery from the later sixth century in Germany. The piece is a very detailed piece of craftsmanship suggesting not only skill but an interest in copying Roman exemplars.

The bracteate is also an indicator of the position of the king or leader depicted on it and who was described as Odin’s man. It suggests a considerable degree of authority being exercised by the ruler under Odin’s guiding hand - a ruler who could successfully aspire to copying Roman imagery for himself.

The illustrated article can be seen at Viking treasure reveals oldest reference to Norse god Odin

Arkeonews also has an online article about the Odin reference on the bracteate and has more pictures. It can be seen at The Oldest Odin Inscription in the World Found in the Vindelev treasure


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