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Religious Identities in Viking Age Britain: Pagan Imagery in a Colonial Context

Muth, Margaret Lucille LU (2020) ARKM21 20201
Archaeology
Abstract
When the Vikings settled the British Isles between the 8th and 11th centuries, they left behind numerous stone monuments in their wake. These monuments, many of which are stone crosses, utilize a combination of Christian and pagan imagery, and are found heavily in Christian contexts. This thesis sought to analyze this imagery and their contexts in order to determine how they reflected the colonial religious identity of the time. The study material consisted of 19 stone
monuments (crosses, slabs, and hogbacks) spread across northern England and the Isle of Man.
The thesis used iconographical theory, analyzing the imagery from small to large, and finally grouping these images and scenes into larger motif groups, using literary analysis of... (More)
When the Vikings settled the British Isles between the 8th and 11th centuries, they left behind numerous stone monuments in their wake. These monuments, many of which are stone crosses, utilize a combination of Christian and pagan imagery, and are found heavily in Christian contexts. This thesis sought to analyze this imagery and their contexts in order to determine how they reflected the colonial religious identity of the time. The study material consisted of 19 stone
monuments (crosses, slabs, and hogbacks) spread across northern England and the Isle of Man.
The thesis used iconographical theory, analyzing the imagery from small to large, and finally grouping these images and scenes into larger motif groups, using literary analysis of the medieval Eddas and sagas. Also used was comparative analysis with mainland Scandinavian carvings, most notably the Gotlandic picture stones, to critically analyze the previous interpretations of these monuments. These methods were utilized together to draw conclusions about the religious identity in Viking Age Britain. It was concluded that their heritage was
preserved using Scandinavian pagan imagery during their conversion to Christianity in this colonial context, pagan images being used often as an allegory to Christian themes through the concept of Interpretatio Christiana, and the two religions in effect merged together to create a hybrid colonial culture as the Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon cultures themselves intermingled. (Less)
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author
Muth, Margaret Lucille LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM21 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
archaeology, colonial identity, iconography, imagery, Norse mythology, preChristian religions, religion, stone monuments, Viking Age Britain
language
English
id
9036133
date added to LUP
2021-10-01 10:47:35
date last changed
2021-10-01 10:47:35
@misc{9036133,
  abstract     = {{When the Vikings settled the British Isles between the 8th and 11th centuries, they left behind numerous stone monuments in their wake. These monuments, many of which are stone crosses, utilize a combination of Christian and pagan imagery, and are found heavily in Christian contexts. This thesis sought to analyze this imagery and their contexts in order to determine how they reflected the colonial religious identity of the time. The study material consisted of 19 stone
monuments (crosses, slabs, and hogbacks) spread across northern England and the Isle of Man. 
The thesis used iconographical theory, analyzing the imagery from small to large, and finally grouping these images and scenes into larger motif groups, using literary analysis of the medieval Eddas and sagas. Also used was comparative analysis with mainland Scandinavian carvings, most notably the Gotlandic picture stones, to critically analyze the previous interpretations of these monuments. These methods were utilized together to draw conclusions about the religious identity in Viking Age Britain. It was concluded that their heritage was
preserved using Scandinavian pagan imagery during their conversion to Christianity in this colonial context, pagan images being used often as an allegory to Christian themes through the concept of Interpretatio Christiana, and the two religions in effect merged together to create a hybrid colonial culture as the Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon cultures themselves intermingled.}},
  author       = {{Muth, Margaret Lucille}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Religious Identities in Viking Age Britain: Pagan Imagery in a Colonial Context}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}