I Swear On My Arm Ring...

In many hordes and tombs in which Viking treasure can be found, arm rings have been among the artifacts uncovered due to their popularity as both a rite of passage and wartime significance.

Although Vikings are depicted as lawless ruffians in popular culture, honor was the core of their religion. If they died without honor, they would not enter Valhalla. The arm ring was an outer gesture that the warrior would live and die by their word. When a boy came of age, the jarl (or king depending on their location) would give the boy an arm ring upon which he would pledge his fealty. They were typically worn by men, although it was not unheard of for shield maidens to also wear them.

Breaking an oath sworn on an arm ring was seen as treason and could be the make or break between a Viking and Valhalla; not to mention that other warriors would see the them as treacherous and may refuse to fight by their side in battle, which could lead to death for that oath-breaker. 

Silver arm-ring dating from 900 AD which is part
of the Silverdale Viking hoard in North Lancashire.

There are many references to arm rings in the Norse religion and in their literature. In the poem Beowulf, King Rothgar bestows this honor on multiple warriors. 

"I remember a time when we drank mead,

Making a promise there in mead-hall,

To our lord, to the Ring-Giver, that we

Would repay his gift of war-gear,

If ever the need came upon him."

So if anyone ever accuses you of wearing your heart on your sleeve, you can respond with, "Why yes; I am a Viking."

Jewelry of the Viking Age

“Arm and Neck Rings.” Arm and Neck Rings - The Viking Age Compendium, www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Arm_and_Neck_Rings.

Arm Ring Unearthed in Northern Ireland

Maranzani, Barbara. “Viking-Era Ring Unearthed in Northern Ireland.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 12 Sept. 2013, www.history.com/news/viking-era-ring-unearthed-in-northern-ireland.

Norse Religion and Icelandic Laws: Ceremony & Sacrifice
Bray, Daniel Peter. "Sacrifice and Sacrificial Ideology in Old Norse Religion." (2008)

What's In The Box: Saint Thomas Reliquary

Source: Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.520/.

What's In The Box: Saint Thomas Reliquary

This decorative box is much more than what it seems. The intended purpose
 of this item was to be a Reliquary Casket for Thomas Becket of England. Thomas
 Becket is famous for being a martyr, a saint, and an archbishop of Canterbury. Saint
 Thomas lived a humble life when he was young, living in a merchant family. When he
 became old enough, Saint Thomas studied many different places and became an
 extremely educated individual. As an adult he became a city clerk before becoming familiar
 with several archbishops and largely influential people such as Vacarius and John of
 Salisbury. The people around him described Saint Thomas as “a tall andspare figure
 with dark hair and a pale face flushed with excitement” (Britannica).  Throughout his
 career, he had some positive and some negative experiences with his position as 
Chancellor and as Archbishop. Eventually, Saint Thomas had developed negative 
relations with King Henry II, which led to Saint Thomas being exiled, and eventually martyred. 

Source: Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.520/.

Reliquaries are important to understand when talking about early Christianity
 during the middle ages. They served as a reminder to Christians of how devout their
 faith should be, as reliquaries often contained body parts of Saints who have died for 
standing up for their faith. Reliquaries also created  destinations for Christians. For example,
 sometimes towns of high importance would have reliquaries, but also smaller towns would
 have them too and it would draw in mass amounts of people, which would benefit their
 town and their local church. Many early medieval Christians would make long trips
 or Pilgrimages to see reliquaries and visit holy sites. 

This specific reliquary is made from gilded silver with a jewel on the top of the box.
 On the sides images can be scenes of Saint Thomas martyrdom. These images are flat
 and stylized, which tells that it is from the Middle Ages. During this time, art’s sole purpose
 was to portray a message, and almost all of the art to come from this period was Christian
. Realism was not of importance at the time, however what the images were portraying was
 the focus. It is clear the artist who designed this specific reliquary wanted to remind onlookers
 of Saint Thomas ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs. 

This item can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is dated 1173.

Works Cited

Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.520/.

Knowles, Michael David. 
“St. Thomas Becket.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,
 Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Thomas-Becket.

“Reliquaries.” CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: 
Reliquaries, catholicencyclopedia.newadvent.com/cathen/12762a.htm.

The book found hidden away

The Book Of Deer is an illuminated manuscript, from the 9th century. It was made at Deer Abbey in what is now Scotland. It is the new testament, with some Gospels. It was found in a University library in 1860.(Encyclopedia Britannica), This is an important discovery because it is the oldest Gospel book from a Scottish Provence. The scribe who wrote the book was also thought to be the artist as well.(Oxford Art Online)

Sources:
"The Book Of  Deer" Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica inc., September 13, 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Book-of-Deer
" Book Of  Deer" Grove Art Online, Oxford Art Online, September 13, 2019
https://doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T2089225