Difference between revisions of "Seax"

Revision as of 17:09, 22 August 2012

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

A knife with a blade length of 17cm (6½") or longer possibly used in combat.

Seaxes with blade lengths over 6½” long were popular during the C6th Anglo-Saxon pagan period. It is not uncommon for burials in the Viking age to contain more than one knife. ^{[BERSU and WILSON 1966]:p.41} Wheeler gives his opinion that small heavy seaxes were in use up until the end of the C10th but that really as a weapon it belongs to the pre-Viking period. ^{[WHEELER 1927]:p.30}

Seaxes from the C9th

Knives

Art

• Paris, BNF, Lat. 8085 fol.57r. Virtue, armed with a sword and seax, combating a Vice.

Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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Sheaths

Art

• England, Dorset, Cranborne. Silver strap-end ^{[HINTON 2005]:p.113}
• England, Derbyshire, Repton. C8th, Stone carving,

Literature
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Archaeology
^{[CAMERON 2000]:p.63-64}

• Dover, Buckland, grave 145, leather sheath dated to 700-750AD
• London, River Thames nr. Westminster Bridge, metal fittings, late C8th
• York, leather sheath, C9th

Discussion
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Seaxes from the C10th and C11th

Knives

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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Sheaths

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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Seax hanging position

At the front - Horizontal

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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At the side – Angled

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• Norse blades

Discussion
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At the back

Art

• Bayeux Tapestry

Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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See Also

Weapons
Langseax

References

• ^{[BERSU and WILSON 1966] ^}
• ^{[CAMERON 2000] ^}
• ^{[HINTON 2005] ^}
• ^{[MOULD, CARLISLE and CAMERON 2003]}
• ^{[WHEELER 1927] ^}