Seax

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Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Seax.JPG
Seaxes
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Seax.JPG
Seaxes

A large knife with a blade length of 18cm (7") or longer possibly used in combat.
For longer Seaxes over 30cm (12") see Langseax and for Scandinavian combat knives see Norse Style Knives.

Harke defined knives and short seaxes by size with knives being under 175mm and short seaxes being over 180mm. [CAMERON 2000]:p.49. Like Esther Cameron we have also used this as our definition. Blades of over 12" in length are more usually defined as Langseaxes.
The short seax is also known as a Scramasax, a Hadseax or just a Sax. The term Scramasax comes from Gregory of Tours writing in 575AD, who speaks of "boys with strong knives (cultris validis), which they commonly call scramasaxes (scramasaxos)." in his History of the Franks (IV, 52). [WHEELER 1935]:p.176 It is not known if this name continued in use into the Viking Age.
It is not uncommon for burials in the Viking age to contain more than one knife. [BERSU & WILSON 1966]:p.41 Wheeler gives his opinion that small heavy seaxes were in use up until the end of the C10th but that as a weapon it really belongs to the pre-Viking period. [WHEELER 1927]:p.30
Seaxs from the Viking Age never have metal fittings unlike the pagan Anglo-Saxon examples.

Images of Seaxes (C8th to C11th)

  • 775-800AD St. Andrew Sarcophagus
  • C8th England, Derbyshire, Repton. Stone carving, [CAMERON 2000]:p.200 [HINTON 2005]:p.105
  • 850-900AD Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, Lat. 9987. Psychomachia
  • C9th Paris, BNF, Lat. 8085 fol.57r. Virtue, armed with a sword and seax, combating a Vice. [BNF]
  • C10th Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, ms. 10066-77 Psychomachia f.112r-139r
  • England, Dorset, Cranborne. Silver strap-end [HINTON 2005]:p.113
  • Middleton Warrior [BAILEY 1980]:pl.14
  • 975-1000AD Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS23, f.23r.[PARKER LIBRARY]
  • 1025-1050AD Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS lat 8824 - seax.jpg [OHLGREN 1992]
  • 1076AD Bayeux Tapestry [WILSON 1985]:pl.6, 7


Literature (C9th to C11th)

  • Beowulf c.1000AD
    • "Grendel's mother; the hard man of conflict then heaved, now that he was enraged, the deadly foe, so that she fell to the floor; she again him quickly gave hand-reward with wrathful grips and clutched him against herself; hen, weary in spirit, he stumbled, the strongest man, warrior on foot, so that he was in a fall; then she bestrode the guest in her hall, and drew her seax, broad and bright-edged; she wished to avenge her son, only offspring;" lines 1538-1547 heorot.dk
    • "Then again the king himself gathered his wits, drew a slaughter-seax bitter and battle-sharp, that he wore on his byrnie;" lines 2702-2704 heorot.dk
    • "beside him lies his life-contender sick with seax-wounds" line 2903-2904 heorot.dk



English Seax Blades (C9th to C11th)

Seax Blades

Out of 128 knives found from Coppergate York, only 1 can be classed as a seax. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65

England, Cambridge, River Cam at Dimmock's Cote

Current Location- University of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge
Type- ? 800AD
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments- 'large scramasax with a groove along the back of the blade' [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.69.
Bibliography-


England, Cumwhitton, Plough Soil

Current Location- Tullie House Museum
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: 30mm; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 220mm
Comments- 'Patern-welded blade with remains of possible leather sheath still attached' [PATERSON 2014]:cat.634.
Bibliography-


England, Cumwhitton, Grave 5

Current Location- Tullie House Museum
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: 182mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 270mm
Comments- 'Part pattern welded. Has a horn handle with inlaid silver wire.' [PATERSON 2014]:cat.885.
Bibliography-


England, Brackley, Northamptonshire

Current Location- Ashmolean Museum AN1941.82
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- ?
Comments-
Bibliography-


England, Norwich?

Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- ?
Comments- Seen in Norwich Castle Museum. No other information known.
Bibliography-


England, Kent, Sittingbourne

Current Location- British Museum 1881,0623.1
Type- Wheeler IV 900-925AD
Find Date- 1881
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments- 'inlaid with copper, bronze, silver and niello.' [WILSON 1964]:cat.80.
Bibliography- [WILSON 1964]:cat.80 [British Museum Website]


England, London

Current Location- Museum of London ALG84[588]381
Type- Wheeler III/II 1000-1100AD
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 247mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [MUSEUM OF LONDON IMAGES] [Webpage link]


England, London, Honey Lane

Current Location- British Museum 1856,0701.1413
Type- Wheeler IV 978-1016AD
Find Date- 1856
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 327mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [WILSON 1965]:Cat.43


England, London, Park Street

Current Location- British Museum 1933,0510.1
Type- 800-1000AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 266mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [WILSON 1965]:Cat.81 [[1]]


England, London, Princes Street

Current Location- London Museum 29.94,17 (Wheeler no.21)
Type- 900-1000AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London,Thames

Current Location- British Museum 1859,0122.12
Type- 800-1000AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 232mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [WILSON 1965]:Cat.50 [[2]]


England, London, Thames

Current Location- Museum of London A1781 (Wheeler no.25)
Type- 900-1100AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: 247mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 334mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London, Thames at Blackfriars

Current Location- Museum of London A9313 (Wheeler no.8)
Type- 800-1000AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London, Thames at Brentford

Current Location- Museum of London A10721 (Wheeler no.11)
Type- 700-900AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London, Thames at Brentford

Current Location- Museum of London A13935 (Wheeler no.22)
Type- 900-1100AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London, Thames at Brentford

Current Location- Museum of London O2136
Type- 500-700AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: 181mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [MUSEUM OF LONDON IMAGES]


England, London, Thames at Fulham

Current Location- Museum of London A24399 (Wheeler no.18)
Type- Wheeler IV 900-1000AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, London, Thames at Fulham

Current Location- Museum of London A24909 (Wheeler no.17)
Type- Wheeler III/II 900-1100AD
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:p.


England, York, Goodramgate

Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
Type-
Find Date-
Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
Comments-
Bibliography-




  • England, London. One find from cheapside could have had a blade of 25cm. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65


English style Seax Sheathes (C9th to C11th)

Seax Sheaths

Seax sheaths are made from substantial leather up to 3mm thick and closed by rivets about 4 to 5cm apart. In England there are 12 finds of Seax sheaths out of a total of 61 [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65

Germany, Aachen

Current Location- Aachen Cathedral Treasury
Type- ?
Find Date- before 1860
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 470mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments- Contains a name in Old English
Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.1 pl.IV


Norway, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag

Current Location-
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments- Contains a name in Old English
Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.12 pl.V


Norway, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag

Current Location-
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments- Contains a name in Old English
Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 pl.V cat.13


Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place

Current Location-
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 367mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007]:p. cat.DLS 4


Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place

Current Location-  E122:12660
Type- ? 1050-1075AD
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 295mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007]:p. cat.DLS 5 [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.2



Ireland, Dublin, Fishamble Street
Current Location- ? (Cameron 2007 cat.DLS 11)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 405mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007]:p.
England, Gloucester, 11-17 Southgate Street
Current Location- Gloucester City Museum, GLRCM 85/1968 sf.65 (Cameron 2000 cat.349) (Okasha 1992 cat.3)
Type- ?
Find Date- 1968
Size- Blade Length: 170mm ; Total Length: 190mm ; Total Width: 68mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p. [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.3
England, Gloucester, Berkeley Street
Current Location- Gloucester City Museum, GLRCM 19/79 sf.7 (Cameron 2000 cat.350) (Okasha 1992 cat.4)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: 200mm ; Total Length: 415mm ; Total Width: 70mm
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p. [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.4
England, Hexham
Current Location- Hexham (Cameron 2000 cat.114) (Okasha 1992 cat.5)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ? ; Total Length: 100mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p. [OKASHA 1992]:p.64 cat.5
  • York 115
  • York 214
  • York 215
England, York, Parliament Street
Current Location- ? sf.754 (Cameron 2000 cat.205)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p.112
England, York, Coppergate
Current Location- ? (Cameron 2000 cat.206)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p.
England, York, Parliament Street
Current Location- ? sf.753 (Cameron 2000 cat.207)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p.113
England, York
Current Location- ? sf.4332 (Cameron 2000 cat.347)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p.135
England, London, Trump Street
Current Location- Museum of London, MOL ? (Cameron 2000 cat.144)
Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000]:p.
England, London, Cheapside
Current Location- Museum of London, MOL 11674 (Cameron 2000 cat.145) (Okasha 1992 cat.6)
Type- ?
Find Date- 1927
Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 390mm ; Total Width: ?
Comments-
Bibliography- [VINCE 1991] [CAMERON 2000]:p.208 [OKASHA 1992]:cat.6


A few Seax Sheathes from the C8th

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



See Also

Langseax
Norse Style Knives


References

Bailey, Richard N. (1980) Viking Age Sculpture. [BAILEY 1980] ^ *
Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 [BERSU & WILSON 1966] ^ *
Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940] ^ *
British Museum Website http://www.britishmuseum.org [BRITISH MUSEUM WEBSITE] *
Cameron, Esther A. (2000) Sheaths and Scabbards in England AD400-1100. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 301 [CAMERON 2000] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 *
Cameron, Esther A. (2007) Scabbards and Sheaths from Viking and Medieval Dublin.. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.08 [CAMERON 2007] ^ 1 2 3 *
Hinton, David A. (2005) Gold and Gilt, Pots and Pins ~ Possessions and People in Medieval Britain. [HINTON 2005] ^ 1 2 *
Museum of London Website http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/ [MUSEUM OF LONDON WEBSITE] *
Ohlgren, Thomas H. (1992) Anglo-Saxon Textual Illustration. [OHLGREN 1992] ^ *
Okasha, Elisabeth (19920 'Anglo-Saxon Inscribed Sheaths from Aachen, Dublin and Trondheim'. (Available Online) Medieval Archaeology: Vol.36 [OKASHA 1992] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 *
Cambridge, Parker Library http://parkerweb.stanford.edu/parker/actions/page.do?forward=home [PARKER LIBRARY] ^ *
Paterson, Caroline; Parsons, Adam J.; Newman, Rachel M.; Johnson, Nick and Howard Davis, Christine (2014) Shadows in the Sand. Excavation of a Viking-Age Cemetery at Cumwhitton, Cumbria. [PATERSON 2014] ^ 1 2 *
Vince, Alan (1991) Aspects of Saxo-Norman London: II Finds and Environmental Evidence. [VINCE 1991] ^ *
Wilson, David M. (1964) Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100. The British Museum. [WILSON 1964] ^ 1 2 *
Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 [WILSON 1965] ^ 1 2 3 *
Wilson, David M. (1985) The Bayeux Tapestry. [WILSON 1985] ^ *
Wheeler, R.E.M. (1927) London and the Vikings. London Museum Catalogues: No 1 [WHEELER 1927] ^ *
Wheeler, R.E.M. (1935) London and the Saxons. London Museum Catalogues: No 6 [WHEELER 1935] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 *