November 2018 - Art of the Anglo Saxons
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 2nd November 2018 at Merchistoun Hall. They listened to a fascinating talk about the Art of the Anglo Saxons by Kay Ainsworth.
Kay covered 500 years from the end of the Roman period to the arrival of William the Conqueror in 1066. She showed pictures of items and places to identify the different types of art. At the end of Anglo Saxon time the style of art was pagan however it changed a great deal over the 500 years into Christian art.
She projected many images of beautifully decorated metal work, ivory items and illuminated manuscripts. The Roman town of Silchester was built with walls as was Winchester and Chichester and many others. Around the 3rd century there was a great deal of unrest around the shores of Britannia with many different peoples trying to invade. Carausias a naval commander was charged with protecting the shores of Britain. Forts like Portchester castle were built all along the coasts. The Roman Empire was under attack on all sides so the army was withdrawn from Britain in the year 410 which left our shores unprotected.
When West Stow was excavated they found foundations of wooden Anglo Saxon houses and they have been reconstructed. The Anglo Saxon's were pagan and they brought with them items of their beliefs, ie a buckle decorated with Odin and ravens in the Germanic style which was thought to protect them. Other influences came from the Celtic decorations also found in Switzerland and Austria and also in the Iberian peninsula. There is also the classical art from the Greek world and the Byzantine Empire.
Constantinople was a wealthy Christian city where they produced outstanding works of art. The magnificent Battersea shield, typical in decoration of the period, was found in the River Thames as was the ceremonial helmet with similar style of decoration. A gold torque was found in the Norfolk area. The Basilica at Leptis Magna in Libya had pillars with scrolls, grapes, vine leaves sometimes decorated with animals and people and were copied in many Christian churches because they represented everlasting life.
The Anglo Saxons came in small groups but gradually grew and became more powerful and pushed the people living on the east coast over to the west and by the year 600 there were seven major English kingdoms. In Basingstoke they found an Anglo Saxon settlement with a very large fort where it is thought the chieftain or king of that region lived. At Yeavering in Northumbria a royal villa was found with an impressive great hall. Chilcombe Village near Winchester is known to have been an early Anglo Saxon estate.
Kay spoke about the many Anglo Saxon burial sites for important people and warriors around this area at Shavards farm Corhampton, West Meon Church, West Meon Valley at Droxford. At Brearmore near Fordingbridge some important items were found in the graves - a bronze garnet brooch which had been dipped in gold and a very special Byzantine copper decorated drinking bucket. Around the rim it says "use this lady for many happy years" and was decorated with mythical beasts, leopards and naked warriors. Another important cemetery was found when they were building Southampton football stadium. A magnificent brooch was found in Kent at Kingston Down and is made of lots of garnets, enamel work and gold inlay. Another brooch was found in North Hampshire unusually made of iron inlaid with silver with the decorations gouged out; similar to ones found in Germany and France.
In the year 597 when the important King Ethelbert ruled over all of the south of England, he was able to attract a princess from Paris called Bertha, who was a Christian. He brought St Augustine from Rome to convert the Pagan English and gave him land on which to build his cathedral.
Kay talked and showed may fascinating photographs; about King Redwood, the horde of 4,000 items found in Staffordshire, the Book of Kells with exquisite illuminations and the conversion of many English Kings in 7th century. Also, about the Vikings destroying Lindisfarne in the year 793, Codex Aurius which was bought back from the Vikings, Charlemagne the Great Christian king, Alcuim of York 794 and the Renaissance of learning.
We also heard about Alfred the Great 849 -899 who, with his father, made a pilgrimage to Rome in 852 and was blessed by Pope Leo IV. Alfred studied Latin and translated documents. He sent Pastoral Care and guidance to Bishops together with an Aestel pointer for use in church and established a centre of learning in Winchester. He died in 899. Kay’s talk brought us right up to the Bayeux Tapestry created by English nuns.
Kay was asked several questions and was enthusiastically thanked by the members.
Diane Stoner
Speaker Coordinator