T H E W O R D H O R D E
Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something
Old Tongues. New Tales. Unearthing the raw power of Beówulf, the stark beauty of Anglo-Saxon verse, and the thunderous sagas of the Old Norse, this blog is your guide through the ancient words that shaped our world. Join us as we journey into the heart of heroic epics, explore the myths, and decipher the languages that echo through the ages.
The Mead Hall's Secret
This analysis dives beyond the epic poem Beowulf to explore its historical grounding, particularly concerning the Danish kings and the legendary mead hall, Heorot. It identifies King Healfdane and his son as historical figures dating between 430 and 520 AD, noting the rise of the "Danes" in Latin and Greek records around 500 AD…..
Beowulf: Not as Old as Your Grandma Thinks?
Kevin Kiernan's book, "Beowulf and the Beowulf Manuscript," challenges the traditional dating of the Beowulf poem, suggesting it may be contemporary to the Cotton Vitellius A XV manuscript (late 10th/early 11th century) rather than originating in the 8th century. Kiernan's argument is based on detailed analysis of the manuscript itself, including paleography, codicology, and the use of technology to uncover hidden details. This re-dating has significant implications for understanding Beowulf's historical and cultural context, emphasizing the importance of studying the physical manuscript itself.