Golden handle spatha

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Alemannic gold handle spatha from Villingendorf.

The gold grip spatha is a special form of the spathe , a double-edged sword , the grip surface of which is covered with gold sheet and which occurs mainly in Franconian- Alemannic areas of the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

These magnificent swords are available in different designs. They do not form a separate group of forms per se. A careful distinction is made between the Franconian type, west of the Rhine, which has a cloisonné decoration , and the Alamannic type, east of the Rhine, in which the cloisonné technique was not used. The thin gold plating of the handle is usually only on one side of the front. The blade of the gold grip spath is about 75–110 centimeters long, five centimeters wide and has a sharpened blade point (point). The handle parts of the gold grip spaths often have no knobs or crossguards made of metal; these either did not exist at all or must have been made of easily perishable materials such as wood or bone. The elaborately crafted scabbards of these swords were often decorated with precious metal fittings and attached amulets , so-called sword beads . According to the current state of research, these gold grip spaths were used exclusively for representational purposes and were worn by the upper class or given to deserving subjects close to them.

The differences, in the late 5th and early 6th centuries, between Franconia and Alamanni can be clearly seen on the basis of archaeological finds. The Franks tended to pick up on late Roman traditions, whereas the Alamanni tended to cultivate Germanic traditions. The golden grip spatha makes an exception here. It was used in the upper class on both sides.

See also the ring sword a generation younger .

List of gold handle spaths found

f1Georeferencing Map with all linked sites: OSM | WikiMap

The list of gold handle spaths was compiled from Hermann Aments' introductory specialist article on gold handle spathas in the Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . (except Bräunlingen)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hermann Ament :  Goldgriffspatha. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 12, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-016227-X , p. 333.
  2. ^ Heiko Steuer : Helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. In: Studies on Saxony Research Volume 6. 1987, ISSN  0933-4734 , p. 216.
  3. ^ Hermann Ament :  Goldgriffspatha. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 12, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-016227-X , p. 334.
  4. ^ Frank Siegmund : Alemanni and Franks. Archaeological study of ethnic groups and their settlement areas in the Merovingian period . (= Supplementary volumes to the Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde 23). de Gruyter, Berlin, New York 2000. p. 574.
  5. ↑ See Kurt Böhner u. a .:  Childerich von Tournai. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 4, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1981, ISBN 3-11-006513-4 , pp. 440-460.
  6. ↑ See Michel Kazanski:  Pouan. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 23, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2003, ISBN 3-11-017535-5 , pp. 325–327. (on-line)
  7. ↑ See Hermann Ament :  Lavoye. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 18, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2001, ISBN 3-11-016950-9 , pp. 161-162. (on-line)
  8. ↑ Cf. Dieter Quast :  giltlingen. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 13, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1999, ISBN 3-11-016315-2 , pp. 153-154. (on-line)
  9. ↑ Cf. Dieter Quast :  giltlingen. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 13, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1999, ISBN 3-11-016315-2 , pp. 153-154. (on-line)
  10. ↑ See Landesmuseum Württemberg (ed.): LegendäreMeisterWerke. Cultural history (s) from Württemberg. Accompanying volume for the permanent exhibition . Stuttgart 2012, p. 137.
  11. ↑ See Ursula Koch :  Pleidelsheim. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 23, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2003, ISBN 3-11-017535-5 , pp. 206-207. (on-line)
  12. ^ Gerhard Fingerlin : Bräunlingen. An early Merovingian aristocratic residence on the Roman road through the southern Black Forest. Archaeological excavations in Baden-Württemberg 1997 (1998) pp. 146–148
  13. ^ Gerhard Fingerlin: An Alemannic noble court in the valley of the Breg. Writings of the Association for History and Natural History of the Baar in Donaueschingen, Volume 44, 2001, pp. 19–29 PDF, 35MB
  14. ↑ Cf. Gudula Zeller:  Rommersheim. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 25, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2003, ISBN 3-11-017733-1 , pp. 323-324. (on-line)
  15. ↑ See Hermann Ament :  Flonheim. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 9, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1995, ISBN 3-11-014642-8 , pp. 231-232. (on-line)
  16. ↑ See Joachim Werner :  Blučina. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1978, ISBN 3-11-006512-6 , pp. 76-77. (on-line)
  17. ^ Hermann Ament :  Goldgriffspatha. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 12, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-016227-X , pp. 333-335.