Ring sword

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Anglo-Saxon ring sword (late 6th century)

A ring sword is a spathe in which a pair of rings, two interlocking rings, are attached to the side of the pommel . These swords from the Merovingian period occur between AD 500 and AD 700.

description

Wolf warrior with ring sword on the sword scabbard by Gutenstein

The ring swords are often swords of exceptional quality. Their occurrence was relatively rare. The Schretzheim burial ground is cited as an example , in which only one warrior of eighty had a ring sword. To date, a total of about 80 ring swords have been found. Their absolute number at that time is estimated at several hundred or several thousand. The pommel of these swords was usually worked out in the shape of a pyramid.

The rings themselves are often made of gold, silver or bronze to match the pommel. They are available in both hollow and solid versions. All older pairs of rings from the 6th century were only subsequently attached to the pommel. Depending on the time and place, the rings were either attached immovably or only loosely attached. The youngest pairs of rings are made together with the pommel and were no longer movable. The ring pair is as a sign of adelphopoiesis or followers interpreted.

The ring sword should not use the ring pommel sword be confused. They basically have nothing in common, except for the similar-sounding name.

Pictorial representation

There are also several pictorial representations of warriors with ring swords from that time.

  • Sutton Hoo , Suffolk, England: a rider on a helmet.
  • Obrigheim (Pfalz) , Bad Dürkheim district, Rhineland-Palatinate: a wolf warrior on a drinking vessel (cup or bowl).
  • Pliezhausen , Reutlingen district, Baden-Württemberg: Disc brooch with rider that has not been preserved
  • Gutenstein (Sigmaringen) , Sigmaringen district, Baden-Württemberg: a wolf warrior on a sword scabbard.
  • Vendel (Sweden) , Uppland, Sweden. Warrior procession on a helmet.
  • Valsgärde , Uppland, Sweden: rider with a boar comb helmet on a helmet.
  • Torslunda , Öland , Sweden: warrior with boar comb helmet on press model for the production of press plates.

Pairs of rings on other objects

Sign with a ring from Sutton Hoo

Pairs of rings were not only attached to swords, but can also be found on other objects.

  • Valsgärde, Uppland, Sweden: ring button made of bronze on a drinking horn from grave 7.
  • Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England: ring on a sign .

See also

literature

  • H. Steering: ring sword . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Vol. 25 (2003), pp. 22-24
  • H. Steering: helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. In: Studies on Saxony Research. Vol. 6, 1987, ISSN  0933-4734 = publications of the prehistoric collections of the State Museum in Hanover. Vol. 34, pp. 203f, PDF, 7 MB
  • VI Evison, The Dover ring-sword and other sword-rings and beads. Archaeologia 101, 1967, pp. 63-118
  • VI Evison, Sword rings and beads. Archaeologia 105, 1976, pp. 303-315
  • W. Menghin, The Sword in the Early Middle Ages, Stuttgart, 1983, pp. 64ff, 142ff
  • S. Chadwick-Hawkes, RI Page, Swords and Runes in South-East England. The Antiquaries Journal 47, 1967, pp. 1-26
  • P. Paulsen, Alamannische Adelsgräber von Niederstotzingen (Krs. Heidenheim), Stuttgart, 1967, pp. 96-98
  • B. Nerman, Ett gotländskt ringsvärd av äldsta typ. Fornvännen 57, 1962, pp. 74-78
  • HRE Davidson, The ring an the sword. Journal of Arms and Armor Society 2, 1958, pp. 211-226
  • M. Orsnes-Christensen, Kyndby. Acta Archaeologica 26, 1955, pp. 69-162
  • K. Böhner, The Franconian graves of Orsoy, Kr. Moers. Bonner Jahrb. 149, 1949, p. 146ff
  • H. Salmo, An equestrian grave from the Merovingian era on the Pappilanmäki in the parish of Eura. Suomen Museo 47, 1940, pp. 1–36, German pp. 36–39.
  • P. Zenetti, The Ring Sword from Schretzheim. Mannus 32, 1940, pp. 275-281
  • E. Behmer, The double-edged sword of the Germanic migration period, Stockholm, 1939, p. 126 ff
  • H. Salmo, The weapons of the Merovingian period in Finland. Finska Form. Tidskr. 42, 1, 1938, pp. 85-94

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ H. Steuer: Ringsword . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Vol. 25 (2003), p. 22
  2. ^ Heiko Steuer: Helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. P. 208
  3. ^ Heiko Steuer: Helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. P. 206
  4. ^ Heiko Steuer: Helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. P. 208
  5. ↑ H. Steuer: Ringsword . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Vol. 25 (2003), p. 23
  6. ^ Heiko Steuer: Helmet and ring sword. Splendid armament and insignia of rank Germanic warriors. P. 211
  7. ↑ H. Steuer: Ringsword . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Vol. 25 (2003), p. 23
  8. ↑ H. Steuer: Ringsword . In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Vol. 25 (2003), p. 22