The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Sword Ring
12017-05-10T09:46:52-07:00Carlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01164562a free ring interlocking with the closed-up ring head of a rivet for attachment to one of the guards of a sword hiltplain2017-05-14T19:56:33-07:00Frank Basford. Sword Ring (Archive). Still Image, August 21, 2005. IOW-FB5A95. Portable Antiquities Scheme. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/111425.475-575IOW-FB5A95CC BY attribution licence50°41'31.0"N 1°18'19.5"WSilverThe British MuseumIsle of Wight, EnglandEarly Medieval Circa AD 475-575Carlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01
12017-05-21T13:45:52-07:00Silver Sword Ring6Object Pageplain2017-09-21T22:44:46-07:00As a soldier in an army, you might be lost among the sea of people who surround you in the perspective of the outside eye. But if you perform bravely in battle, rewards from your King help you stand apart. In the Viking Age, kings would give their distinguished soldiers sword rings made out of precious metals as a mark of high esteem.[1] Sometimes Kings would bestow both the ring and the sword but this isn’t always the case, as archaeological finds show that some rings found in swords didn’t always belong together. There is evidence on swords of attached rings as well as detached ones. Warriors weren’t the only ones who received sword rings as high standing officials would receive sword rings as a reward for their loyalty and as a sign of high office.[2] For Scandinavian kings, to be a good ruler was to be a “ring giver.”[3]
This circular silver sword ring along with its rivet were found with a metal detector on the Isle of Wight on August 21st, 2005. The diameter of the ring is 14 mm and the length of the rivet with the head is 23 mm long. Both the ring and the rivet were decorated with a median ridge of patterns however, the decoration on the ring has faded away. The ring and the rivet are fitted together with the ring head of the rivet closed up to include the precious metal ring. The other end of the rivet was designed to fit in its sword’s pommel. It is primarily made out of silver but it also has a small amount of gold. However the ring is dated to be from the early Medieval Age from 475 AD and it was in the ground by 575 AD which predates the Viking Age. This type of sword ring has been found in areas like southern England, northern France, Germany, Scandinavia, and its closest looking relatives have been found in Kent.
While it can be symbolism, there could be possibly be practical reasons for this decoration. Some experts believe that the ring’s purpose was to securely attach it to the sword’s scabbard. However, an impractical reason for the ring could be to attach an amulet or charm. This theory has been challenged by the fact that the amulet/charm would throw off the balance of the sword. Out of all possibilities, one has emerged to be the most likely. Archaeologists have concluded that warriors would exchange rings to bond them as “sword-brothers” which would be the way of bestowing the highest honor on their comrades.[4] While small, a sword ring was with you when your life was thrown to chance. With priceless value and small size, the blessings of your loved ones were with you in the hour of your greatest need.
