Vikingatid Scabbard
The cross symbol in the scabbard is of importance because the stag was symbolic in Scandinavia as it was linked to royalty.[2] Most commonly however, the stag represents God in the Christian faith. Specifically, a stag depicted with a cross over its head was meant to symbolize Saint Hubert of Liege the patron of hunting.[3] This mostly likely means that the owner was Christian and could have used this specific design of the scabbard as a way to pay tribute to God and the Saint Hubert.
Despite its original production location being unknown, a possible reason for how this scabbard found its way to Gotland could have been through trade or raiding. The island of Gotland being situated in between Sweden and modern day Latvia in the Baltic Sea, made it a prime resting spot for traders and raiding parties moving through the Baltic. Because of this, Gotlanders faced a wide variety of cultural and religious influences[4] including Christianity.
