Thorwald's Cross, Viking Artefact.
Thorwald's Cross, 10th Century Viking Artefact, Isle of Man.
6" high, 4" wide. Free standing piece, in authentic stone finish.
The piece stands 6" high, 4.5" wide.
Thorwald’s Cross, Isle of Man
Located at Church Andreas on the Isle of Man, this fragment of a Viking Slab Cross is dated by Rundata to 940 AD. It is a very unique artefact, in that it appears to represent an example of ‘Syncretic Art’ created during a short period of time when both Pagan and Christian belief systems coexisted. It is also unique for bearing the inscription of the erector of the original monument; ‘Porvaldr raised this cross’, with its present title representing this. The cross shows what is believed to be the father of the Norse gods, Odin, being consumed by the wolf, Fenrir, at the events of Ragnarok, signalling the end to the story of the Norse Pantheon. This is significant as it may reveal the conversion point from Paganism to Christianity, with the Christian god rising to prominence following the destruction of the Pagan gods at the mythical battle of Ragnarok. The bird at Odin’s shoulder is thought to be either Huginn or Muninn, Odin’s loyal ravens, whose attachment to Odin have led to him being commonly referred to as ‘The Raven God’.
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Hi, I'm Ciaran!
I'm a native of Derry City, dad of one, keen amateur sportsman and love Irish history and literature! I create these unique pieces (in my own kitchen!) with the aim of highlighting the incredibly rich heritage of ancient Ireland, with a particular interest in my own backyard of Donegal. I have a background in model making and sculpting and have tried to recreate the majesty of our heritage sites as faithfully as possible, with each being completely created and painted by my own hands. These are the beginning of a range I am creating to showcase the lesser known hidden gems of Irish heritage, bringing pieces of ancient Ireland into people's homes. Created using locally sourced paints and plaster, I pride myself on delivering a piece that is totally unique and holds up to close inspection and scrutiny. Having grown up in a proud Irish household where indigenous art and literature were highly valued, I have been interested in our ancient history and ancestors for as long as I can remember. I am so happy to be able to create these pieces and share my love for our cultural heritage with others of the same mind. These pieces look, feel and weigh like genuine stone, you will not find these available anywhere else on Earth!