From the Viking mead drinking in Valhalla to the unending punishments of the Greek underworld, the afterlife has always been an imaginative place. In this blog post, I survey how the afterlife was conceptualised in early medieval England, in particular with reference to 'old age'. Heaven is a place without old age The prime place … Continue reading Heaven is a place without old age: Age and the afterlife in early medieval England
What’s in a place name? The toponymy of early medieval England
What do place names tells us about the early history of England?
Old age as a prefiguration of Hell: Senescence in early medieval England
This blog looks at some of the downsides of growing old in early medieval England and identifies some cases of what may be termed ‘gerontophobia’, the fear for old age.
Anglo-Saxon gift horses: Equine gifts in early medieval England
Whether as a royal present, a reward for heroism, a treasured heirloom or an impressive bride price, a horse was the perfect gift in early medieval England!
Heads on sticks: Decapitation and impalement in early medieval England
A good way to keep out unwanted visitors and an inspiration to authors and artists: decapitation and impalement in Anglo-Saxon England.
Digging for early medieval grandmothers in Anglo-Saxon wills
Like many grannies today, Anglo-Saxon grandmothers took an interest in the upbringing of their grandchildren.
Anglo-Saxon bynames: Old English nicknames from the Domesday Book
From Humphrey 'Golden-bollocks' to Alwy 'Beetle-beard' - this blog post deals with the remarkable bynames found for individuals mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Thijs Porck 