Bergakker Rising

[ instagram.com/jungulf.mott ] This blog serves as a supplement to my Instagram account. My primary focus is my art and academic study related to Carolingian and Ottonian Europe.

[bergakkerrising]

Upon careful observation, one will see that the the pommels of these Viking Age sword are crooked; more noticeably on the center sword. This was a deliberate feature incorporated by the craftsman to allow for optimal grip ergonomics and biomechanics. Linked is a video by Roland Warzeca on grip ergonomics @ 7:35.

11. Sword

Steel, copper, silver, niello

Weight, 2 lb. 4 oz. (1020 g)

European, probably Scandinavian,

about 900-1000

12. Sword

Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy

Weight, 3 lb. 5 oz. (1497 g)

Germanic or Scandinavian, about 850-900

This blade is inlaid in iron with +VLFBEHRT+, indicating that it was made or inspired by the swordsmith Ulfberht. He is thought to have worked in the Middle Rhine region of Germany, and his blade-making style and signature were emulated for generations.

13. Sword

Steel, silver, copper alloy

Weight, 2 lb. 10 oz. (1177 g)

Scandinavian, about 950-1000

Displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, United States.

[bergakkerrising]

Early Medieval depictions of the Christ’s crucifixion, from ‘OTTO DER GROSSE Magdeburg und Europa, Band II Katalog’ (2001). II. 16 [IMAGE 2] Ivory relief with Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross Constantinople, mid 10th century Ivory, left wing of a diptych, incisions for hinges in the outer edge of the right margin. H. 22.6 cm, W. 12.2 cm. Hanover, Kestner-Museum, inv. no. WM XXI a, 44 b III. 22 [IMAGE 3] Sacramentary of Essen Essen, third quarter of the 10th century (after 962) Parchment, 236 leaves. - drawing in brown ink; little, not opaque color. - Leather binding from 1912. -H. 27.5cm, W. 19.5cm. Düsseldorf, Universitäts und Landesbibliothek, Ms. D 2 III. 24 [IMAGE 4] Four panels with Passion scenes Lorraine (?), mid 10th century a) Last Supper and Jesus on the Mount of Olives Ivory.-H. 11.6 cm, w. 9.15 cm (Last Supper); H. 11.75 cm, W. 9.15 cm (Mount of Olives). London, The British Museum, inv.no. MLA 1978.5-2.9 and MLA 1978.5-2.8 b) Crucifixion and women at the grave Ivory. -H. 11.9 cm, W. 9.1 cm (Crucifixion); H. 11.9 cm, W. 9.1 cm (women at the grave). Essen, Hohe Domkirche, Domschatzkammer IV.15 [IMAGE 5] Evangeliary and Sacramentary Fragment Ivory relief: Constantinople, mid or third quarter 10th century; Manuscript: Reichenau, around 970, Corvey fragment, late 10th century Parchment, 5 + 206 leaves. - Full color painting and gold. Original wooden cover with ivory relief.-H. 30.5 cm, w. 22.5 cm; Ivory relief: H. 15.3 cm, W. 11.6 cm. Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek „Bibliotheca Albertina", Ms. Rep. I 57 (olim Stadtbibliothek, cod. CXC)

[bergakkerrising]

Jungulf Mott The družina return the ancestral sword to the ancient draugr, 2020 Pen & ink, charcoal, and coloured pencil on paper

[bergakkerrising]

The title of my blog originates with a runic inscription, and it is fitting that my first blog post would cover that.

From Wikipedia:

“The Bergakker inscription is an Elder Futhark inscription discovered on the scabbard of a 5th-century sword. It was found in 1996 in the Dutch town of Bergakker, in the Betuwe, a region once inhabited by the Batavi. There is consensus that the find dates from the period 425-475 and that the inscription is either the singular direct attestation of Frankish (Franconian) or the earliest attestation of Old Dutch (Old Low Franconian).”

Bergakker inscription - Wikipedia

Additionally, here is an entry from ‘Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions’ (Looijenga, 2003) :