Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon helmet 6th-7th C. CE

November 28, 2019

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon helmet 6th-7th C. CE

"I was glad to find in your book a formal contradiction, at length, of the Judiciary usurpation of legislative powers; for such the judges have usurped in their repeated decisions that Christianity is a part of the Common law. the proof of the contrary which you have adduced is incontrovertible, to wit, that the Common law existed, while the Anglo-Saxons were yet Pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced, or knew that such a character had ever existed. But it may amuse you to shew when, and by what means they stole this law in upon us."

-From Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 5 June 1824

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon helmet. Believed to have been buried in 625 CE. Created at unknown date, possibly much earlier. Latest reconstruction (built 1970–1971) of the Sutton Hoo helmet.

Replica of current reconstruction.

1966 illustration.

The first (1946) reconstruction. Profile view.

"The 1946 reconstruction. Photo showing the first reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo helmet. The white notations mark each panel, as identified and published by Herbert Maryon in Antiquity in 1947. The dexter side of the crest, for instance, has four layers of panels. The first panel of the first layer is marked DA (for Dexter A), the panel second DB, third DC, and so on. The second layer starts at D101, continuing D102 and so on. The third layer begins at D201, and the fourth at D301. The sinister side is marked identically, but beginning with the letter "S." The cheek and neck guards contain similar markings."

Current reconstruction: back.

Current reconstruction: profile.

Reconstruction and replica.

Front top.

"Discovered in 1967, the fragment on the left completed a hinge on the dexter cheek guard."

One of the "Dancing Warriors" from Design 1, below.

Design 4.

"The helmet while being assembled for the second time. A dragon head has been positioned facing upwards so as to create the image of a dragon in mid-flight."

Top.

The Sutton Hoo helmet in its fragmentary, unreconstructed state.

"Design 1: The Dancing Warriors, with elements known from fragments in silver, and reconstructed elements in gold."

Design 1: The Dancing Warriors.

For comparison to Design 1: "One of the four Torslunda plates, showing a horned figure similar to those in Design 1. His missing right eye suggests that he is Odin."

For comparison to Design 2: "The Pliezhausen bracteate shows a scene nearly identical to Design 2."

"Design 2: Rider and Fallen Warrior, with elements known from fragments in silver, and reconstructed elements in gold."

Design 4.

Design 5.

"Replica helmet showing designs 1, 2, 4 and 5, located above the eyebrows and on the cheek guard, on the skull cap, on the cheek guard and skull cap, and on the face mask."

"The ship impression during the 1939 excavation; Basil Brown is in the foreground, and Lietenant Commander John Kenneth Douglas Hutchison in the background."