Thorvald's Cross : : The Viking-Age Cross-Slab 'Kirk Andreas MM 128' and Its Iconography.

• Author: Steinforth, Dirk H.
• Place / Publishing House: Oxford : : Archaeopress,, 2022.; ©2022.
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (86 pages)

The 'Manx Crosses', Scandinavian-style gravestones from the Isle of Man, are a unique collection of stone monuments unequalled in the medieval Viking World. Focussing on one particular example, 'Thorvald's cross', this book collates all the available information and presents a new interpretation as to how to understand this remarkable monument.

Table of Contents

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Information -- Dedication -- Dedication -- Contents -- Introduction -- Background -- The Manx Crosses -- 'Thorvald's cross': The fragment Kirk Andreas MM 128 -- Description -- The stone's date -- The figural elements of Face 1 -- The figural elements of Face 2 -- The iconography of the two faces of Thorvald's cross -- Interpretation of Face 2 -- Interpretation 1: God fishing for the Leviathan/Christ fishing for humankind's souls -- Interpretation 2: Þórr fishing for the Midgard-Serpent -- Interpretation 3: Christ trampling the beasts -- Summing up Face 2 of MM 128 -- Interpretation of Face 1 -- Interpretation 1: The corpse of a slain warrior being savaged by scavengers -- Interpretation 2: Óðinn being killed by the Fenris-Wolf -- Interpretation 3: Christ trampling the beasts -- Interpretation 4: Christ overcomes the hound of Hell -- Interpretation 5: Víðarr killing the Fenris-Wolf -- Summing up Face 1 of MM 128 -- The juxtaposition and the message -- Combination 1: Óðinn's fall and Christ's triumph -- Combination 2: Víðarr's victory and Christ's triumph -- Combination 3: Óðinn's fall and Víðarr's victory and Christ's triumph -- Summary and conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- Bibliography -- Places to Visit -- Back cover.