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Sword dancing, 9th century
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Sword dancing, 9th century
Two men with swords and shields performing a sword dance with a female assistant to horn music, 9th century. Handcoloured lithograph by Joseph Strutt from his own Sports and Pastimes of the People of England, Chatto and Windus, London, 1876
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Media ID 23204872
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Dancer Gleemen Horn Illuminated Manuscript Pastimes Performer Shield Strutt
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This handcoloured lithograph by Joseph Strutt, titled "Sword Dance of the Ninth Century," depicts an intriguing scene of two men engaged in an ancient sword dance, accompanied by a female assistant and the haunting melodies of horn music. The men, both clad in armor, brandish swords and shields, their faces focused and determined as they execute precise movements in perfect unison. One man wears a helmet adorned with intricate metalwork, while the other's shield bears the image of a dragon, a common motif in medieval iconography. The female assistant, dressed in a flowing gown and holding a small drum, provides rhythmic accompaniment to the dance. Her presence adds an element of grace and elegance to the otherwise fierce and combative performance. The scene is reminiscent of the gleemen, or traveling performers, who would entertain audiences with their displays of skill and agility in medieval Europe. The intricate details of the illustration, taken from Strutt's seminal work "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England," published in 1876 by Chatto and Windus in London, transport us back in time to the 9th century. The illuminated manuscript-style presentation adds to the overall sense of history and wonder, making this a truly mesmerizing and evocative image.
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