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he Sutton Hoo helmet (right) is
perhaps the best-known
Anglo-Saxon artifact.
Uncovered in 1939,
the helmet likely belonged to an
Anglo-Saxon king who was
buried at this site in spectacular
fashion in the early seventh
century. One of six remaining
helmets from the Anglo-Saxon
period, it is, by far, the most
richly decorated.
When it was new (inset
shows a reconstruction of how
the piece may have looked),
the helmet must have been a
magnificent sight, glittering
with bronze sheets that
were covered in tin to look
like silver. A silver-plated and gilded
crest runs over the top of the helmet
and ends on both sides in dragon
heads. The face mask is decorated with
gilded brass casings to create the
appearance of a man’s nose, mouth,
mustache, and eyebrows. Snarling
boars with garnet eyes are set at the
ends of each eyebrow, invoking the god
Freyr and communicating strength.
The boars are so positioned that if you
look at them from just the right spot,
they appear to come together to form
another dragon, spreading its wings inFit for a King
flight. Almost every inch of the helmet is
decorated with designs and patterns,
some thought to be directly
related to the god Woden. These
depictions of powerful
creatures and religious
images were meant to
highlight the owner’s power.
The care and detail put
into creating this helmet is
clear evidence of the
owner’s high place in
ociety. A helmet was used
stead of a crown by some
rly medieval kings, and
e Sutton Hoo helmet sent
lear messages about its
owner’s importance.
Some scholars have even
suggested that the religious
imagery might indicate that it was
involved in sacred rituals. The
world of the supernatural seemed
very close for the Anglo-Saxons,
and the symbols of power and gods
were likely meant to win divine
favor. The helmet’s decorations
were a way for the owner to show
his wealth and power, as only
someone in a very high position
could have afforded to have such
an incredible helmet made!
—Ben BertrandART-I-
FACTS
Woden is the Norse god of wisdom and war.Freyr is the Norse god of peace, prosperity, and marriage.A garnet is a hard, shining stone that is red in color at this time period and used in making jewelry.