Archaeologica.org

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -from-lake

Reminds one of the Swedish farmer who discovered a Viking hoard and summoned the archaeologists. They drove up to the farmgate, paused, then drove up to the farmhouse and promptly asked said farmer who put the hoop on the gate.

Bewildered by the question he replied he did, having found a brass hoop near his shed about five years before - it seemed a good use for it.

He was then informed it was sold gold torque and he was to detach it immediately.

I love the "Queen to be" idea.
Even if she is just a "Swedish-American "
In Sweden she should be able to get good grades and a scholarship out of it.
After all, it isn't her fault she was born in the USA.

kbs2244 wrote:I love the "Queen to be" idea.
Even if she is just a "Swedish-American "
In Sweden she should be able to get good grades and a scholarship out of it.
After all, it isn't her fault she was born in the USA.

Very true, but it is no one's fault that they were born in the USA.

Reminds one of Boswell meeting Dr Johnson for the first time: "I am from Scotland sir, but I cannot help it" ""That, Sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen cannot help."

True.
But I thought they got the sequence wrong.
Living over there I would think she would referred to as an "American-Swede."
Over here she would be "Swedish-American."

The Guardian is probably still upset about the Revolution.

George MacDonald Fraser has a good bit on the American war of independence in his "Flash for Freedom" Flashman reminisces that had the US not rebelled there would have been less killing, the slaves would have been freed much earlier, without a civil war and full independence would have been granted peacefully as with Australia and Canada.

Wild speculation of course and Ireland was hardly granted independence peacefully, but an interesting what if.

Anyway on the actual topic it is interesting how often ancient swords are associated with lakes. Again it is myth but there is the old story that Excalaibur means from (ex) the Calai burn (river or stream). And one wonders if this weapon is based on a spatha the roman cavalry sword

and full independence would have been granted peacefully as with Australia and Canada.

I love discussions of alternate history. One might make the argument that Australia and Canada were granted independence because the British learned their lesson in 1781.

As far as the spatha is concerned:



the association of the man-on-horseback with nobility/kingship makes sense. Archaeologists have also found weapons tossed in bogs and such probably as offerings so there may well have been some religious significance to the idea which was later associated with political needs. Politicians never change when it comes to seeking an edge.

Minimalist wrote:

and full independence would have been granted peacefully as with Australia and Canada.

I love discussions of alternate history. One might make the argument that Australia and Canada were granted independence because the British learned their lesson in 1781.

As far as the spatha is concerned:



the association of the man-on-horseback with nobility/kingship makes sense. Archaeologists have also found weapons tossed in bogs and such probably as offerings so there may well have been some religious significance to the idea which was later associated with political needs. Politicians never change when it comes to seeking an edge.

It's an interesting point, only slightly gainsayed by the fact that Australia and New Zealand had practically to be forced into accepting independence, which was merely an Act passed by the Imperial parliament. Having succeeded in this the UK then took the opportunity to sell a brand new fleet to the new country.

There was no foreign service until the 1930s as the British Foreign office was considered sufficient. Real independence would have been an insult to the king, or so it was felt.

But as to the sword

There is also the Sutton Hoo helmet. Parts of which originated in Sweden and surely imitate a Roman parade helmet.