Beowulf: Scyld Scefing and Sutton Hoo

Scyld Scefing and Sutton Hoo

The Funeral of Scyld Scefing [Beowulf, lines 26-52]

      Him ða Scyld gewat         to gescæphwile
      felahror feran         on frean wære.
      Hi hyne þa ætbæron        to brimes faroðe,
      swæse gesiþas,         swa he selfa bæd,
30 þenden wordum weold         wine Scyldinga;
      leof landfruma         lange ahte.
      þær æt hyðe stod         hringedstefna,
      isig ond utfus,         æþelinges fær.
      Aledon þa         leofne þeoden,
35 beaga bryttan,         on bearm scipes,
      mærne be mæste.         þær wæs madma fela
      of feorwegum,         frætwa, gelæded;
      ne hyrde ic cymlicor         ceol gegyrwan
      hildewæpnum         ond heaðowædum,
40 billum ond byrnum;         him on bearme læg
      madma mænigo,         þa him mid scoldon
      on flodes æht         feor gewitan.
      Nalæs hi hine læssan         lacum teodan,
      þeodgestreonum,         þon þa dydon
45 þe hine æt frumsceafte         forð onsendon
      ænne ofer yðe         umborwesende.
      þa gyt hie him asetton         segen geldenne
      heah ofer heafod,         leton holm beran,
      geafon on garsecg;         him wæs geomor sefa,
50 murnende mod.         Men ne cunnon
      secgan to soðe,         selerædende,
      hæleð under heofenum,      hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.

      Forth he fared at the fated moment,
      sturdy Scyld to the shelter of God.
      Then they bore him over to ocean's billow,
      loving clansmen, as late he charged them,
30 while wielded words the winsome Scyld,
      the leader beloved who long had ruled....
      In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel,
      ice-flecked, outbound, atheling's barge:
      there laid they down their darling lord
35 on the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings,
      by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasure
      fetched from far was freighted with him.
      No ship have I known so nobly dight
      with weapons of war and weeds of battle,
40 with breastplate and blade: on his bosom lay
      a heaped hoard that hence should go
      far o'er the flood with him floating away.
      No less these loaded the lordly gifts,
      thanes' huge treasure, than those had done
45 who in former time forth had sent him
      sole on the seas, a suckling child.
      High o'er his head they hoist the standard,
      a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,
      gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits,
50 mournful their mood. No man is able
      to say in sooth, no son of the halls,
      no hero 'neath heaven, – who harbored that freight!

Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo is a large cemetery that was reserved for the aristocracy of the 7th century kingdom of East Anglia. Located near what is now Suffolk, England, the cemetery was used by pagans who "made conscious reference to burial practices in Scandinavia as well as to Britain’s own prehistoric past." (Hummler). Before becoming a cemetery the site, in prehistoric and Roman times, was predominantly agricultural with the most intensive development in the neolithic or "Beaker" period (c. 2000 BC).

In 1939 a ship burial was discovered at Sutton Hoo, in a way, confirming the accuracy of the description of the burial of Scyld Scefing. The find, though it lacked a body, was undisturbed and contained a helmet, shield, sword, buckle, sceptre, lyre and various vessels, all of exceptional quality and craftsmanship. It is believed that this grave or cenotaph belonged to the East Anglian King Rædwald, who died in AD 624/5. The objects from this find are housed in the British Museum, London, and the Sutton Hoo cemetery is open to the public.

Below are artifacts discovered at Sutton Hoo

Jewelled gold purse lid discovered at Sutton Hoo site. The detail (right) of one of the panels depicts a man between two animals, created in garnet and blue and white glass mosaic.
Shoulder clasp for a cape	Sceptre	Helmet
Belt Buckle –7th Century Gold and enamel 5.25" long		Sword
Bowl hook-escutcheon		Drinking Horns
Spoons inscribed 'Paul' Same spoon with side view Right slide courtesy Medieval Studies, University of Illinois
Bowl (Mediterranean)		Bowl with handles
Pot
Bottle		Chalice
Lyre This 6 stringed instrument is a copy of the 7th century Saxon Lyre found at Sutton Hoo. Amongst the worldly possessions of the Norse king was found, in a goat skin bag, the fragmented remains of a lyre, which still had with it decorative embellishments of the Saxon era. This instrument, also referred to as a battle harp, was carried in the crook of the elbow as a symbol of status. Length 28", weight 11Lbs 8ozs...		Shield The decorative portions of the shield had been mounted on a wood and leather base which has long since rotted away. The ornaments have been pieced together on a replicated base.