Thorvald’s Cross

The Viking-Age Cross-Slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and Its Iconography

Dirk H Steinforth author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Archaeopress

Published:6th Jan '22

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Thorvald’s Cross cover

Thorvald’s Cross. The Viking Age Cross-Slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its Iconography provides an in-depth analysis of one of the Isle of Man’s most important and intriguing monuments. The Manx Crosses are a unique collection of Scandinavian-style grave stones unequalled in the medieval Viking World. Their carvings and inscriptions offer a window into Viking Age society and spirituality at a time when the Celtic Manx and Scandinavian settlers in the Island came to terms with each other. Among these stones, the iconic ‘Thorvald’s Cross’ (MM 128) in St Andrew’s church in the village of Andreas demands particular attention, as it features figural scenes with humans and animals deriving from both pagan Norse mythology and Christian religious imagery. According to the prevailing view, the triumph of Christianity over paganism is shown in the two preserved reliefs, but differing opinions have been put forward. This book brings together all available information about Thorvald’s Cross and discusses and analyses former and current hypotheses regarding the stone’s iconography, weighing their respective merits and shortcomings. Based on in-depth research and an ‘autopsy’ of the stone on-site, it considers the images in their spiritual, cultural, and chronological context and presents a new interpretation of this remarkable monument, arguing that the depiction of religious confrontation was not its original purpose, but that both scenes convey a common, much more subtle and comforting Christian message.

‘Although the book is rather thin, the wealth of its content would be enough for an encyclopaedia. Moreover, its interestingly worded and lucid language proves that scholarly works do not need to be boring; such a well-written book will certainly interest not only scholars but laypeople who follow the archaeology of the Isle of Man, or those interested in the iconography of Early Christian sculpture.’ – Joanna Pyrgies (2022): The Journal of Irish Archaeology Volume XXXI


'Ultimately, the book is a useful summary of current and past ideas, and it argues an interesting and largely plausible case for one particular theory.' – Thomas Williams (2023): Medieval Archaeology vol 67.1

ISBN: 9781789698558

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 203g

86 pages