The
Mead Hall
The feasting tradition in Anglo-Saxon England
Stephen Pollington
Communal meals were an important
part of Anglo-Saxon society. They were enjoyed by nobles and yeomen,
warriors, farmers churchmen and laity. Some of the feasts were
informal communal gatherings (gebeorscipe) while others were formal
ritual gatherings (symbel).
Using the evidence of Old English texts - including the epic Beowulf
and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Stephen Pollington shows that
the idea of feasting remained central to early English social
traditions long after the physical reality had declined in importance.
The words of the poets and saga-writers are supported by a wealth
of archaeological data dealing with halls, settlement layouts
and magnificent feasting gear found in many early Anglo-Saxon
graves. Three appendices:
• Hall-themes in Old English verse;
• Old English and translated texts;
• The structure and origins of the warband.
24 illustrations .
£14·95
288 pages
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