#vikings

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Thistles are a common sight around Glasgow at this time of year, but do you know why it's Scotland's national flower? Legend has it that it all goes back to the Battle of Largs in 1263, where, one night, a Viking army was trying launch a sneak attack on a Scottish encampment. The Vikings had taken off their shoes and socks to wade ashore, but as they approached, one of them stood on a thistle.

Cont./

A Scottish thistle in flower.
A Scottish thistle in flower.

Hogback stones in Govan Old Parish Church. Dating from the era of the Vikings more than 1,000 years ago, they're thought to have served as grave markers. They are unique to the Viking areas of northern Britain and the Govan Hogbacks are the largest known examples. They are now part of the collection of early Christian-Viking relics known as the Govan Stones.

An open access tale about a gold ring from Knaresborough, a rediscovered Iron Age gold hoard...and the Viking Great Army!

"Nicked and ‘nicked’: The Knaresborough gold ring and a possible Viking-redeposited Iron Age hoard from eastern England."

by Tess Machling, Roll Williamson & Mark Randerson

Enjoy and please feel free to share! Thank you :)

https://bigbookoftorcs.com/2024/04/16/nicked-and-nicked-the-knaresborough-gold-ring-and-a-possible-viking-redeposited-iron-age-hoard-from-eastern-england/

A close up of the Knaresborough gold ring