Saxons in Sussex

Saxons in Sussex

Name:

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

SAXON WORDSEARCH

S P I N N I N G D NOXAS
H A R P W S C L M J AOTC
I B R I A W L A D G RQHY
E Q U K R O A S C ARLET
L W N N R I M S H G SAGE
D R E K I U P B L C SCNL
B X S V O B K E N AGAPO
O R M E R C I A T QVY IO
S V O Z Y T L D J G F EWM
S F T O Z C N Z X E S S EW
D G Q A C WM E O PC I PE
S N O R T H U M B R I AY I
N R O H G N I K N I RDFG
B E O W U L F B E AO I LH
R V I L L E I N A RMLET

PAGAN WARRIOR THEGN VILLEIN NORTHUMBRIA WESSEX
MERCIA SAXON RUNES BEOWULF EPIC POEM HARP
SHIELD BOSS GLASS BEAD SPINNING SCARLET LOOM WEIGHT OXEN CYTEL
DRINKING HORN CLAMP KILN ARMLET SLAVE BROOCH

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

SAXON LANGUAGE – ‘OLD ENGLISH’

Saxons spoke what we now call ‘Old English’. It is an early form of the
present English language. Many common words and expressions that we use
today come from Saxon or ‘Old English’.

Can you work out the following words?

1. Food/Drink: 4. Colours:

Butere ………………………. Reod ……………………..
Milc ………………………….. Grene ……………………
Hunig ………………………..
Cese ………………………… 5. Animals:

Aeg ………………………….. Hors ……………………….
Mete ………………………… Cu ………………………….
Bridd ……………………..
2. Clothes:
6. Family:
Socc …………………………
Scoh ……………………….. Faeder ……………………
Scyrte …………………….. Moder …………………….
Haett ……………………… Sunu ……………………….
Dohtor …………………….
3. Festivals: Sweoster …………………
Brothor …………………..
Eostre ……………………..
Goel (pronounced ‘yule’)
……………………………………..

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

SAXON WORDS

PAGAN – the religion of the Saxons was Paganism. Later some Saxons
became Christian

SLAVE(s) – were often prisoners of war of people who broke the law

VILLEIN – the wealthiest peasant who could own 20-40 acres of land

WARRIOR – the Saxons were a Warrior Society. Everyone had to be able to
fight for their lord or THEGN

NORTHUMBRIA, WESSEX, MERCIA – the three main Saxon kingdoms

ARMLET – both men and women wore jewellery. If you were rich it might
be made from gold, silver, GLASS BEADS, pearls or precious stones

BROOCHES – clothes were held together with brooches, pins and belts

SHIELD BOSS – the metal centre of a shield, made of iron

SPINNING – traditionally a woman’s job. Unmarried women are still
sometimes called ‘spinsters’

SCARLET – shellfish were used to make a bright red dye for colouring cloth
scarlet red

LOOM WEIGHT – used for holding threads straight when weaving cloth

CYTEL – a Saxon ‘kettle’ used for cooking (especially boiling salted fish)

DRINKING HORN – often a large horn was shared by guests at a feast.

CLAMP KILN – a pit or hole was dug into the ground, pots were put in it and
fired in a kind of bonfire

RUNES – represented sounds. A kind of writing used for special purposes

BEOWULF – Stories were often told to the music of the HARP. Beowulf is a
an Old English heroic EPIC POEM consisting of 3182 long lines

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

SAXON RIDDLES

On earth this warrior is strangely born
Of two dumb creatures, drawn gleaming
Into the world, bright and useful to men.
It is tended, kept, covered by women –

Strong and savage, it serves well,
A gentle slave to firm masters

Who mind its measure and feed it fairly
With a careful hand. To these it brings
Warm blessings; to those who let it run

Wild it brings a grim reward

What am I?

Power and treasure for a prince to hold,
Hard and steep-cheeked, wrapped in red

Gold and garnet, ripped from a plain
Of bright flowers, wrought – a remnant
Of fire and file, bound in stark beauty

With delicate wire, my grip makes
Warriors weep, my sting threatens
The hand that grasps gold. Studded
With a ring, I ravage heir and heirloom

To my lord and foes always lovely
And deadly, altering face and form

What am I?

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

ARTEFACT DRAWING

Draw and label……………………….

A TOOL used for spinning or Some BEADS – look carefully

weaving at the patterns

A BROOCH JEWELLERY or BADGE that
you wear

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

A WEAPON – how would it An OBJECT found at a

feel to hold this burial or excavation

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011

Lewes Castle Learning Resource 2011