From Goths to Varangians : Communication and Cultural Exchange Between the Baltic and the Black Sea

With a multidisciplinary approach by archaeologists, historians and related sciences by leading scholars from England, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, USA and the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, this anthology examines the cross-cultural ties between the Baltic and the Black Sea Area from Late Antiquity through the Viking Age to the Middle Ages. With articles ranging from the lively exchange between Southern Scandinavia and the Goths in the Pontic Area in Late Antiquity, to the famous Varangian Guard consisting of Scandinavians at the Royal Court in Byzantine in the Late Viking Age, the book provides an overview of important sources and new research into the significance of long range relations and cross-cultural interaction between Scandinavia, the Slavic lands and the Black Sea Region. In Late Antiquity, Archaeology Demonstrates Lively And Far-flung Exchange Along The River Dniester, Through Current Poland To The Baltic. By The 11th Century The Former Barbaricum Had Been Transformed Into A String Of Christian Kingdoms And Principalities, Whose Parallel Histories Are As Conspicuous As Their Differences. From The Legendary Migrations Of The Goths In Antiquity To The Varangian Guard At The Imperial Court Of Byzantium In The Late Viking Age, Trans-cultural Interaction Complemented Important Historical Development. This Book Is About Aspects Of The Changing Interactions From Late Antiquity To The High Middle Ages, From Goths To Varangians, And From The Baltic To The Black Sea. The History And Archaeology Of These Connections Have Been Poorly Exposed And Investigated In Modern Times. The Papers Presented In This Volume Are A Selection Of Those Presented During A Series Of Four Meetings Organised 2007-2009 By The 'varangian Network', An Interdisciplinary Network For Archaeological And Historial Research On Relations Between The Baltic And The Black Sea From Late Antiquity To The Medieval Period--p. [4] Of Cover. Introduction / Line Bjerg, John H. Lind & Søren M. Sindbæk -- The Russian Controversy Over The Varangians / Leo S. Klejn -- At The Watershed Between The Baltic And Pontic Before Gnezdovo / Johan Callmer -- Networking North-eastern Barbaricum: A Study Of Gold Imitations Of Roman Coins / Helle Winge Horsnæs -- The Herulians Are Coming! / Line Bjerg -- Byzantium And The Scandinavian World In The 9th-10th Century: Material Evidence Of Contacts / Fedir Androshchuk -- Chasing Gold Threads: Auratae Vestes From Hellenistic Ruler To Varangian Guards / Margarita Gleba -- Finds Of Byzantine Origin From The Early Urban Centre Gnezdovo In The Light Of The Contacts Between Rus' And Constantinople (10 - Early 11th Centuries Ad) / Natalie Eniosova & Tamara Puškina -- Scandinavians In The East Of Europe: In Search Of Glory Or A New Motherland? / Volodymyr Kovalenko -- Viking Warriors And The Byzantine Empire: Was There A Transfer Of Nautical Technology? / Ole Crumlin-pedersen -- Mental Maps Of The Old Russian Chronicle-writer Of The Early Twelfth Century / Elena Melnikova -- Darkness In The East? Scandinavian Scholars On The Question Of Easter Influence In Scandinavia During The Viking Age And Early Middle Ages / John H. Lind -- The Journey Of St Clement's Cult From The Black Sean To The Baltic Region / Ildar H. Garipzanov -- Royal Family Connections And The Byzantine Impact On Danish Romanesque Church Frescos. Queen Margareth Fredkulla And Her Nieces / Ulla Haastrup & John H. Lind. Edited By Line Bjerg, John H. Lind & Søren M. Sindbæk. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Line Bjerg, John H. Lind & Søren M. Sindbæk: Introduction 7 Leo S. Klejn: The Russian controversy over the Varangians 27 Johan Callmer: At the watershed between the Baltic and the Pontic before Gnezdovo 39 Helle Winge Horsnæs: Networking in north-eastern Barbaricum: a study of gold imitations of Roman coins 87 Line Bjerg: The Herulians are coming! 131 Fedir Androshchuk: Byzantium and the Scandinavian world in the 9th-10th century: material evidence of contacts 147 Margarita Gleba: Chasing gold threads: 'auratae vestes' from Hellenistic rulers to Varangian guards 193 Natalia Eniosova & Tamara Puškina: Finds of Byzantine origin from the early urban centre Gnezdovo in the light of the contacts between Rus' and Constantinople (10th - early 11th centuries AD) 213 Volodymyr Kovalenko: Scandinavians in the East of Europe: in search of glory or a new motherland? 257 Ole Crumlin-Pedersen: Viking warriors and the Byzantine Empire: was there a transfer of nautical technology? 295 Elena Melnikova: Mental maps of the Old Russian chronicle-writer of the early twelfth century 317 John H. Lind: Darkness in the East? Scandinavian scholars on the question of Eastern influence in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and Early Middle Ages 341 Ildar H. Garipzanov: The journey of St Clement's cult from the Black Sea to the Baltic Region 369 Ulla Haastrup & John H. Lind: Royal family connections and the Byzantine impact on Danish Romanesque church frescos. Queen Margareth Fredkulla and her nieces 381 Index 413 In late Antiquity, archaeology demonstrates lively and far-flung exchange along the river Dniester, through current Poland to the Baltic. By the 11th century the former Barbaricum had been transformed into a string of Christian kingdoms and principalities, whose parallel histories are as conspicious as their differences. From the legendary (if possible real) migrations of the Goths in Antiquity to the Varangian guard at the imperial court of Byzantium in the late Viking Age, trans-cultural interaction complemented important historical development. This book is about aspects of the changing interactions from late Antiquity to the High Middle Ages, from Goths to Varangians, and from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The history and archaeology of these connections have been poorly exposed and investigated in modern times. The papers presented in this volume are a selection of those presented during a series of four meetings organised 2007-2009 by the "Varangian Network", an interdisciplinary network for archaeological and historical research on relations between the Baltic and the Black Sea from late Antiquity to the medieval period. With a multidisciplinary approach by archaeologists, historians and related sciences by leading scholars from England, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, USA and the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, this anthology examines the cross cultural ties between the Baltic and the Black Sea Area from Late Antiquity through the Viking Age to the Middle Ages. With articles ranging from the lively exchange between Southern Scandinavia and the Goths in the Pontic Area in Late Antiquity, to the famous Varangian Guard consisting of Scandinavians at the Royal Court in Byzantine in the Late Viking Age, the book provides an overview of important sources and new research into the significance of long range relations and cross cultural interaction between Scandinavia, the Slavic lands and the Black Sea Region.