Thorwald’s Cross, Kirk Andreas

The stone

History Dirk Steinforth calls it a fragmentary mid-10th-century cross-slab in the parish church of Andreas, in the north of the Isle of Man. Dirk H. Steinforth, Thorvald’s Cross: the Viking-Age cross-slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its iconography (Archaeopress), free sample ↗

History The original Thorwald’s Cross was found in the Andreas rectory garden, north of the churchyard. Only a fragment survives. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History The edge of the slab bears part of a runic inscription, translated as ‘Thorwald raised this cross…’ iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History The guide gives the runes as ‘Thyryaltr, raisti krus, tho’, translated as ‘Thorwald raised this cross’. Isle of Man Guide: Thorwald’s Cross-Slab (no. 128), Kirk Andreas ↗

Odin and the wolf

History Manx National Heritage describes one face as a scene from Ragnarok: Odin, one of his ravens on his shoulder, stabs at the wolf Fenrir with his spear, as the beast grips him in its jaws. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History The Isle of Man Guide describes Odin plunging his spear into the breast of the Fenris Wolf, and adds: ‘afterwards comes Vidar the silent, son of Odin’. Isle of Man Guide: Thorwald’s Cross-Slab (no. 128), Kirk Andreas ↗

History Manx National Heritage asks: ‘Can you see Odin and his raven in Thorwald’s Cross?’ Manx National Heritage: Learning about the Manx Crosses ↗

Tradition Manx National Heritage writes: ‘Legend has it that Odin gave his eye for the gift of wisdom!’ Manx National Heritage: Learning about the Manx Crosses ↗

The other face

History On the other face, a figure holds a cross and what appears to be a book. Manx National Heritage says the figure is interpreted as a priest. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History The guide calls the figure on the other side a missionary, holding a cross in one hand and a copy of the Gospel in the other. Isle of Man Guide: Thorwald’s Cross-Slab (no. 128), Kirk Andreas ↗

History Nearby are a fish and two knotted serpents, one trampled underfoot. Manx National Heritage says the fish is a potent symbol of Christianity, and the trampled serpent signifies the triumph of Christ over evil. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History Several Manx crosses show pagan and Christian pictures side by side, but Manx National Heritage calls this one particularly unusual, because it puts the two on opposite faces of the stone. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

Other readings

History Steinforth writes that the cross is most often read as Odin killed by the wolf Fenrir on one face and Christ over the serpents on the other, but that other opinions deserve closer attention. Dirk H. Steinforth, Thorvald’s Cross: the Viking-Age cross-slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its iconography (Archaeopress), free sample ↗

History Another reading of the first face he discusses is Vidar killing the Fenris-Wolf. Dirk H. Steinforth, Thorvald’s Cross: the Viking-Age cross-slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its iconography (Archaeopress), free sample ↗

History One reading of the second face that Steinforth discusses is Thor fishing for the Midgard-Serpent. Dirk H. Steinforth, Thorvald’s Cross: the Viking-Age cross-slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its iconography (Archaeopress), free sample ↗

Copies, casts and a 3D model

History The iMuseum also lists a cast of the cross made about 1890 to 1910 by Philip Moore Callow Kermode. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Thorwald’s Cross Slab (Manx Cross 128) cast ↗

History The iMuseum lists a replica of Thorwald’s Cross, made in the 21st century. iMuseum (Manx National Heritage): Replica of Thorwald’s cross ↗

History Manx National Heritage published a 3D model of Thorwald’s Cross online on 23 October 2018. Manx National Heritage: Thorwald’s Cross Slab (Manx Cross 128), 3D model on Sketchfab ↗

History The cross was scanned where it stands, so some surfaces could not be captured. Manx National Heritage: Thorwald’s Cross Slab (Manx Cross 128), 3D model on Sketchfab ↗

History Manx National Heritage and its partners made 3D digital images of all 210 Manx crosses. Manx National Heritage: Learning about the Manx Crosses ↗

History Manx National Heritage offers colouring sheets of the Heimdall Cross Slab and Thorwald’s Cross Slab. Manx National Heritage: Learning about the Manx Crosses ↗

The other Norse cross at Andreas

History Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), also in Kirk Andreas, is one of four Sigurd crosses on the Isle of Man. The others are at Jurby, Malew and Maughold. Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), Kirk Andreas ↗

History The Andreas Sigurd cross clearly shows Sigurd roasting the dragon’s heart over the fire and sucking his finger. Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), Kirk Andreas ↗

Tradition The Isle of Man Guide calls the Sigurd story, carved on four Manx crosses, a ‘popular Norse folk tale’. Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), Kirk Andreas ↗

Vikings on the island

History According to the Irish chronicles, Vikings from Scandinavia first entered the Irish Sea in AD 798. Dirk H. Steinforth, Thorvald’s Cross: the Viking-Age cross-slab ‘Kirk Andreas MM 128’ and its iconography (Archaeopress), free sample ↗

History Manx National Heritage says the carved stone crosses of the Isle of Man show many familiar Viking heroes, and tell us how Christianity was adapted into the lives of people on the island. Manx National Heritage: Learning about the Manx Crosses ↗