Germanic and Roman antiquity and the sense of the past in Anglo-Saxon England
Michael Hunter
Nothing is more characteristic of the Dark Ages than ease with which barbarians assimilated Latin culture. Within a century Augustine's mission to pagan English, ‘a barbarous, fierce and unbelieving nation’ who ‘paralysed [him] terror’, Ceolfrith had attempted make Jarrow second Vivarium Northumbria could boast scriptoria an uncial hand superior contemporary products Rome herself. No less striking career barbarian prince like Cædwalla, emerged from forests Wessex on pilgrimage Rome, where he was baptized in St Peter's his epitaph written classical metres by archbishop Milan. Yet Christianity thus introduced Saxons Mediterranean classicism did not cut them off their native cultural inheritance. The produced Codex Amiatinus also home Cædmon Lindisfarne Gospels, whose rich mixture Roman barbaric elements exemplifies Saxons’ success turning vernacular poetry insular art Christian themes.
Anglo-Saxon England