Author Description

The runic and Roman texts appearing on the Franks (Auzon) Casket are well-known to students of Old English. The iconography is likewise familiar but contains many unusual features which are seldom discussed in detail. Dr Becker submits the runes and imagery to close examination using heuristic principles. The result of his study is a re-evaluation of the whole iconographic and textual program of the box as a figurative calendar relating to astrological events. The text then applies these results to what we know of the story of Welund the Smith who appears in one of the figural scenes.