Gosforth Cross

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The Gosforth Cross is a tall, slender Viking High Cross, dating to the first half of the 10th century AD in St Mary's churchyard, Gosforth in the English county of Cumbria. It is a remarkable and unique example of early medieval sculpture in the British Isles. The coastal strip of Cumbria was historically part of the kingdom of Northumbria, but was settled by Scandinavians in either the 9th or 10th century. The cross is highly significant in showing a transition from Pagan to Christian beliefs in this area as it carries both Christian and Nordic symbols. The dual symbolism of the Cross was first identified following a suggestion in 1881 by local amateur antiquarian Dr Charles Arundel Parker. Subsequent investigations with Rev. William Slater Calverley, and Professor Dr George Stephens of Copenhagen University demonstrated that the cross showed scenes described in the old Norse narrative poems; the Poetic Edda. Since then the Cross has been a source of great interest because of its insight into a dim and poorly documented period in European history.