[MR] BBC: Lewis Chessmen (and Chesswomen) on Display

[Jeb Raitt]

Says somthing about the game and the culture, that the Queen is so much smaller than the King.

Donal






-----Original Message-----
From: Garth G. Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu>
To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org; isenfir at virginia.edu
Sent: Fri, Apr 15, 2011 10:01 am
Subject: [MR] BBC: Lewis Chessmen (and Chesswomen) on Display


Noble friends, 
 
The famous Lewis Chessmen have returned to the Western Isles, at least for a time. Twenty-three pieces, which have been touring in Scotland, have gone on display in Stornoway. BBC has a brief audio clip, with an excellent image of several at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13091367 . 
 
A related BBC text story is at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13085170 . 
 
Also worthy of a read is a story on new ideas about the Chessmen's origins: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8352127.stm . I like the possibility, though unverifiable, that they might have belonged to Angus Mor of Isla, inherited from his father Donald, Lord of the Isles. Donald is considered the founder of Clan MacDonald. Also interesting is the possibility they were used to play Hnefatafl, a chess-like game with different moves (and that game is not "lost", though the rules are somewhat fuzzy--search "Hnefatafl" on Wikipedia). I am particularly found of that chess piece who is chewing on his shield, which speaks volumes about the controversy over where the Lewis Chessmen should be displayed. 
 
Kind regards, 
 
Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot 
======================================================================== 
  The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside 
  List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/ 
 Submissions: Atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org 
Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/listinfo.cgi/atlantia-atlantia.sca.org