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The pieces making up the cross were found built into the medieval structure during the demolition of the church in 1838. The cross would originally have stood outside the church, together with other crosses and may have served as a grave marker. It dates to the 10th century and is carved in the Anglian style. The wheel head originally belonged to another cross although the shaft would have had a similar top. All the crosses from Leeds appear to have been produced in one workshop; there are artistic links with other similar artefacts found in Wharfedale at Collingham, Otley and Ilkley. The upper tiers show several probably Christian figures, the angel and patron possibly copied from Irish manuscript art. At the bottom of the main faces are figures from Germanic mythology. One panel shows Weland the Smith, who was captured by Nithad, hamstrung, and forced to work as his smith. In revenge Weland murdered Nithad's two sons and made their skulls into cups which he presented to their father, and then made Nithad's daughter Beaduhild, pregnant. Weland escaped by means of a flying machine, which is here shown strapped around him. He is shown surrounded by the tools of his trade and reaching up to seize a female figure, possibly Beaduhild or a valkyrie by the hair and skirt. The juxtaposition of the Christian and pagan iconography indicates the mixed nature of the 10th century society, although the figure of Weland was sometimes employed to represent Elijah who ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot. |
