Battle of Hastings - Arrival of the Tapestry to the British Museum

 Arrival of the Tapestry to the British Museum

See https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9r54e5r4o

It is amazing how a little knowledge can see through to errant reporting. 

No doubt the reporter was on hand to witness the arrival of a most unique object but I wonder where he got his facts?

Yes, it was produced within the lifetime of some of the participants of the battle but like all the other reports of the 11th Cent. it relied on Norman monks and clergy recording the battle for its information. 

The report says "58 scenes" because that is the accepted wisdom of the Establishment. However my research lumps together the last 7 scenes into 4 key moments (Start of morning battle, end of morning battle, start of afternoon battle and end of afternoon battle with the death of Harold II) . So where else has the accepted wisdom gone wrong? It looks as though I'm going have to investigate the history of the allocation of the scenes. I would have liked the report to state that the Tapestry consisted of nine panels stitched together to form a 70 metre long object.

The Bayeux Tapestry is actually fourth in the line of sources (1077). First, there was the Song of the Norman Conquest  attributed to Bishop Guy d'Amiens ( 1067). Second, was a revision  of William of Jumieges "Gesta Normannorum Ducum"( 1070). Thirdly, William of Poitiers' s "Gesta Guillelmi" (1071).

The portion of the Tapestry shown in the article from the BBC is from Scene 51 ( for ease of reference) and Scene 52 when the Norman knights meet the English Huscarls for the first time ( the third hour). And Scenes 51 and 52 illustrate the randomness of the "Scene" allocation. 

Scene 51a

Scene 51b

Scene 52

The BBC report shows a bit of Scene 51b and part of 52 and does not explain what they are showing. Also note that Scene 51 "runs into" Scene 52.

 As a bonus I can tell you who it is entering "stage right" in Scene 52. According to the monks of Battle Abbey writing in 1154 " ..., the vigorous Eustace, count of Boulogne, attacked them from the rear."

Anyway, if you are going to see the Tapestry during its stay in London, enjoy. 

P.S let me know how many black dots ( holes in the fabric) there are. 

All Bayeux Tapestry images are public domain and have been sourced from:-

 Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry_tituli