Thorwald’s Cross (Manx Cross 128) – St. Andrew Church – Andreas, Isle of Man - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

This sign of history can be found in front of Thorwald’s Cross (Manx Cross 128) in Kirk Andreas, St. Andrew Church, in the village of Andreas.

Manx Cross 128 is one of a collection of carved stones which are part of a display at the rear of the Church. The display also includes some interpretation of the crosses. In front of the Thorwald’s Cross the sign has the following text:
‘A HISTORY OF THE WORLD
A BBC AND BRITISH MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP
___________________________________
THORWALD’S CROSS

The transition in the Viking world of pagan beliefs to the final embrace of Christianity is
depicted on this stone. The Vikings brought pagan religion to the shores already believing in
Christianity and for a short time, both creeds co-existed. But eventually, Christianity won.

One side of this stone shows the Norse god Odin being devoured by Fenris the wolf at the
Battle of Ragnorok – the fight against evil and the end of the world for the Norse deities.
The other side is filled with Christian symbolism – a figure with a book and a cross, by a
Fish and a defeated serpent.

This stone is not only a “page-turn” form pagan to Christian beliefs, it also has the rarest
of things – the name of the person who was responsible. Down one side, written in ancient
Norse runes, is the inscription “Thorwald raised this cross”.’

Odin is featured on one of a collection of carved stones which are part of a display at the rear of St. Andrew Church. The display also includes some interpretation of the crosses. The stone in question is Manx Cross 128 which is named 'Thorwald's Cross'.
Thorwald's Cross
Is a partially surviving runestone, which is 'particularly unusual in juxtaposing image on opposite face depicting two pivotal moments in pagan mythology and Christian belief.

Odin is displayed on the numbered face which shows the end of the known world according to the Norse legend of Ragnarok.

The standing ‘figure of Odin, chief of the Norse gods, armed with a spear and with a raven on his shoulder. He is shown being devoured by the giant wolf Fenrir in the great battle between the gods and the giants, and monsters of evil. The gods eventually prevail, but at great costin a victory which leads to a new mythological world order.

On the other side, a second figure of similar size is shown holding a book and a cross, alongside a large fish; all of these motifs are potent symbols of Christianity...'
Source: "A Guide To The Archaeological Sites of the Isle of Man up to AD 1500" BY Andrew Johnson and Allision Fox (ISBN:978-0-9554043-5-1)

A 3D Model of the Sigurd Cross can be found at the following link:
(visit link)

Group that erected the marker: Manx National Heritage Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Kirk Andreas Andreas, Isle of Man URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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