The ancient Bayeux Tapestry, famous for its epic representation of medieval history, is a long, vividly embroidered cloth stretching hundreds of feet. Through exciting imagery it retells the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England, including the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The artifact is almost 1,000 years old, yet the fabric remains sturdy and the exquisite threads have retained their rich color and vibrancy. However, the origins of the renowned tapestry remain a mystery, and through strange images it seems to communicate hidden messages to the viewer.
The Making of a Medieval Masterpiece
Believed to have been commissioned in the 1070s by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother to William the Conqueror, the piece relates the Norman conquest of England from the winner’s perspective and so above all, it is viewed as a Norman account of events.
Nothing is known for certain about the tapestry’s origins. There are several theories about who commissioned the work beyond Bishop Odo, such as contemporary abbots or even Edith of Wessex, wife of Edward the Confessor and sister of Harold II. The Latin captions on the linen tapestry match pieces originating in England at the time, and the type of vegetable dyes used in the cotton embroidery are the same as others woven there.
The stitching is of highest quality, indicating it might have been the skilled Anglo-Saxons, famous across Europe for their needlework, who were behind the exquisite and expensive art. This adds to the evidence that it may have been crafted in England, rather than France.
As the distinctive work is embroidered it is not technically a tapestry, which is woven.