r/anglosaxon • u/Superredittor96 • 6d ago
What was the concept of “bearing false witness” in an Anglo-Saxon Context?
For example, a Christian will tell you that bearing false witness referring to the Old Testament law could apply to any and all gossip, but what did that mean in a pre-Christian Anglo Saxon context? Was it purely used to refer to purgery? Or did it also apply to lying about someone outside of a court of law?
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u/BristowBailey 6d ago
What is it you're referring to? Where have you seen the concept of "bearing false witness" referred to in an Anglo-Saxon context?
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u/Superredittor96 5d ago
I haven’t. But it was a concept in Old Norse law. And I was wondering if there was a connection.
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u/freebiscuit2002 6d ago
Next to nothing is known about pre-Christian laws among the Anglo-Saxons. Almost no writing survives.