Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 11-07-2010, 07:50 PM

Based on Old English or Scandinavian culture, females came of age upon puberty (childbearing and raising). Unlike modern times with healthy diets, etc., that occurred usually no sooner than age 13 or 14.

Males came of age when they had passed some kind of manhood test; if they were farmers/landholders, it might have had to do with taking responsibility and succeeding at planting and harvesting, which might be as early as 13 or 14; or if they were apprenticed to a smith or other artesan, upon achieving journeyman status, which would be later - perhaps 16 to 18 years old; if Eorling (warrior), then it might be perhaps around age 15 or 16, the test being able to demonstrate competence at fighting on horseback.

11-07-2010, 07:50 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Based on Old English or Scandinavian culture, females came of age upon puberty (childbearing and raising). Unlike modern times with healthy diets, etc., that occurred usually no sooner than age 13 or 14. Males came of age when they had passed some kind of manhood test; if they were farmers/landholders, it might have had to do with taking responsibility and succeeding at planting and harvesting, which might be as early as 13 or 14; or if they were apprenticed to a smith or other artesan, upon achieving journeyman status, which would be later - perhaps 16 to 18 years old; if Eorling (warrior), then it might be perhaps around age 15 or 16, the test being able to demonstrate competence at fighting on horseback.