Saturday, July 13, 2019

Highland Warriors

Highland Warriors is the current temporary exhibit at the Canadian War Museum, running into January 2020 for those of you in the area. It examines the origins of the Highland warrior and the legacy that continues through to the current day in military units. The exhibit uses art, reproductions, weapons, artifacts, and panels to explore the traditions of the Highlands and how they have evolved through time in military circles.


This map of Scotland dates to 1690, and the accompanying panel notes that the detail in the western Highlands was poor, reflecting a lack of knowledge about the region from outsiders.


The Highland double handed sword, also known as the claymore, was used in combat from the early 16th-late 17th centuries. It was also typically a ceremonial symbol of a chieftain. The blade on this one dates to 1530, while the pommel and grip are the result of later restoration work. Elsewhere in the exhibit, under the watch of a museum employee, it was possible to pick up a contemporary claymore.


Highland warriors rose up out of the clan system in Scotland. Panels examine that history.


This is a copy of a portrait that dated to around 1714. Portrait Of Alastair Grant Mor, The Laird Of Grant's Champion was originally painted by Richard Waitt.


Weapons of different origins are found in this display.


Some of the panels included poetry and prose, in three languages- Gaelic, English, and French.


There were times when Highlanders lent their services out abroad. The closing image from today's post reflects that.

28 comments:

  1. Interesting. Bet it wasn´t as romantic back then as the movie "Highlander" tries to sell us...

    ReplyDelete
  2. An interesting exhibition. The Highlands and Islands were always marginal land with frequent failed harvests - not a great place to make a peaceful living.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's pure history ... Very interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great exhibit and great coverage.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ...humans have always found a way to kill each other!

    ReplyDelete
  6. very cool history .. i enjoy history so much. take care. ( ;

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fascinating! Interesting warriors I knew so little about. Thanks for the history lesson. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is certainly an interesting and unusual exhibit!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Definitely, fascinating post and photos ~ being of Scottish heritage it is intriguing ~ still I wonder ~ will we ever have peace in our world ~ not in human nature I guess ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello, it is an interesting exhibit. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have never thought of the Highlands and Canada! How interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to see this exhibit. I have read quite a lot about highlanders. Scotland has always fascinated me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I never thought of the Highlanders as being mercenaries.

    ReplyDelete
  14. this is on our list to see in October!Thanks for sharing this today!

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Italiafinlandia: it is!

    @Iris: or Braveheart, or Outlander...

    @John: these were places that could be unforgiving.

    @Karl: that it was.

    @Ella: I found it so.

    @Marianne: I enjoyed it.

    @Jan: so do I.

    @Marie: thanks!

    @Tom: that's true.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Anvilcloud: you should pay a visit sometime in the next few months.

    @Beth: I liked this exhibit.

    @DJan: you're welcome.

    @RedPat: that it was.

    @Carol: probably not.

    @Eileen: you're welcome.

    @Jeanie: there's a strong Scots heritage in Canada.

    @Catarina: me too.

    @Fun60: who'd have thought?

    @Laurie: a pleasure to do so.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The sword of Scotland was the claymore. The clansmen hadn't a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow. I didn't even know it was up.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looks like an interesting exhibition:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very interesting, William, thanks.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Bill: it was.

    @Joanne: it was quite a weapon.

    @Jennifer: I enjoyed that exhibit.

    @Rosie: it was quite something.

    @Jan: you're welcome.

    @Klara: indeed.

    ReplyDelete