Norwegian Runes and Runic InscriptionsAn accessible account of Norwegian runic inscriptions from their first appearance around AD200 until their demise around 1400. Runes, a unique functional writing system, exclusive to northern and eastern Europe, were used for some 1300 years in Scandinavia, from about AD 200 till around the end of the fourteenth century, when the runic alphabet, called fu ark after the six first characters, finally gave way to the modern writing system. Runes were not written, but carved - in stone, and on jewellery, weapons, utensils and wood. The content of the inscriptions is very varied, from owner and carpenter attributions on artefacts to memorials to the deceased on erected stones; contrary to popular belief, they are not necessarily magical or mystical, and the post-it notes of today have their forerunners in such runic reminders as: "Buy salt, and don't forget gloves for Sigrid." The typical medieval runic inscription varies from the deeply religious to the highly trivial [or perhaps crucial], such as "I slept with Vigdis when I wasin Stavanger." This book presents an accessible account of the Norwegian examples throughout the period of their use. The runic inscriptions are discussed not only from a linguistic point of view but also as sources of information on Norwegian history and culture. TERJE SPURKLAND is Associate Professor of Nordic Medieval Studies at the University of Oslo. |
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Common terms and phrases
Alstad Bergen bind-rune bracteate Bryggen carve runes carved the runes carver Christianity connection context cross dative dead person dotted Eggja inscription Eggja stone eleventh century eril Erlingr example Eyvindr farm Galteland stone Gautr graphic simplification grave Grønvik Guð Gunnarr Hagustaldar Hávarðr horn indicate interpretation Jæren Jórunn King language Latin linguistic long-branch Maeshowe magic Magnus Olsen means medieval Middle Ages nasal Norway Norwegian object Oddernes Óðinn Óláfr Óláfr Tryggvason Old Norse Öpir Oslo Pater Noster plural preterite raised this stone refer reist represented Ringerike Roman alphabet Roman letters rúnar rune-carver runestones runic alphabet runic inscriptions runic writing runologist runology saga Scandinavian script sequence Sigurðr sound value stave church stein þenna stick stone in memory symbols Tjurkö bracteate Tune stone twigs Vang stone variant verb Viking Age vowel whetstone wiltir word writing system younger fubark þessar Þórir