TheLindholm "amulet",listed as DR 261 inRundata,is a bone piece, carved into the shape of a rib, dated to the 2nd to 4th centuries (the lateRoman Iron Age) and has arunic inscription.The Lindholm bone piece is dated between 375CE to 570CE and it is around 17 centimeters long at its longest points. It currently resides at the Lund University Historical Museum in Sweden.[1]
It was found in 1840 inSkåne,Sweden,while cuttingpeatfrom abog.[2]This cut the bone in half and resulted in the destruction of one rune in the second line of text though most of the artifact remained intact.[2]
Inscription
editThe inscription reads
- ᛖᚲᛖᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉᛋᚨ[ᚹ]ᛁᛚᚨᚷᚨᛉᚺᚨᛏᛖᚲᚨ᛬
- ᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᛉᛉᛉᚾᚾ[ᚾ]ᛒᛗᚢᛏᛏᛏ᛬ᚨᛚᚢ᛬
- ek erilaz sa wilagaz hateka:
- aaaaaaaazzznnn-bmuttt: alu:[3]
The first line is transcribed intoProto-Norseas eitherEk erilaz sa Wilagaz haite'kaorEk erilaz Sawilagaz haite'ka. This translates to "I am (an)erilaz,I am called the wily "(or" I am calledSawilagaz"). If the word in first line is translated as a name,Sawilagazmeans "the one of the Sun (Sowilo) ". If the word is translated as" the wily "or" crafty one "or" deceitful one ", then it may be related to a byname ofOdinor another god.[2]
The sequence in the second line contains a "magical" string of runes concluding inalu. The three consecutiveTiwaz runesmay be an invocation of the godTiwaz,and the eightAnsuzrunes as an invocation or symbolic list of eightgods.[4]
Interpretation
editIt is partially due to the formula of the inscription itself which references the way Odin often used to characterize himself asGrimnismal.The word 'erilaz' is frequently found in runic writing as a way to self identify the person carving the rune. The inscription may also be interpreted as “I ‘the eril’ the one who knows magic”. The reason for the rune inscriber to describe himself as crafty or tricky is most likely because he is about to enter a situation in which he will be in need of these qualities in order to be victorious. This gives us some insight into the purpose of the Lindholm amulet and other such historic rune artifacts.[5]
Alphabet
editThe writing is of the specific runic alphabet known asElder Futhark.It is the oldest form of runic writing and was often used by both germanic and northwest germanic tribes to inscribe weapons, amulets and instruments of magic. Elder Futhark was for example used for theProto-Norse language.[1]
The runic alphabet on the surface is nothing more than a simple code for communication and recording. It is very difficult to know for sure the intended purpose of these runic inscriptions; many believe they have religious, spiritual or even magical connotations. Many believe the runic alphabets sole purpose to be for magical uses. The Lindholm bone piece has a seemingly meaningless inscription carved into its surface and for this reason it is often considered to be a prime example of rune magic used perhaps to assist a warrior in battle or even to help bring prosperity to a poor beggar.[6]
It is very probable that this specific artefact was an amulet used for magic purposes, to summon the power of some deity. This is shown by the inscription itself, instead of reading logically, it repeats a row of *ansuz runes that could be read as a repetition of calling on a deity eight times as one would do in a magical ritual. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that the runic alphabet was used for many things outside of magical incantations and ritualistic devices.[4]
Similarity to the Kragehul spear shaft
editTheKragehul spear shaft(which was also found in a bog) and the Lindholm amulet are said to have extremely similar inscriptions. This may be due to the fact that it is fairly common in rune writing to follow the formula of “I so-and-so” when engraving an object with runic inscriptions.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ab"Lindholmen, bone piece".RuneS database.Academy of Sciences Göttingen.
- ^abcFlowers, Stephen E. (2006), "How to do Things with Runes: A Semiotic Approach to Operative Communication", in Stoklund, Marie; Nielsen, Michael Lerche; et al. (eds.),Runes and Their Secrets: Studies in Runology, Volume 2000,Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, pp. 72–79,ISBN87-635-0428-6
- ^"Runic inscription DR 261".Scandinavian Runic-text Database(2020 ed.). Uppsala University: Department of Scandinavian Languages.RetrievedFeb 23,2024.
- ^abSpurkland, Terje (2005).Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions.Boydell Press. p. 12.ISBN1-84383-186-4.
- ^Stoklund, Marie (2006).Runes and Their Secrets: Studies in Runology.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 72–73, 461.ISBN9788763504287.
- ^Looijenga, Tineke (2003).Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions.Brill Press. pp. 12, 383.ISBN9004123962.
- ^Looijenga, Tineke (2003).Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions.Brill Press. pp. 135, 383.ISBN9004123962.