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Runic Inscriptions and the Supernatural

Bridget Davis

MA Norse and Viking Studies

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Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to explore the cultural significance of references to the supernatural in runic inscriptions of the Viking and Medieval Ages.

By examining runic inscriptions and their messages we are able to gain insight into how the Vikings might have viewed the supernatural and better understand their worldview as a whole.

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Questions to Ask• After the conversion of Scandinavia how did people of the Viking

and Medieval Ages cope with their traditional pre-Christian beliefs?

• In what way did the deities and worldviews of the pagan past remain culturally significant, if at all?

• What degree of influence/importance did ideas of the supernatural play in Viking culture? What about the Viking diaspora?

This study looks at two main aspects of the supernatural in both pre-Christian and post-Conversion religion; the God(s) and the Realm(s) of the Afterlife

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Methodology• Develop corpus of runic inscriptions referencing the supernatural• The four main runic sources: runestones, amulets, runesticks and one

example of manuscript marginalia– Runestones can be defined as memorial monuments erected for public

display in honour of the dead– Amulets are defined as portable talismans inscribed with runic script that is

thought to imbue the object with occult powers and used to ward off evil.

• The dating parameters for this study fall between 800AD and 1400AD• Restricting study to mainly the God(s) and Realms of the supernatural

in both pre-Christian and Christian contexts• Severely damaged runic inscriptions and those that are transliterated

into Latin are avoided

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Deities Findings

Pagan deities still maintained relevancy in post-Christianized Scandinavia and remained to be a facet of Scandinavian cultural identity.

Pagan Christian

Apotropaic; beseeched to protect (physical remains included)

Sometimes carved along-side Christian

memorials

Focus on particular facets; qualities

possessed

Focus on who he is as a figure

Pagan Christian

Vague references and brief mentions

Runesticks: demonized

Focus on associations with wisdom and

poetry

Focus on associations with wisdom and

poetry

Þórr Óðinn

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InscriptionsGlavendrup stoneDenmark, c. 1st half of the tenth century

§A Ragnhildr setti stein þenna ept Alla Sôlva, goða véa, liðs heiðverðan þegn.§B Alla synir gerðu kuml þessi ept fôður sinn ok hans kona ept ver sinn. En Sóti reist rúnar þessar ept dróttin sinn. Þórr vígi þessar rúnar.§C At ræta(?) sá verði er stein þenna elti(?) eða ept annan dragi. §A Ragnhildr placed this stone in memory of Alli the Pale, priest of the sanctuary, honourable þegn of the retinue. §B Alli's sons made this monument in memory of their father, and his wife in memory of her husband. And Sóti carved these runes in memory of his lord. Þórr hallow these runes. §C A warlock be he who damages(?) this stone or drags it (to stand) in memory of another.

N B380 Bergen runestickBergen, Norway c. 1185AD§A Heil(l) sé þú ok í hugum góðum.§B Þórr þik þiggi, Óðinn þik eigi. §A Hail to you and good thoughts. §B May Þórr receive you, may Óðinn own you.

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Realms FindingsBased on the runic evidence, pagan attitudes toward the supernatural in the Viking and Medieval Ages tend to focus on the present and corporeal world whereas Christian attitudes toward the supernatural initially focus on features and realms beyond current human explanation.

Figures such as Saint Michael and the Virgin Mary are prominent figures

Pagan Christian

Zombies; warnings Focus on welfare of the soul

No mention of specific realm References to Heaven

Pagan

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Inscriptions

Pictures courtesy of wikipedia.org

Ulvsunda amuletUppland, Sweden, dated c. 800AD

V[e]s[at-t]ú(?) órvakr úti, misfylgir! Fangi skaði vá! ... Do not be(?) over-lively abroad (= out of the grave), ghost! May the evil-doer get woe! ... 

Ängby stoneUppland, Sweden, dated c. 1060AD-1070AD

Ástríðr lét reisa stein þenna eptir Jóar/Ívar, bónda sinn, ok Ingvarr ok Ingifastr eptir föður sinn. Mikjáll gæti önd hans. Ástríðr had this stone raised in memory of Jóarr/Ívarr, her dhusbandman; and Ingvarr and Ingifastr in memory of their father. May Michael protect his spirit.

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Bridget Davis

University of Nottingham

MA Norse and Viking Studies

Spring 2011