Runic Amulets and Magic ObjectsA fresh examination of one of the most contentious issues in runic scholarship - magical or not? The runic alphabet, in use for well over a thousand years, was employed by various Germanic groups in a variety of ways, including, inevitably, for superstitious and magical rites. Formulaic runic words were inscribed onto small items that could be carried for good luck; runic charms were carved on metal or wooden amulets to ensure peace or prosperity. There are invocations and allusions to pagan and Christian gods and heroes, to spirits of disease, and even to potential lovers. Few such texts are completely unique to Germanic society, and in fact, most of the runic amulets considered in this book show wide-ranging parallels from a variety of European cultures. The question ofwhether runes were magical or not has divided scholarship in the area. Early criticism embraced fantastic notions of runic magic - leading not just to a healthy scepticism, but in some cases to a complete denial of any magical element whatsoever in the runic inscriptions. This book seeks to re-evaulate the whole question of runic sorcery, attested to not only in the medieval Norse literature dealing with runes but primarily in the fascinating magical texts of the runic inscriptions themselves. Dr MINDY MCLEOD teaches in the Department of Linguistics, Deakin University, Melbourne; Dr BERNARD MEES teaches in the Department of History at the University of Melbourne. |
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Common terms and phrases
abbreviated Æsir AGLA alliteration amatory amulet inscriptions amulet texts ancient Anglo-Saxon appears Bergen Blekinge bracteates brooch Bryggen Bülach carved Celtic century chapter charm words Christ Christian clearly context cross curse Danish Denmark described divine Düwel early Germanic early runic Eddic Eddic poem example expression fact five-part formula futhark row Galdrabók gods holy Icelandic Illerup inscribed interpretation invocation Krause with Jankuhn Latin laukaz Lay of Sigrdrifa leek legend letter sequence leub Liestøl Lindholmen magical medieval NIyR Norway Norwegian Odin Old English old Germanic Old Norse originally pagan pendant perhaps poem poetic presumably probably reads reference Reitia reminiscent Ribe Roman rune-inscribed rune-stick from Bergen rune-stone Runer runes runic alphabet runic amulet runic charm runic inscriptions runic texts Saga Sanzeno Scandinavian seems seiðr Sigtuna similar spell stick stone Sweden symbols tamgas Thor tion tradition Trondheim typical verb verse Vimose votive wooden