Viking-Age Runic Plates of the Runic Plates Have Been Conducted with a Stereomicroscope for This Purpose
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The aim of this dissertation is to represent as clearly as possible the genre of Viking- Age runic plates by developing readings and interpretations of the inscriptions on the 46 metal plates with runes from the Viking Age known today. Several investigations SOFIA PERESWETOFF-MORATH • • PERESWETOFF-MORATH SOFIA Viking-Age Runic Plates of the runic plates have been conducted with a stereomicroscope for this purpose. On the basis of the new readings thus established, new interpretations have been pro- posed for the most problematic sections of previously interpreted inscriptions. New interpretations are also offered for inscriptions on runic plates which have previously been considered non-lexical. As well as providing new readings and interpretations, this study has resulted in clarification of the relationship between the form and content of the inscriptions on the runic plates on the one hand and on their find circumstances and appearance on the other. An argued documentation of the readings can be found in an accompanying catalogue in Swedish which is published digitally and can be downloaded as a pdf file at: <http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-383584> Viking-Age Runic Plates Viking-Age Distribution: Sofia Pereswetoff-Morath eddy.se ab e-post: [email protected] ISSN 0065-0897 and Box 1310, 621 24 Visby. Telefon: 0498-25 39 00 ISSN 1100-1690 http://kgaa.bokorder.se ISBN 978-91-87403-33-0 1 ACTA ACADEMIAE REGIAE GUSTAVI ADOLPHI 155 Runrön 21 Runrön Runologiska bidrag utgivna av Institutionen för nordiska språk vid Uppsala universitet 2 3 ACTA ACADEMIAE REGIAE GUSTAVI ADOLPHI CLV Runrön 21 Runologiska bidrag utgivna av Institutionen för nordiska språk vid Uppsala universitet SOFIA PERESWETOFF-MORATH Viking-Age Runic Plates Readings and Interpretations Translated from Swedish by Mindy MacLeod UPPSALA 2019 Kungl. Gustav Adolfs Akademien för svensk folkkultur 4 The English translation of this dissertation was made possible by a generous grant from the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy for Swedish Folk Culture and a donation from Charles and Myrna Smith in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Abstract Sofia Pereswetoff-Morath, Viking-Age runic plates. Readings and interpretations. Acta Aca- demiae Gustavi Adolphi 155. Runrön 21. Uppsala 2019. 367 pp. ISSN 0065-0897 and 1100-1690, ISBN 978-91-87403-33-0. The aim of this dissertation is to represent as clearly as possible the genre of Viking-Age runic plates by developing readings and interpretations of the inscriptions on the 46 metal plates with runes from the Viking Age known today. Several investigations of the runic plates have been con- ducted with a stereomicroscope for this purpose. On the basis of the new readings thus estab- lished, new interpretations have been proposed for the most problematic sections of previously in- terpreted inscriptions. New interpretations are also offered for inscriptions on runic plates which have previously been considered non-lexical. As well as providing new readings and interpreta- tions, this study has resulted in clarification of the relationship between the form and content of the inscriptions on the runic plates on the one hand and on their find circumstances and appear- ance on the other. An argued documentation of the readings can be found in an accompanying catalogue in Swedish which is published digitally and can be downloaded as a pdf file at: <http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-383584> Keywords: runes, runic inscriptions, runic plates, runic inscriptions in metal, runes on non-monu- mental objects, cryptic runic inscriptions, reading and interpreting, methods of interpretation, Vi- king Age, incantations, magic formulas, amulets, magic. Runrön. Runologiska bidrag utgivna av Institutionen för nordiska språk vid Uppsala universitet. Front cover: The Ladoga plate. © Sofia Pereswetoff-Morath: Drawing by Ksenia Dubrovina, based on examinations, sketches and photographs by the author. © The author, Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy and Department of Scandinavian Languages, Uppsala University. Printed in Sweden 2019 Textgruppen i Uppsala AB 5 Памяти моего отца Ивана Михайловича Стеблин-Каменского (1945–2018) Dedicated to the memory of my father Ivan Michajlovič Steblin-Kamenskij (1945–2018) 6 7 Contents Figures . 11 Tables . 13 Abbreviations . 14 Acknowledgements . 16 1 Introduction and presentation of the material . 19 1.1 Runic plates – an orientation . 19 1.2 Literature review . 21 1.3 Working hypothesis . 25 1.4 Scandinavian spells . 25 1.5 Disposition and aim of the dissertation . 28 1.6 Labelling and presentation of the material. 29 1.7 Terminology. 29 1.7.1 General terms . 30 1.7.2 Runological terms. 31 1.8 Dating. 32 1.9 Reading and interpretational methodology . 34 1.10 Delimitation of material . 36 1.11 Presentation of the material. 37 1.11.1 Runic plates: Country and Chronology. 38 1.11.2 Typological distribution by time and place. 40 1.11.3 Chronological distribution according to content. 41 1.12 Conclusions . 42 2 Comparative material . 45 2.1 Older runes in younger runic inscriptions . 46 2.2 Staveless runes . 53 2.3 Bind-runes . 54 2.4 Runes with non-graphematic branches . 55 2.5 Coordinate runes . 57 2.6 Balanced runes (mirror runes) . 58 2.7 Runiforms, rune-like signs and rune-like markings. 65 2.8 Conclusions . 65 3 Swedish A-type runic plates with linguistic interpretations . 67 3.1 The Hallbjäns plate, Gotland . 67 8 3.1.1 Find circumstances . 67 3.1.2 Earlier readings and suggested interpretations . 68 3.2 Sigtuna plate 1, Uppland . 70 3.2.1 Find circumstances . 70 3.2.2 Earlier readings and interpretations . 72 3.2.3 Conclusions and questions . 87 3.2.4 New transliteration and interpretation . 87 3.2.5 Summary. 106 3.2.6 Dating of the Sigtuna plate . 111 3.3 The Kvinneby plate, Öland. 113 3.3.1 Find circumstances . 113 3.3.2 Earlier readings and interpretations . 114 3.3.3 Conclusions and new questions . 133 3.3.4 New transliteration and interpretation . 135 3.3.5 Summary. 150 3.3.6 Dating of the Kvinneby plate . 150 3.4 Solberga plates 1 and 2, Öland. 151 3.4.1 Find circumstances and condition of the plates . 151 3.4.2 Helmer Gustavson’s reading and interpretation . 153 3.4.3 Interpretation of Solberga plate 1 . 155 3.4.4 Interpretation of Solberga plate 2 . 166 4 Swedish runic plates with linguistic interpretations (type B and fragmentary) . 171 4.1 The Ulvsunda plate, Uppland. 171 4.1.1 Find circumstances and current condition of the plate . 171 4.1.2 Nordén’s transliteration and a new transliteration . 172 4.1.3 Nordén’s interpretation and new suggestions. 173 4.2 The Järfälla plate, Uppland. 175 4.2.1 Find circumstances and current condition of the plate . 175 4.2.2 Earlier transliteration and interpretation of the inscription 176 4.2.3 New transliteration and suggestions for interpretation . 177 4.3 The Högstena plate, Västergötland. 179 4.3.1 Find circumstances and present condition of the plate . 179 4.3.2 Earlier readings and interpretations . 180 4.3.3 New transliteration . 184 4.3.4 New interpretation . 186 4.4 Old Uppsala plate 1, Uppland . 200 4.5 The Skänninge plate, Östergötland. 201 4.6 Two problematic runic plates – Latin or Old Swedish?. 204 4.7 Vassunda plate 3, Uppland. 204 4.7.1 Discussion. 206 4.8 Sigtuna plate 2, Uppland . 207 4.8.1 Discussion. 210 9 5 Uninterpreted runic plates from Sweden. 213 5.1 Uninterpreted A-type plates . 213 5.1.1 The Leksand plate, Dalarna . 213 5.1.2 The Hovgård plate, Uppland . 216 5.1.3 Björkö plates 1 and 2, Uppland . 219 5.1.4 The Villberga plate, Uppland . 221 5.1.5 The Sunnerby plate, Västergötland . 224 5.1.6 Klinta plates 1 and 2, Öland . 225 5.1.7 Solberga plates 3, 4 and 5, Öland. 227 5.2 Uninterpreted B-type plates and fragmentary runic plates . 229 5.2.1 Old Uppsala plate 2, Uppland . 229 5.2.2 Sigtuna plate 3, Uppland . 230 5.2.3 Sigtuna plate 4, Uppland . 231 5.2.4 Sigtuna plate 5, Uppland . 232 5.2.5 Sigtuna plate 6, Uppland . 237 5.2.6 Sigtuna plate 7, Uppland . 238 5.2.7 The Eketorp plate, Öland . 239 5.3 Uninterpreted C-type plates . 241 5.3.1 Gällungs plates 1 and 2, Gotland . 241 5.3.2 The Hässelby plate, Uppland . 243 5.3.3 The Östra Aros plate, Uppland. 245 5.3.4 Summary. 246 6 Danish runic plates . ..