Runes are the writing of the Scandinavian peoples, which arose in ancient times. The word "rune" itself is translated as "secret", and for a long time they were used only as magical symbols and for performing rituals, and not at all for writing. And the main purpose of their creation is still not completely clear. The alphabet, created on the basis of runes among the Scandinavians, is called Futhark. But, with the spread of Christianity in the Scandinavian lands, Futhark was gradually supplanted by the Latin alphabet, ritual ceremonies also practically disappeared.
1. Bone comb from Vimos
Denmark.
One of the most ancient is the runic inscription found on a deer antler crest found at Vimos on the island of Funen in Denmark. The rune inscription on it reads "Harja", which can mean the name. The ancient crest is now kept in Denmark, in the National Museum. Experts believe that it may have belonged to a Scandinavian warrior, who most likely carried it in a special leather wallet attached to a waist belt.
2. Runestone from Ryok
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Sweden.
Runestones are traces of the Vikings, and most of these stones are found in Sweden. One of these stones was discovered in the Røk in Österjötland. This stone is famous for its 9th century runic inscription, which consists of 762 runes and is so far the longest found. Runic text is located all over the stone. Deciphered beginning of the text: “These runes speak about Vemud. Varin folded them in honor of his fallen son”testifies that this stone belongs to the category of funeral ones, there were many of them in the Viking habitats.
3. Bracteate from Wansten
Sweden.
An ancient currency and a neck decoration are also called a bract. In Sweden, in 1774, a gold bracet was found with runes and rich ornamentation, made in the form of a coin. Apparently, it was used as an amulet. Unfortunately, this valuable find from Estergetland was stolen directly from a museum in Stockholm, and its whereabouts are still unknown.
4. Code of the Runes
Denmark.
Among the runic manuscripts, one of the most famous is the ancient Codex of the Runes, dating from the late 13th century. This code is a legal text describing the oldest medieval laws of the Danish kingdom. Written using runes, it was compiled to uphold the original values of the indigenous peoples of the region during the early days of Christianity and writing in Scandinavia. At the end of it, with the help of notes, one of the old folk songs was recorded, the melody of which has long been used as ringing on Danish radio.
5. Plaque with runes from Odense
Denmark.
During excavations in the city of Odense, Denmark, on the territory of an ancient fish market, a medieval tablet with runes was found, which is about 800 years old. It has not yet been possible to read what is written on this very fragile tablet, since many of the runes are very poorly visible. From what is written on it, only two phrases remain understandable: "good health" and "Tomme, his servant." It is likely that this rune tablet was used by its owner as an amulet or talisman.
6. Amulet with Odin "Tall"
Denmark
In 2016, a rare gold amulet in the form of a pendant was discovered in Denmark. According to experts, the age of the find on Lolland Island may be more than 1.5 thousand years. On one side is the god Odin, the supreme god of the Scandinavian pantheon. Previously, images of this god with the inscription "Tall", which is also one of his names, have already been found on several amulets. Therefore, there was no doubt that Odin was depicted on the found gold pendant.
7. Fota's lost masterpiece
Sweden.
In the Swedish village of Hagby, not far from the city of Uppsala, near the local church, a runestone was found that was considered missing from this church more than 200 years ago; its dimensions are 180x120 cm. It depicts a creature in the form of a snake with a runic inscription all over its body. It is not possible to completely restore what is written on it due to partial damage to the stone. Perhaps the lost part of the inscription contained the names of the people buried under this stone.
By the nature of the carving of the runes, it was established by experts that their author was the famous master Fot in the middle of the 11th century. The Stone disappeared after the destruction of the church in 1830. As it turned out, it was simply covered with earth when a new church was being erected on the same site. Now restoration work is underway, after which it is planned to return this stone to its old place.
8. Ybdy Stone
Denmark.
In the north of Denmark, recently during excavations among the ruins of an old farm, a stone was found lost more than 250 years ago. The exhibit was named “Ybdy” stone based on the remains of a runic inscription on it. Later, two more parts of this stone were found. One contained the main part of the runes, and the other only fragmentary - "nsi". It is believed that the entire stone was broken into eight pieces.
9. Runestone of Narragansett
USA.
The rock-rock weighing 6 tons attracted the attention of archaeologists because of the two lines carved on it with symbols resembling runes. In the USA it is called the "runestone from Narragansett", there are many "Runestones" in the USA, but almost all of them turn out to be fakes. But the question about this stone has not yet been finally resolved. There is a hypothesis that the inscriptions on it were carved more than 1000 years ago by the Vikings, since there is archaeological evidence that the place of the early Viking settlement in America, the famous Vinland, was located right here, on the shores of Narragansett Bay.
And theoretically, it is still impossible to exclude the hypothesis that the runic inscription on the stone was made by them. The inscription was discovered only in the 80s of the last century, before that it was hidden under a layer of mud and various sediments. In October 2015, the stone was placed for a long-term public viewing at Wyckford to attract tourists.
10. Bjorkethorp Curse Stone
Sweden.
The Bjorketorp stone, dating from the 6th-7th century, is the tallest runestone in the world, reaching 4.2 meters in height. This stone is also one of the most frightening stones, stones of damnation. A short inscription on it reads: "I foresee destruction", and a longer one promises to send a plague of death and destruction to anyone who dares to break this stone.