Sunday, November 17, 2013

Reading the runestones of Denmark

The Danish National Museum Runestone Project sheds light on the numerous rune stones found across the whole country through a series of good quality images and text on Wikipedia. Now, the project is also available in a new smartphone app. from the Cultural Agency of Denmark’s ancient monuments, which can be downloaded free.

Fascinating stories

There are approximately 260 known rune stone in Denmark which provide vital clues to kings, kinship and the role and power of women during the period they were erected. The earliest stones date from the 700s CE and the latest from the 1000s CE.

The project database (which is currently only in Danish) has fascinating stories such as Ragnhild, who set up the Glavendrup-stone and the beautiful Fjenneslev-stone near Ringsted. You can also read about Skjern-stone’s possible connection to Harald Bluetooth.

Encyclopaedia Wikipedia

The National Museum Runestone Project, with photographer Roberto Fortuna and runeologist Lisbeth Imer went around Denmark in 2011 and 2012 to photograph and describe nearly 100 of the country’s stones. The texts along with detailed and stunning images can be seen on Encyclopaedia Wikipedia.

Smartphone app.

The smartphone app gives users the possibility to see Denmark’s various monuments on a map and hear a series of animated stories about selected monuments – including three rune stones; namely brooks Stone 2 north of the highway, Glavendrup-stone on Funen and Helnaes- stone (currently in storage at the National Museum).

Additionally, you can also find both new and old pictures of and information about the different rune stones and runic alphabet to ensure you are well prepared for your runestone travels.
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References:

Past Horizons. 2013. “Reading the runestones of Denmark”. Pat Horizons. Posted: October 8, 2013. Available online: http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/10/2013/reading-runestones-denmark-via-smartphone-app

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