Cover not available

Article published In: NOWELE
Vol. 68:2 (2015) ► pp.153–181

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

The Runic Inscription from the Nydam Axehandle

Published online: 24 July 2015
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/nowele.68.2.02fai
This article offers a critical overview of earlier readings and interpretations of the elder-futhark inscription from the Nydam axehandle, which are found wanting, and proposes instead a new reading and interpretation. The inscriptions from the Køge/Sjælland bracteate, Gallehus horn, Kårstad stone, and Istaby stone, as well as the patronymic use of the suffix -ijaz, are also discussed.
References (67)
Antonsen, E. 2002. Runes and Germanic Linguistics. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bach, A. 1952. Deutsche Namenkunde. 2 vols1. Heidelberg: Winter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baetke, W. 1976. Wörterbuch zur altnordischen Prosaliteratur (2. Auflage). Berlin: Akademie-Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bammesberger, A. 1990. Die Morphologie des urgermanischen Nomens. Heidelberg: Winter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Beck, H. et al.. (eds.). 1967-. Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. 35 vols1. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bosworth, J. & T. Toller. 19641. An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon.
Cleasby, R. & G. Vigfusson. 1962. An Icelandic-English Dictionary (2nd edition). Oxford: Clarendon.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
De Vries, J. 1977. Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Delamarre, X. 2003. Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise. Paris: Errance.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
DOE = Dictionary of Old English: A to G on CD-ROM (2008). Eds. Angus Cameron, et al.. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies for the Dictionary of Old English Project.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Düwel, K. (ed.). 1994. Runische Schriftkultur in kontinental-skandinavischer und -angelsächsischer Wechselbeziehung: Internationales Symposium in der Werner-Reimers-Stiftung vom 24.-27. Juni 1992 in Bad Homburg. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2008. Runenkunde (4. Auflage). Stuttgart, Weimar: Metzler. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Förstemann, E. 1900. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. I. Band, Personennamen. Bonn: Handstein.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fritzner, J. 1954. Ordbog over Det gamle norske Sprog. I-III. Oslo: Tryggve Juul Møller Forlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1972. Ordbog over Det gamle norske Sprog af Dr. Johan Fritzner. Rettelser og Tillegg ved Finn Hødnebø. Fjerde bind A-Ǫ. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grønvik, O. 1999. Runeinnskriften på gullhornet fra Gallehus. Maal og Minne 11.1-18.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grünzweig, F. 2004. Runeninschriften auf Waffen: Inschriften von 2. Jahrhundert n. Chr. bis ins Hochmittelalter. Vienna: Editions Praesens.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hale, C. 1981. Modern Icelandic Personal Bynames. Scandinavian Studies 53/4.397-404.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heggstad, L. 1963. Gamalnorsk ordbok. Olso: Det Norske Samlaget.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heizmann, W. 2005. 2. Heilswörter. In H. Beck et al.. (eds.), Bd. 28, 469-473.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Herschend, F. 2001. “Written on Terrestrial Things” – A Discussion of Some Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions up to the 6th Century AD. In M. Stausberg (ed.), Kontinuatäten und Brüche in der Religionsgeschichte, Festschrift für Anders Hultgård zu seinem Geburtstag am 23.12.2001, 352-380. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Holthausen, F. 1948. Vergleichendes und etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altwestnordischen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Høst, G. 1980. “Trylleordet” alu . Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap 311.151-156.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jón Axel Harðason. 2004. Nordische Personennamen vom Typ Einarr, Hróarr und Steinarr. In A. van Nahl, et al.. (eds.), 545-564.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Karg-Gästerstädt, E. & T. Frings (eds.). 1952-. Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch. 6 vols1. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaufmann, H. 1968. Altdeutsche Personennamen, Ergänzungsband. Munich: Fink; Hildesheim: Olms.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kluge, F. 1926. Nominale Stammbildungslehre der altgermanischen Dialekte. Halle: Niemeyer.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Knirk, J. 2000. Kårstad. § 3. Runologisches. In H. Beck, et al.. (eds.), Bd. 161, 324.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kousgård Sørensen, J. 1984. Patronymer i Danmark I, runetid og middelalder. Copenhagen: Akademisk forlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Larsson, P. 2006. Till tolkningen av runföljden usi (U 389). In L. Peterson, et al.. (eds.), Namn och runor. Uppsalastudier i onomastik och runologi till Lennart Elmevik på70-årsdagen 2 februari 2006. Namn och samhälle 17, 57-73. Uppsala: Uppsala universitet.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lehmann, W. 1986. A Gothic Etymological Dictionary. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lejeune, M. 1985. Recueil des inscriptions gauloises, volume I, textes gallo-grecs. Paris: Editions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Looijenga, T. 2003. Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
MacLeod, M. & B. Mees. 2006. Runic Amulets and Magic Objects. Woodbridge: Boydell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maricq, A. 1958. Classica et Orientalia. 5. Res Gestae Divi Sarporis. Syria 351.295-360. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McKinnell, J. & R. Simek with K. Düwel. 2004. Runes, Magic and Religion. A Sourcebook. Vienna: Fassbaender.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meid, W. 1967. Germanische Sprachwissenschaft von Dr. Hans Krahe. III Wortbildungslehre. Berlin: De Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meißner, T. 2008 [2010]. Zur Inschrift auf dem Horn B von Gallehus. Historische Sprachforschung 1211.209-218.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mørup, P.E. 1995. Nydam-runer. Sønderjysk Månedsskrift 711.35-37.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Müller, G. 1970. Starke und schwache Flexion bei den eingliedrigen germanischen Männernamen. In D. Hofmann (ed.), Gedenkschrift für William Foerste, 215-231. Cologne, Vienna: Böhlan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nedoma, R. 1995. Neues zu älteren Runeninschriften. Die Sprache 37/1.105-115.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Peterson, L. 1994. On the Relationship between Proto-Scandinavian and Continental Germanic Personal Names. In K. Düwel (ed.), 128-175. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2002. The Development of Proto-Nordic Personal Names. In O. Bandle, et al.. (eds.), The Nordic Languages. An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages, vol. 11, 664-671. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Reichert, H. 1987-1990. Lexikon der altgermanischen Namen. 2 vols1. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2008. Zum Namen des Drachentöters. Siegfried – Sigurd – Sigmund – Ragnar. In U. Ludwig & T. Schilp (eds.), Nomen et Fraternitas. Festschrift für Dieter Geuerich zum 65. Geburtstag, 131-167. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schönfeld, M. 1965. Wörterbuch der altgermanischen Personen- und Völkernamen. Heidelberg: Winter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Siebs, B. 1970. Die Personennamen der Germanen. Niederwalluf, Wiesbaden: Martin Sändig.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Snorri Sturluson. 1982. Edda. Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. A. Faulkes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Speidel, M. 1977. The Roman Army in Arabia. In H. Temporini & W. Haase (eds.), Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, T. II, Bd. 81, 688-728. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stoklund, M. 1994a. Runer 1993. Arkæologiske udgravninger i Danmark 19931. 259-274.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1994b. Von Thorsberg nach Haithabu. Ein Überblick über die dänischen Inschriften unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der möglichen Spuren von kulturellen und sprachlichen Kontakten nach außen. In K. Düwel (ed.), 95-116. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1995. Die Runen der römischen Kaiserzeit. In U. Lund Hansen (ed.), Him-lingøje – Seeland – Europa: Ein Gräberfeld der jüngeren römischen Kaiserzeit auf Seeland, seine Bedeutung und internationalen Beziehungen, 317-346. Copenhagen: Det Kongelige Nordiske Oldskriftselskab.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1998. Neue Runenfunde aus Skandinavien. Bemerkungen zur methodologischen Praxis, Deutung und Einordnung. In K. Düwel (ed.), Runeninschriften als Quellen interdisziplinärer Forschung, 55-65. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2002 [publ. 2004]. Arbejdet ved Runologisk Laboratorium, København. Nytt om runer 171.4-11.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2004. Navnestoffet fra Nydam-indskrifterne og et fragment fra Sorte Muld. In A. van Nahl, et al.. (eds.), 722-729.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2006. Chronology and Typology of the Danish Runic Inscriptions. In M. Stoklund, et al.. (eds.), Runes and their Secrets, Studies in Runology, 355-383. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Torp, A. 1909. Gamalnorsk ordavleiding. In M. Hægstad & A. Torp, Gamalnorsk ordbok, xxviii-lxiii. Kristiania: Det Norske Samlaget.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Van Nahl, A. et al.. (eds.). 2004. Namenwelten, Orts- und Personennamen in historischer Sicht. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Von Friesen, O. 1924. Rö-stenen i Bohuslän och runorna i norden under folkvandring-stiden. Uppsala Universitets Årsskrift 1/6.1-165.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wagner, N. 1982. Arminius und die Ingaevones. Beiträge zur Namenforschung. 17/3.291-304.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Whitelock, D. (ed.). 2011. Anglo-Saxon Wills. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zoëga, G. 2004. A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Schalin, Johan
2024. On the periodisation of early North Germanic. NOWELE. North-Western European Language Evolution 77:2 ► pp. 168 ff. DOI logo
Mees, Bernard
2023. Early epigraphic evidence for Germanic weak class-III verbs. Beiträge zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und Literatur 145:3 ► pp. 347 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 28 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue