The Runes of Sweden

Description

Translated by Peter G. Foote. More than 3,000 runic inscriptions are known from Sweden - nearly four times as many as are known from the rest of the Germanic world. They tell about Viking raids, ventures in trade, events in farming communities, and the introduction of Christianity. Their language has the terse quality of works carved in stone, but it also lends itself to short poems. The frame for the inscritptions is usually a variety of the animal ornaments typical of the early germanic peoples, but sometimes whoe series of pictures are found giving rich illustrations of myths, legends, and poems. Linguists will find a generous number of transliterations. Students of literature and art will appreciate the poetic and ornamental aspects of the runic monuments. Specialists in the early Germanic period will find brief accounts of the historical knowledge obtained from rune stones. 74 illustrations, 2 color plates. THE OLDEST INSCRIPTIONS OF SWEDEN 5 THE VIKING EXPEDITIONS 17 On the Eastern Route 19 On the Western Route 48 Northern Battles 61 A PEACEFUL HOMELAND 71 Farms and Farmers 73 Good Works 85 The Conversion 92 Thing-places 103 The Good Man 112 POETRY IN RUNES 118 Art 136 Colour 147 RUNES IN LATER TIMES 155