Einige Bemerkungen über den norwegischen Dynna-Runenstein

Abstract

Our study on Dynna Stone (ca. 1040 AD) aims to highlight the early relationship between late-medieval paganism and early Christianity in Norway, with particular reference to the dimensions of the  transition process. Meanwhile, our article also makes relevant statements that have not been discussed so far in terms of runology, which may have implications for a possible reinterpretation of  the alliteration rules. The pagan funeral, the text of the runic inscription on bridge construction, and the Christian symbolism of pictorial representation, all together show cultural continuity, competing beliefs, but, at the same time, the ornamentation shows unique features, among other things, by contrasting with most Christian stones, the cross does not play a role in the depiction, and the symbolism of Mary is also unique. We emphasize that it is impossible to decide whether the woman commissioning the work or the rune-engraving artist chose the motifs, and whether the rune inscription and the image were placed on the stone at the same time. This latter problem, together with the runological findings, has not yet been discussed in the literature.