In December 2020, two amateur archaeologists went on a hunt for metal detectors in a field in Jelling, Denmark.
And suddenly they stumbled upon what was later called the Vindelev treasure, which was 800 grams of real gold.
“the hardest task”
In a history published by Danish Videnskab.dk Runeologist Lisbeth M. Emmer and language expert Christer S.K. Vasos wrote that the find is impressive, because of the bracteates (gold medals) with the runes.
Now this could be for you
Gold nuggets are small, round, richly decorated gold jewelry from the Migration Period (400 to 570 years). It is made of a thin sheet of gold, and ranges from three to 12 centimeters in diameter Large Norwegian Encyclopedia.
JERA Seekers: Here, Christer SK Vassos and Lisbeth M Emmer each hold two gold nuggets from the Vendeleaf Treasure. Photo: John Fhær Engedal Nissen/AP
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– Everyone had a golden hemp and it was worn around the neck as jewelry. It is believed that they have a function as amulets, states the encyclopedia.
The discovery, the researchers write, should give researchers the most difficult task they have ever faced.
Little Odin
There are long texts inscribed on two gold medallions, and what is remarkable is the mention of the name of the supreme god of Sir Odin.
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The medallions date back to the 4th century, making them the oldest known example of the use of the god Odin’s name – in the whole world.
One of the Vindelev gold coins has been classified by researchers as very special and valuable. It has a long and “particularly well composed” runic inscription, which gives a semantic meaning.
In the center of the medallion is the face of a king, visible in the profile. Around there again runs a runic inscription.
In front of the king, you can see a swastika (swastika) and a semicircle, which researchers believe may symbolize the sun and moon.
It is difficult to disassemble
The runes on the medallion have been described as well shaped and easy to read, but the text is still difficult to decipher.
Firstly, the researchers write that the medal is very worn out. Secondly, the text is written without pauses between words. Third, the language is more than 1,500 years old.
It is especially the first part of the text that is most difficult to decipher. According to the linguist, it may be the first word hostose which may be a borrowed Latin word for (several) sacrificial animals.
Moreover, experts interpret the runes as a declaration that someone is helping – either a hunt or a hunter. Jaga is also mentioned as a person or a title.
Copy the inscription
The researchers were more confident about the last part of the runic inscription on the gold inscription. Because he says there from Wd[a]People and Raz.
Rare pictures “God’s rays”
It can be translated as “Odin’s man”.
In Vindelev’s valuable hoard, there was another bracteate which attracted attention, for it appeared to be a copy of the first. Some of the signs are runes, while others look like – or are blurred lines.
Researchers believe that the person who made the inscription did not fully understand the text, but nevertheless copied the signs as closely as possible.
What is absolutely amazing is that the medal cannot be a direct copy of Odin’s first Bracteat: Odin’s name is spelled differently, and it looks as if the scribe had substituted two runes.
key puzzles
The researchers interpret this to mean a third inscription with exactly the same content as on these two gold medals.
– It must have been a very important and perhaps sacred text that many people took great care to copy. There could be many good reasons for a king to allow himself to be filled with Odin’s power and magical abilities, they wrote.
Incredible moment: – A strong flash of light
According to the researchers, the long and complete inscription on the bracteate from the Vindelev treasure is the key to a number of unsolved Iron Age mysteries.
– makes it clear that Odin is a very ancient deity who was already known in the fourth century, and that the images of the bracteates should be interpreted as kings rather than as the deity himself, as they write, and add:
– So this is the key to understanding how the illegible inscriptions on fractions originally gave meaning.
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